We convene, connect, invest, and protect Jewish life in Colorado, Israel, and around the world.

Join us to schmooze, connect over a meal, and grab drinks with other Jewish young adults.

Sign up to join one of our YAD Ambassadors members for dinner at a restaurant of their choice (full list below.) Each Ambassador will host a maximum of eight people so you can enjoy an intimate gathering with new friends. All groups of eight are invited out for drinks after dinner at TBD.

All attendees are responsible for the cost of their food and beverages. Please make sure to look at the number spots left before you make your selection!

Dinner Options:

Little Ollie’s | Alana Goldberg
Machete Tequila & Tacos | Adam Laarsen
Cherry Cricket | William Weiner 
North Italia | Rachel Silvestain 
Local Jones | Steven Solomon
Matsuhisa | Zach Souser

Do you have a dog? Do you want to hang out with other Jewish young adults? If yes, join YAD Ambassador William Weiner in taking your dog for a casual morning walk at Westminster Hills Dog Off Leash Area!

YAD serves Jewish adults ages 21-45. Questions? Email Kpodolak@JEWISHcolorado.org.

Join JEWISHcolorado on January 28, 2025, for an unforgettable evening at our Signature Event in the Bluebird Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center, featuring remarks by Emmy Award-winning actress and renowned human rights activist Debra Messing.

The evening will also feature the presentation of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld, in recognition of their unwavering dedication and remarkable decades of service to the community. This unforgettable event promises to be a celebration of excellence, generosity, and commitment to a brighter future.

Make a tribute to honor Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld.

For questions regarding sponsorships and tributes, contact Jill Katchen, Director of Donor Engagement: jkatchen@jewishcolorado.org or 303.316.6464.

Thank you to our event sponsors (as of 12.16.24)

Debbi & Lee Alpert | Bender West Foundation | Alan Brandt | Faye & Steve Demby | Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP | Graland | Diane & Bob Hochstadt | Independent Bank | Susan Karsh | Martin & Gloria Trotsky Family Foundation | Monarch Casino Resort & Spa | Joanne Posner-Mayer | Rose Community Foundation | Sewald Hanfling | Iris & Michael Smith

Thank you to our Host Committee

Cindy & Jason Altberger | Faye & Steve Demby | Dorit & Aryeh Fischer | Nancy & Mickey Gart | Nichole Graham-Lusher & Ben Lusher | Jen Gilbert-Kaufmann & Rob Kaufmann | Nicole Isenberg | Lee Murnick | Judy Robins | Jane E. Rosenbaum | Brooke & Shelby Soltanovich | Abby & Ean Seeb | Lauren & Gil Selinger | Leslie & Mark Sidell | Ashleigh & Seth Wong

Dietary laws observed, Certification by TRI. Vaad Certified Meals available upon request. 

It’s the little things that make a big difference.

A fun night at an award-winning gift store with private shopping, sweet treats & lite bites. 10% of sales benefits JEWISHcolorado’s Women’s Philanthropy Dignity Grows Initiative, to help fight Period Poverty.

Dignity Grows is a boots on the ground, volunteer initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and is supported by National Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federations of North America.

There is no cost to attend but please register so we know how many people will be attending.

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make smart financial decisions in a four-part series lead by local YAD superstar Rachel Grafman! This engaging four-part series breaks down essential topics like budgeting, saving, job hunting, and credit cards into easy-to-follow steps. This series is perfect for young adults starting their financial journey and will equip you with the tools to build a secure and successful future.

*You can attend any or all of the sessions, you do not have to commit to attending all four!

Learn More about Rachel: Rachel “Chuch” Grafman is a personal finance coach with her practice Prosperity Personal Finance. She began her financial journey as many people do, saddled with debt, feeling out of control with money, and unsure what to do about it. When she graduated college, she quickly outspent her income and had to learn how to not only manage her money, but how to leverage it to work for her. She paid off her student and auto loans in full less than four years after graduating and bought her first condo a year later. In the process, she gained skills and tools that she realized weren’t universally known, so she started Prosperity to help others help themselves. Chuch has received training from the University of Wisconsin and the Financial Coach Academy to help her best serve her clients and community. She is an active member of YAD and various other Colorado Jewish organizations.

