Tu B’shvat Seder at Moishe House Austin. Courtesy: Moishe House Austin

Contributed by Mem Global

Jewish young adults have a new place to engage in Jewish life and build friendships in Austin with the opening of Moishe House Austin in East Austin. Like other Moishe Houses around the world, Moishe House Austin will have 3-4 residents who live in the house and create programming for their peers, building a home-base hub for local Jewish young adults. From Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations to community service projects and casual get-togethers, every program is designed to bring people together in meaningful and memorable ways.

The residents, Mai Texerman, age 25, and Mor Schlesinger, age 30, are looking to create a house that reflects the city’s creative, inclusive, and collaborative spirit.

““When I’m not frolicking in nature, listening to live music, or browsing local thrift stores, I can be found in a local coffee shop smiling at strangers, petting dogs, or riffing with the barista, I’m taking the opportunity of moving to Austin to try new things and explore how to align my energy and output with my skills and hopes for the world,” Texerman said.

“My work currently consists of a land investment business that I am the sole owner and operator of – I purchase and sell raw land across the United States. I have a passion for food – cooking, hosting meals, and exploring the food scenes in different places. I also have a passion for community. Mai and I have lived in a few intentional communities this past year in Oregon and Portugal. It’s something I found very enriching and have learned a lot from in regards to how to live and work in proximity with diverse sets of people,” Schlesinger said.

Programming will blend Israeli and American Jewish culture with wellness, music, and experiential gatherings. Their approach emphasizes co-creation, peer-led leadership, and accessible, low-barrier programming, filling a gap in Austin’s Jewish ecosystem for informal, inclusive spaces where people can connect socially and spiritually.  They are currently looking for one or two other residents to join the house.

“If you’re a young Jew looking for a place to relax and connect, look no further,” Texerman and Schlesinger said. “We are passionate about creating an inclusive space for Jews to engage and celebrate their multifaceted identities. We are deeply rooted in our Jewish culture, having spent more than 20 cumulative years in Israel, but have each had our fair share of hostel-hopping around the world- chasing new experiences, diverse perspectives, and beautiful views. We love hosting shabbat potlucks followed by the occasional spontaneous jam session. We are passionate about wellness, music, and learning, and are happy to connect over a good cup of coffee. We are always seeking to collaborate with community members and organizations to add variety and interest to our events.”

Their first event in January turned into a spontaneous song circle. They then organized a two-stepping event and hosted a Tu B’shvat seder. Upcoming events include a house musical show, tree planting, Israeli movie night at a local theater, a Rosh Chodesh women’s circle, and a game night.