Williamsburg, Brooklyn — long known as home to Hasidim and hipsters — has recently added a growing number of Israeli expats to the mix. Many seeking community in a fraught post-October 7 landscape have found it at the new North American Israeli Moishe (NAIM) Pod, which launched this spring and is now receiving support from UJA to strengthen programming.

The pod is run by Israeli-American sisters Dalia and Elena K., who were raised between Israel and New York in a multicultural immigrant household, and whose hospitality far exceeds their apartment’s square footage.

Moishe Houses (typically run by three to five residents), and now Moishe Pods (run by a duo), have long been vibrant hubs for Jewish young adults run by Jewish young adults, who organize and host Shabbat meals, programming around Jewish holidays and identity, and casual get-togethers to connect people to each other and to the beauty of Jewish life. While this new Moishe Pod welcomes all Jews seeking connection, it’s the second venture to do specific outreach to Israelis in New York, a community in particular need of belonging right now.

“October 7 was an inflection point for Elena and me, and we wanted to be around people who understood what we were going through,” described Dalia. “The community-building part of Moishe Pod came very easily because, as much as we needed it, other people did too.”

Both Dalia and Elana credit their diverse roots from cultures with strong traditions of hospitality for their passion for building bridges across cultures — and a strong example set by their mother. 

“Our mother has been a longtime leader in the Bukharian Jewish community of New York, including serving on UJA FSU when we were little,” explained Elena, “so we absorbed a lot of what we saw her do with grassroots community-building.”

Dalia and Elena have already made an impact. A Shabbat/Rosh Hashanah dinner drew more than 80 people. A Passover seder fused Israeli, Russian, and Persian customs, like playful scallion-smacking at the Dayenu mark to symbolize the whips wielded against the Israelites, and sparked learning and a lot of spirited laughter.   

A recent meet-up after the Israel Day Parade — “Hebrews & Halva” — brought together more than 120 people in Central Park. In the pipeline: challah bakes, ethnic food tours, beach days, and picnics.  

“UJA has done an incredible job meeting the evolving needs of the Jewish community both before and after October 7,” said Elena. “Our community needs healing right now, and our togetherness gives us strength. We’re grateful for the UJA for helping make that possible.” 

“In a moment when Jewish connection and resilience are more important than ever,” Dalia added, “we’re super thankful that UJA continues to invest in grassroots leadership to meet people where they are.”