Session Topics:
Session 1: February 5th: Budgeting & Saving, Goal Setting, and Plan Making
Session 2: February 12th: Job Hunting, Salary Negotiation, Side Hustles and Building Additional Income
Session 3: February 19th: Credit Cards and Credit Scores
Session 4: February 26th: Talking Finances with a Partner & Dating on a Budget

Cost: $5/ session, $15/ all four sessions. Please note that payment must be received before the start of each session in order for you to attend.

Israel has long been a subject of fascination for the world, but in recent years the media’s treatment of the Israel-Palestinian conflict has become an obsession that erases background and context and is inflaming global hostility toward Israelis and Jews. How has this media malfunction happened? What does it look like on the ground? And what can be done? Friedman, a Canadian-Israeli journalist and author, will use his years in the foreign press corps to answer those questions and help observers understand the gap between the real country of Israel and the way it is portrayed.
 

About Matti Friedman

Matti Friedman is a journalist and the award-winning author of four works of non-fiction. 

Matti’s most recent book Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai is an account of Leonard Cohen’s concert tour to the front lines of the Yom Kippur War. The book has been listed by both Vanity Fair and Mosaic Magazine as among their top books of 2022 and is being made into a limited TV dramatic series by Keshet International. 

Matti’s 2019 book, Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel, won the 2019 Natan Prize and the Canadian Jewish Book Award, among other prizes. His 2016 book, Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book and won the 2017 Vine Award for Canadian Jewish literature, among other honors. Mattis first book, The Aleppo Codex, was awarded the 2014 Sami Rohr Prize and the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Medal. 

A former Associated Press correspondent, Matti’s work as a reporter has taken him from Israel to Lebanon, Morocco, Moscow, the Caucasus, and Washington, DC. Two critical essays he wrote about media coverage of Israel after the 2014 Gaza war, for Tablet and The Atlantic, triggered intense discussion and have been shared on Facebook more than 130,000 times. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Tablet, Smithsonian, and elsewhere.

Matti was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem.

Registration required with a suggested donation of $18.

Kick-off the New Year with incredible food, meaningful conversations, and valuable networking opportunities! JEWISHcolorado’s Real Estate & Construction Network (RECN) invites you to its third annual signature event at Safta Restaurant. Experience the vibrant flavors of Safta’s Israeli-inspired dishes, sip on handcrafted cocktails, and connect with a dynamic community of professionals. Start the year strong with the RECN network, building new connections and strengthening existing ones.

Get your tickets today!

Thank you to our event sponsors: 

Alex Reber | High Country Private Equity | IMA | SBG Commercial | Snyder Building Construction (SBC) | Stephanie Cohen (KTGY Architect Group) | Sterling Properties

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make smart financial decisions in a four-part series lead by local YAD superstar Rachel Grafman! This engaging four-part series breaks down essential topics like budgeting, saving, job hunting, and credit cards into easy-to-follow steps. This series is perfect for young adults starting their financial journey and will equip you with the tools to build a secure and successful future.

*You can attend any or all of the sessions, you do not have to commit to attending all four!

Learn More about Rachel: Rachel “Chuch” Grafman is a personal finance coach with her practice Prosperity Personal Finance. She began her financial journey as many people do, saddled with debt, feeling out of control with money, and unsure what to do about it. When she graduated college, she quickly outspent her income and had to learn how to not only manage her money, but how to leverage it to work for her. She paid off her student and auto loans in full less than four years after graduating and bought her first condo a year later. In the process, she gained skills and tools that she realized weren’t universally known, so she started Prosperity to help others help themselves. Chuch has received training from the University of Wisconsin and the Financial Coach Academy to help her best serve her clients and community. She is an active member of YAD and various other Colorado Jewish organizations.

Session Topics:
Session 1: February 5th: Budgeting & Saving, Goal Setting, and Plan Making
Session 2: February 12th: Job Hunting, Salary Negotiation, Side Hustles and Building Additional Income
Session 3: February 19th: Credit Cards and Credit Scores
Session 4: February 26th: Talking Finances with a Partner & Dating on a Budget

Cost: $5/ session, $15/ all four sessions. Please note that payment must be received before the start of each session in order for you to attend.

