Due to Demand, Moishe House Opens New, Bigger Home in Durham

Photo credits: Sweet Rose Wild Lily Photography.

DURHAM, N.C. – Moishe House is positioning to become the hub for young Jewish life in The Triangle for years to come, after dedicating a new, bigger home for Jewish young adults in Durham last week.

Moishe House is a global organization where young Jewish adults live together and host Jewish programs one to two times each week for their peers, with more than 100 houses worldwide. In exchange, the residents receive a modest monthly rent subsidy, and a monthly programming budget.

Moishe House Triangle officially dedicated its new location on Feb. 19 with a ceremony in which the residents, joined by more than 25 supporters, partners, community members, alumni, and family members, affixed a mezuzah – a case containing Jewish prayers – to the home’s doorpost. The organization first opened a home in Durham in August 2015, and since then, the residents have already hosted more than 170 programs for over 2,700 in total attendance. In addition to their full-time jobs, the house’s three current residents – Averyl Edwards, 22, Rebecca Levine, 24, and Carson Merenbloom, 24 – are committed to hosting at least 60 peer-led programs annually, such as Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, social justice work, game nights and more.

These are the kinds of programs that Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill millennial Jews are seeking. According to a 2014 PEW survey of 18- to 33-year-olds, “millennials have fewer attachments to traditional religious institutions, but they connect to personalized networks of friends, colleagues and affinity groups through social and digital media.”

“With more and more young Jewish adults moving to The Triangle, we’ve seen the need to grow our Moishe House there to meet the increased demand for compelling and meaningful weekly Jewish experiences,” said Moishe House Southeastern Director of Advancement Dave Press. “There are so many great colleges with great Jewish programs in the area, but few options for post-college Jews besides traditional Jewish institutions. Moishe House is perfect for meeting the interests and needs of Jewish young adults on their terms.”

Photo #1: Moishe House Triangle resident Carson Merenbloom affixed a mezuzah to the new home’s doorpost last week during an event for the community.

Photo #2: (From left) Moishe House Triangle residents Carson Merenbloom, 24, Rebecca Levine, 24, and Averyl Edwards, 22.

Photo #3: Moishe House Southeastern Director of Advancement Dave Press welcomed the community to the new Moishe House Triangle.

Photo #4: (From left) Moishe House Triangle residents Rebecca Levine, Carson Merenbloom, and Averyl Edwards.

Photo #5: Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill CEO Jill Madsen (left) speaking with Moishe House Triangle supporter Dr. Beth Goldstein (right).