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September 27, 2023

WE ARE 2023 Spotlight – MHWOW Host Marni Riese

By Loán Lake

Spotlight on MHWOW Host Marni Riese

Durban MHWOW Host Marni Riese

In high school and college, Moishe House Without Walls (MHWOW) host Marni Riese was dubbed the ‘party planner’ by her peers. She was also a leader for Netzer Olami, the global Zionist youth movement of Progressive Jews, so Marni was a natural fit to become part of the Moishe House family. Marni, who now resides in Durban, South Africa, first joined the Moishe House community in 2015 as a resident in Cape Town, South Africa. “I had the most amazing experience with the Moishe House team and my fellow housemates – one of whom is now one of my best friends! I also worked for my synagogue as their events manager, so I got the best exposure in running Jewish holiday and general events. In Moishe House Cape Town…we ran the most awesome (in my opinion) events for our community!” she said. In 2021, Marni relocated to Durban and found it difficult to connect with other Jewish young adults. She applied to become a MHWOW host so she could create her own community and practice Judaism in her own way. Now, Marni replicates the traditional Friday night dinners of her childhood as she builds a pluralistic community of like-minded young adults. Marni is most proud of the invaluable connection and spirit that she shares with community members all over the world, especially those she has encountered at various Moishe House retreats. She feels privileged to be a Moishe House community builder and that fuels her support for the WE ARE campaign and her commitment to bringing people together. One of her most impactful moments was the warm welcome she received at her first community builder conference. “Everyone was so kind and welcoming and now I have an incredible network of friends all over the world that I regularly connect with. It [has] opened my eyes to new experiences and cultures as well, knowing that there are people out there who, like me, are committed to making the world a better place!” Marni said. “[This community] is invaluable, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. If I could express my gratitude to Moishe House in a letter, it would include many, many things, but most of all a HUGE thank you to the community managers and various other members of the Moishe House staff [whom] I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. They are the ones who inspire(d) me to continue to be a great host through their obvious love for their work and the organization,” Marni said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be as fiercely passionate about Moishe House and its mission as I am today. I am truly blessed to have been and still be involved in Moishe House, and certainly do not take it for granted.” See more of Marni’s Moishe House journey on our Instagram feed. Follow Marni on IG Learn more about Moishe House programs.