Join YAD Ambassador Alana Golberg and a dynamic Rabbi for Tu B’shevat treats and an engaging discussion about cultivating patience while waiting for things we plant in our lives to blossom! This is an opportunity to connect over Jewish texts and learn about our religion’s wisdom for navigating yet unseen growth. The event will be held in the Denver Tech Center; it will include tea, snacks, and desserts. No Hebrew knowledge or previous Torah study experience is needed to participate.

Sign up today as space is limited!

YAD serves Jewish adults ages 21-45. Questions? Email Kpodolak@JEWISHcolorado.org.

Exclusive briefing for JCRC Member Organizations | Presented in partnership with the Hartman Institute

Israel’s streets are filled with signs proclaiming, “Together We Will Win,” yet deep divisions persist within the nation. This session examines the key social, political, and religious rifts that have intensified in the current climate, as Israel faces choices that could shape its future path. Dr. Masua Sagiv will outline two primary strategies—one focused on fostering national unity, and the other on addressing and combatting extremism within Israeli society. What are the implications of each path, and what challenges might lie ahead as Israel navigates these critical crossroads?

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make smart financial decisions in a four-part series lead by local YAD superstar Rachel Grafman! This engaging four-part series breaks down essential topics like budgeting, saving, job hunting, and credit cards into easy-to-follow steps. This series is perfect for young adults starting their financial journey and will equip you with the tools to build a secure and successful future.

*You can attend any or all of the sessions, you do not have to commit to attending all four!

Learn More about Rachel: Rachel “Chuch” Grafman is a personal finance coach with her practice Prosperity Personal Finance. She began her financial journey as many people do, saddled with debt, feeling out of control with money, and unsure what to do about it. When she graduated college, she quickly outspent her income and had to learn how to not only manage her money, but how to leverage it to work for her. She paid off her student and auto loans in full less than four years after graduating and bought her first condo a year later. In the process, she gained skills and tools that she realized weren’t universally known, so she started Prosperity to help others help themselves. Chuch has received training from the University of Wisconsin and the Financial Coach Academy to help her best serve her clients and community. She is an active member of YAD and various other Colorado Jewish organizations.

Session Topics:
Session 1: February 5th: Budgeting & Saving, Goal Setting, and Plan Making
Session 2: February 12th: Job Hunting, Salary Negotiation, Side Hustles and Building Additional Income
Session 3: February 19th: Credit Cards and Credit Scores
Session 4: February 26th: Talking Finances with a Partner & Dating on a Budget

Cost: $5/ session, $15/ all four sessions. Please note that payment must be received before the start of each session in order for you to attend.

Enjoy a welcoming attitude of “convivio”- a gathering where anyone and everyone is welcome to shar and savor delectable food and drink – Convivio Cafe is a women and immigrant-owned, Guatemalan-inspired café built around this central idea.

Sign up today as space is limited!

YAD serves Jewish adults ages 21-45. Questions? Email Kpodolak@JEWISHcolorado.org. 

Join JEWISHcolorado’s Family Engagement programs, Jewish Explorers and PJ Library, for a private event at the Butterfly Pavilion using our five senses to celebrate Havdalah, engage in kid-friendly activities with Jewish community organizations that provide programming for families with young children, and get to experience the Butterfly Pavilion exhibits! Join us for an afternoon of fun activities and delicious snacks. Kosher dietary laws observed. Geared toward ages 0-8. All are welcome! Mitzvah project TBD.

Thanks to our community partners: 
Bonai Shalom, Boulder JCC, Har Hashem, HEA Denver, Honeymoon Israel, Jewish Experience, JCC Ranch Camp, JCC Denver, JOI, Nevei Kodesh, Rodef, Shwayder, Temple Sinai, DJDS, Chabad NW Metro Denver, Ramah in the Rockies

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make smart financial decisions in a four-part series lead by local YAD superstar Rachel Grafman! This engaging four-part series breaks down essential topics like budgeting, saving, job hunting, and credit cards into easy-to-follow steps. This series is perfect for young adults starting their financial journey and will equip you with the tools to build a secure and successful future.

*You can attend any or all of the sessions, you do not have to commit to attending all four!

