So we've made it through the holidays, and now it's back to work full time. Today, I would like to give you an update on Our Jewish Orlando (OJO), an initiative that is reaching out to the next generation of Jews in our community. In the past several months the group has had many excellent projects, several of which I attended and enjoyed. It is very rewarding to meet young men and women who are looking for meaningful community connections. Quite often, I meet a young person who has been completely removed from any Jewish involvement for many years. And then a chance encounter or a life event propels him or her to search a connection to the Jewish community, and this is when the Federation and OJO come in. We are that connection.

As OJO has developed its various initiatives, a special outreach effort to young families with small children, Shalom Families, was formed in conjunction with the PJ Library. Shalom Families finds meaningful ways for families with young children to connect with one another and with the Jewish community. This past weekend, the group gathered in east Orlando at Painted Oaks Academy for hay rides, pony rides, and story time under oak trees. Shalom Families brings Jewish ideas and concepts to the group through PJ Library story time. This weekend, the group read a book about Sukkot. Next month, the group will be gathering in Central Park (in Winter Park on Park Avenue) for Shabbat in the Park. Want to join in the fun? Pack a picnic dinner for the little ones, bring a dessert to share and don't forget your flashlight. We'll see you there on November 14th at 5:30pm.

According to extensive research and other communities' experiences, happy hour has long been a favorite staple with the NextGen crowd. OJO took this concept to a new level and added a Jewish educational component to what used to be a purely social gathering. Torah on Tap delivers a happy hour each month with a side of Jewish education in a relaxed, non-threatening environment. A couple of weeks ago, I attended one such event, at the Eden Bar, and brought along Rabbi Joshua Neely who mixed with the crowd at happy hour and spoke to the group about Sukkot. His short presentation was relevant, challenging, and entertaining, and I think that the young people responded very well to it. Another popular OJO initiative was born out of young people's desire for social action and community involvement. Working in tandem with our Jewish Community Relations Council, the group spent time earlier this year sorting food at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. This summer, a group of OJO members visited Pathways to Care to have an ice cream social with homeless men and women recuperating after hospital stay. And most recently, over Sukkot, OJO partnered with the Jewish Pavilion to bring Shabbat and spend time with the residents of Horizon Bay senior community. Seniors and young people alike had a good time connecting and celebrating Shabbat.

We are very fortunate to have a group of passionate volunteers who are invested in and committed to building Jewish Orlando for the next generation. It's very rewarding to see how young people connect to their Judaism and with one another thanks to their efforts. I am inspired by their commitment and dedication and look forward to seeing what they plan for the year ahead.

Shabbat Shalom,

Olga Yorish

Executive Director