20 Years of Mem Global
Join us as we celebrate 20 years of extraordinary global Jewish community
This year, we’re celebrating an incredible milestone: Mem Global’s 20th anniversary. Since 2006, we’ve supported hundreds of thousands of Jewish young adults around the world to build vibrant communities, explore Jewish tradition, and celebrate their Jewish identities. Along the way we’ve grown and evolved — launching new programs, expanding globally, and introducing the Mem Global parent brand.
But the heart of our mission has never changed: helping Jewish young adults to lead thriving Jewish lives that they shape for themselves. As dreamers, leaders, and educators, Mem Global participants around the world are stepping up to write the next chapter of our Jewish story – and they’re just getting started.
25
+
Countries
150
+
Communities
100,000
+
Young Adults Reached
12,000
+
Programs Hosted
Our History
Mem Global began in 2006, when a group of college graduates too old for campus programs, yet too young for most institutional offerings, decided to host their own Shabbat dinner. They expected a small gathering of a few friends. Instead, 73 people showed up, all looking for the same thing: Jewish community. With that one dinner, it became clear that something was missing, and something new was possible.
With support from philanthropist Morris Squire, David Cygielman – now Mem Global’s Founder and CEO – turned that Shabbat dinner into the first Moishe House: a new home for Jewish life, led by Jewish young adults, for Jewish young adults.
What began as one Moishe House has grown into an incredible global network, with thousands more Shabbat dinners, peer-led programs, and exciting immersive experiences.
Today, we’re continuing to live out the mission of that very first House: giving Jewish young adults opportunities to connect, learn, and lead. Over the years, our impact has grown, reaching Jewish young adults all around the world and adding exciting new programs to the Mem Global family. Through these welcoming, vibrant spaces, we’re not just building community for today – we’re building a joyful Jewish future
January 2006
David Cygielman hosts a Shabbat dinner for Jewish young adults in Oakland, California, supported by the Forest Foundation. 73 people attend.
March 2007
The first Moishe House opens in Oakland.
June 2007
The first global Moishe House opens outside of the United States, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
May 2008
Moishe House receives its first donation…that’s not from philanthropist Morris Squire.
August 2008
Moishe House submits paperwork to officially become a 501c3 nonprofit.
October 2008
Moishe House Beijing opens, becoming the first Moishe House in Asia.
April 2009
Moishe House establishes a Board of Directors to advise and guide operations, with Mike Nissenson as the first Board Chair.
July 2009
In Chicago, the first Moishe House especially for the Russian-Speaking Jewish community opens.
October 2009
Moishe House Chisinau opens in Moldova — the first Moishe House in the former Soviet Union.
February 2010
Moishe House and its mission of building community among Jewish young adults is featured in the New York Times.
August 2011
29 young adults gather in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first Mem Global learning retreat, all about Sukkot.
September 2011
The first hub office opens in Charlotte, North Carolina.
November 2011
Moishe House opens its first global office, in London.
March 2012
The first Staffy Con is held in Texas. Every staff member (then 15 people) is there.
May 2012
Moishe House Without Walls (MHWOW) launches in San Diego. The first program is a Havdalah ceremony on the beach, attended by 22 people.
October 2012
The first RSJ (Russian-Speaking Jewish) Con for Moishe House Residents is held in Kyiv, Ukraine.
November 2012
The first Internatty Con, for Moishe House Residents and MHWOW Hosts outside of North America, is held in Budapest, Hungary. In later years, this event will be renamed ‘Global Con.’
January 2013
The second U.S. hub office opens in Encinitas, California.
May 2014
The first Retreatology training is held in Dover, Massachusetts for 48 enthusiastic participants.
February 2015
Moishe House launches the Moishe House International Fund, raising funds especially to support its growing global communities.
September 2015
The first WE ARE Campaign kicks off, beginning a vibrant annual tradition. During WE ARE, Jewish young adults lead fundraising events in their communities, inviting their participants to give back to the programs that mean the most to them.
May 2017
Camp Nai Nai Nai launches in Pennsylvania, welcoming over 120 participants for a weekend of Jewish summer camp magic!
September 2017
With the opening of Moishe House Atlanta – Buckhead, there are officially 100 Moishe Houses open around the world. Now known as Moishe House Atlanta – Brookhaven, the 100th House is still open and welcoming Jewish young adults in the Atlanta area.
October 2017
Moishe House Tel Aviv – RSJ opens, becoming the first Russian-Speaking Jewish House in Israel — and is still open today.