Learn More about Rachel: Rachel “Chuch” Grafman is a personal finance coach with her practice Prosperity Personal Finance. She began her financial journey as many people do, saddled with debt, feeling out of control with money, and unsure what to do about it. When she graduated college, she quickly outspent her income and had to learn how to not only manage her money, but how to leverage it to work for her. She paid off her student and auto loans in full less than four years after graduating and bought her first condo a year later. In the process, she gained skills and tools that she realized weren’t universally known, so she started Prosperity to help others help themselves. Chuch has received training from the University of Wisconsin and the Financial Coach Academy to help her best serve her clients and community. She is an active member of YAD and various other Colorado Jewish organizations.

Session Topics:
Session 1: February 5th: Budgeting & Saving, Goal Setting, and Plan Making
Session 2: February 12th: Job Hunting, Salary Negotiation, Side Hustles and Building Additional Income
Session 3: February 19th: Credit Cards and Credit Scores
Session 4: February 26th: Talking Finances with a Partner & Dating on a Budget

Cost: $5/ session, $15/ all four sessions. Please note that payment must be received before the start of each session in order for you to attend.

Presented in partnership with The CELL and Temple Emanuel

Don’t miss this talk by counterterrorism and intelligence expert Dr. Matthew Levitt, who looks at the future of the north in Israel with Hezbollah. Leavitt is author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God. His book was the first thorough examination of Hezbollah’s covert activities beyond Lebanon’s borders, including its financial and logistical support networks and its criminal and terrorist operations worldwide. Levitt will show convincingly how Hezbollah’s willingness to use violence at home and abroad, its global reach, and its proxy-patron relationship with the Iranian regime all continue to be of serious concern.

Registration coming soon.

Join the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) as we honor Matt Most with the Community Leadership Award and Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet with the Legislative Leadership Award in recognition of their contributions to the community and advocacy for positive change.

Matt Most | Community Leadership Award Recipient
Matt Most is a co-founder of the SHEFA Innovation Foundry and the co-chair of the Council for a Secure America. Prior to these roles, Matt has had a 35-year career in energy and environmental commodities including Vice President of Government Relations at Ovintiv (formerly Encana Oil & Gas), Senior Energy Trader at Edison Mission Energy, and Commodities Center Director at Waste Management, Inc. Matt has been involved with the JCRC since 2015, serving as chair from 2022-2024 and its interim director for much of 2024. Under his leadership, the JCRC helped secure nearly $2 million in nonprofit security grants for Colorado organizations and defeat numerous anti-Israel resolutions and bills. His extensive board service includes positions with the Anti-Defamation League Mountain States, the Children’s Museum of Denver, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, JEWISHcolorado and many others.

The Honorable Dafna Michaelson Jenet | Legislative Leadership Award Recipient
Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives for seven years before moving on to the Senate, where she was recently elected President pro-tempore. Her legislative work primarily focuses on youth, particularly foster youth, mental health, and healthcare access. Further areas of advocacy include her lifelong efforts to increase education surrounding the Holocaust and genocide. In 2020, Senator Michaelson Jenet successfully created and passed a historic bill mandating inclusion of Holocaust and Genocide education in high school curricula in the state of Colorado. Prior to this, she served as the Director of the Holocaust Awareness Institute of the University of Denver as well as the Director of March of the Living for the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York. In addition, the Senator was president of the Denver chapter of Hadassah; she served on the Desert-Mountain Region Board and in the National Portfolio Council of this organization.

Join us for a kid-friendly “nosh & desert” Passover Seder. We’ll nosh, enjoy a fun interactive, and meaningful kid-friendly Passover Seder with dessert as the “meal” and celebrate this special holiday together as a community!

Jewish Explorers welcomes Jewish and multifaith families with preschool and elementary school-age children. Through weekly and monthly classroom programs, Shabbat dinners, and holiday celebrations, we provide opportunities to learn about Jewish values, culture, traditions, and holidays through interactive activities, arts and crafts, music, PJ library books, and more. Together, we have built a community that is warm, welcoming, and celebrates the diversity of our families, connecting families to each other, the Colorado Jewish community, and Israel.

For more information about Jewish Explorers, please email Cindy Coons, Director of Jewish Explorers & Family Engagement, CCoons@JEWISHcolorado.org.