January 2019
The first Moishe Pod (a Moishe House with only two Residents) opens in Miami, led by two best friends.
May 2019
Moishe House receives the Jerusalem Unity Prize for their work empowering Jewish young adults around the world. The Prize is awarded by the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.
March 2021
Base joins Moishe House, helping Jewish young adults to build relationships with talented rabbis. Base Bay and Base Denver would open soon after.
August 2021
The third U.S. hub office opens in Chicago.
March 2022
Moishe House launches the Ukrainian Relief Fund to support its Community Builders in Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
March 2022
The fourth and fifth U.S. hub offices open in New York and Washington, DC.
August 2023
Embark, a program helping interfaith and multiheritage couples to explore Jewish life with the pressure to convert, joins Moishe House. The first Embark cohort as part of Moishe House is held the following January, in Denver.
January 2025
The Mem Global parent brand is introduced, celebrating our global identity and bringing our growing range of programs, from Moishe House to Embark, together under one umbrella.
The story of Mem Global isn’t just one story: it’s thousands. Each person who has been a part of our community, whether as a young adult leader, a staff member, or a supporter, has made an impact on us – and felt that impact in return. For our 20th anniversary, we’ll be featuring 20 of those incredible stories, through the eyes of the people who lived them. From sparking lifelong friendships, to inspiring powerful new initiatives, or enjoying the everyday magic of community, we’ll be looking back on the moments that made us who we are.
We’ll be sharing these stories throughout 2026, so continue to visit this page to explore new highlights from our community!
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Cody Greenes
Cody Greenes had been, as he describes, a “completely uninvolved Jew” before discovering Moishe House Philadelphia – but once a law school classmate invited him (and one visit turned into many) something…
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Maryam Chisti
What began as one Moishe House during lockdown became something much bigger. Maryam built the kind of Jewish community she had been searching for all…
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Isaac Zones
Before there was a global network, there was one apartment and a big idea. Isaac helped establish one of the first Moishe Houses and later…
It’s been 20 years of delicious Shabbat dinners, lively learning circles, and powerful Jewish community – and that’s only the beginning. Help us honor this anniversary with these exciting 20 opportunities to give and make a difference to the programs that matter most to Jewish young adults around the world.
Jewish life has always passed down stories, traditions, and values across generations. Learn how to make Jewish community part of your legacy with Mem Global’s Legacy Society and support future generations to build Jewish lives rooted in authenticity, joy, and belonging.
$
5,000,000
Endow the Mem Global International Fund
$
2,500,000
Endow a Base
$
1,200,000
Endow a Moishe House
$
800,000
Endow a Moishe Pod
$
300,000
Sponsor Natty Con, the North American Resident training conference for the US
$
250,000
Sponsor Camp Nai Nai Nai Cruise, an immersive learning experience for 500+ participants
$
150,000
Match all gifts for the WE ARE campaign, our annual young adult led fundraiser
Sponsored by: Laura Katz Cutler and Mike Cutler, and the Eleanor and Herbert Katz Family Foundation
$
136,000
Support increased safety and security measures across Mem Global programs and gatherings
$
188,000
Sponsor Global Con, the global Resident training conference for Europe, FSU, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
$
100,000
Support the 20th Anniversary Global Shabbats
Sponsored by: Tina and Steve Price
$
72,000
Sponsor LatiCon, the Latin American Resident training conference
$
54,000
Sponsor a Moishe House for one year
$
40,000
Support a NAIM Resident gathering and Israeli Community Builders at all large Mem Global gatherings
$
30,000
Sponsor the 20th Anniversary Living Artwork, telling the story of our first twenty years and evolving with us for decades to come
Sponsored by: Anonymous
$
25,000
Sponsor a Mem Global Retreat for 30 young adult participants
$
25,000
Sponsor a year of programming at Base
$
18,000
Sponsor an Embark cohort
$
10,000
Sponsor a young adult Community Builder to sit on our board
Sponosred by: Anonymous
$
5,400
Sponsor a Moishe House Without Walls Host for one year (multiple sponsorships available)
Sponsored by: Myka and David Cygielman
$
3,600
Sponsor a year of one-on-one learning through the Jewish Learning Collaborative for a young professional
Help Us Write the Next Chapter
Thank you for being a part of 20 years of Mem Global. It’s been an incredible journey – and our work is far from over. Together, we will continue to ensure that every Jewish young adult has the resources and support they need to find their people, their purpose, and their place within the Jewish community. Join us in shaping the next 20 years.
