J'Burgh

JBurgh serves a vital role in the Pittsburgh region by bringing together young Jewish professionals through community events, social networking, and cultural programming.

I was reluctant to join J'burgh because of a bad overall experience at my collegiate Hillel. From the first time I met David Katz I was convinced, and have felt accepted and wanted at every event. The variety of activites and people involved is part of what makes the group great. David genuinely cares about the program as well as the members, and is an excellent leader for the group. Pretty much, J'Burgh flat-out rocks.

They have been a great organization that brings young people together with common interests. The activities are fun and unique to the interests of the participants.

I have been to a few events with J'Burgh, and have enjoyed them all. I like how relaxed the environment can be at programs. Everyone is very friendly, and often hang out on their own or after events, such as after art shows or sports events. It is a great crowd of people.

I've been to many J'Burgh events (seders, cookouts, athletic events, etc). Moving to a new city can be hard if you don't know people and J-Burgh is a welcoming community that hosts actually fun events for Jewish young adults, like poker games and international film festivals, and also important Jewish holiday dinners and Shabbat dinners. All in all, it's a great way to feel at home in Pittsburgh for Jewish young adults who recently moved there for work or grad school, and a good place to meet friends or even significant others.

i take part in activitis of j'burgh, they are allways fun to take part in and help me maintain my jewish heriteg, for me and my kids as well

Being from Pittsburgh, J'Burgh's programs have helped me reconnect with those I knew from my childhood but also meet new people in my age group as well. I have always been accustomed to a Friday night Shabbat experience (service, dinner, oneg, etc.) with those in my age group, whether it was through Hillel in college, USY or Camp Ramah. I have been able to continue that Friday night experience while participating in J'Burgh's East End Minyan.

I have enjoyed all of the events that I attended. I had a good time being part of the kickball team.

I am not involved in the daily activities as I am too old!!! I am involved in the Jewish University Center - Hillel.

J'Burgh has revolutionized the role of young adults in the ages of 21-29. Its work with UJF's Shalom Pittsburgh and Young Adult is remarkable. Thank you J'Burgh and keep up the good work!

I have attended movie nights and play on J'Burgh sports teams. Poker nights are fun, too. J'Burgh is a really cool organization. I'm glad my mom forced me to check it out. Good job, mom. J'Burgh is great!

Being new to Pittsburgh last year, J'Burgh allowed me to get involved and meet people right away. The people are great and the various religious backgrounds allow you find something that fits for you. I like the Shabbat dinners best.

J’Burgh has provided my daughter with wonderful opportunities in the Jewish community. I have seen her leadership abilities and overall confidence increase due to the benefits of this organization.

Great org. Really like the activities it organizes for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. As a leader of an Israeli organization operating in Pittsburgh (Israel On Campus) - I appreciate the help we received from J'Burgh on different initiatives we had. Ziv

Going to friday night dinner and services and various other events. It was very fun and I met a lot of people.

J'Burgh provides the missing link between Hillel on college campuses and Jewish organizations geared towards adult family life. The events ranging from holiday parties and Shabbat dinners to movie nights are a great way to meet other young Jewish professionals and grad students.

I have been a member of J'Burgh for quite a while now, and I love being a part of such a wonderful group of people! David Katz is to be commended on organizing this ever-increasing group of Jewish professionals into trips, events, and holiday celebrations. I consider myself lucky to have gotten involved with J'Burgh when I first moved to Pittsburgh, because I was able to make friends much faster. In fact, some of my closest friends today are people I met through J'Burgh. The programs offered are always interesting and diverse; the events range from movies and plays to museums and lectures. J'Burgh truly is a great organization.

Excellent organization! Friday night dinners are great! It was easy to work with David Katz when I had a dinner at my house.

Dave Katz is a friendly and likable guy who does a fantastic job at developing and executing programs for Jewish young professionals and grad students, regardless of the flavor of their Judaism. He knows the community very well, and he's a pleasure to work with. J'Burgh should continue to flourish under his leadership.

The J'Burgh model is so unique. It targets an audience between college and married w/ children that is often overlooked. It has also made a strong connection between grad students in Pittsburgh and other young otherwise unaffiliated Jews. Its success should be duplicated in other cities!

J'Burgh provides high quality programming to an audience who doesn't like their time wasted. J'Burgh's success comes from careful planning and investment in strong volunteer leadership. J'Burgh is having a clear impact on strengthening and securing Pittsburgh's Jewish community by helping young adults plant firm Jewish roots.

Was a great experience working with JBurgh....its a great organization that does great things for the community and their memebers

Though I haven't personally been involved (and am not Jewish), I've watched as J'Burgh became a major part of my friend's life. This is a great organization, and all the more impressive for how recently it was created.

J'Burgh has lots of great programs for little/no money, awesome people and good networking opportunities for young professionals in the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. Great for yinzers and out of towners alike!

J'Burgh has done a great job programming fun and exciting activities for grad students and young adults. The programs are fresh and innovative. J'Burgh has really helped to improve the Jewish young professional scene in Pittsburgh.

Stop spamming me. If I didn't want to review the organization the first ten times I got an email then I wouldn't be leaving a bad review now. Give it a rest. This survey doesn't mean a darned thing.

J'Burgh organizes fantastic social gatherings and shabbat and holiday programs. Their events are a great place to meet and socialize with graduate students and young professionals in the Pittsburgh ares. The environment is always warm and welcoming.

I work in the Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and we partner with J'Burgh fairly frequently on programs since the age ranges we serve often overlap. It's always a pleasure working with J'Burgh. They do a fantastic job coming up with hip, interesting programming, which is key when you're working with college students and young adults. Kudos to J'Burgh, and keep up the good work!

Although I have moved out of the Pittsburgh area, I have many friends who are still living there and very active in J'Burgh. Each of them speak very highly of the program and it appears to really add to their experience in the city. I am glad that it is there to support this age group and wish there was a similar program in the area I now live in.

J'Burgh is a great organization. It has provided me with many opportunities to get involved with other Jewish young adults in a variety of programs and activities. There is no pressure to be more religious, with events ranging from sports teams, cultural shows, and cooking lessons. For those interested, holidays are celebrated in such way that interests my age group, such as a Megillah reading at a bar. As a graduate student, when I can't get home for the holidays, I know with J'Burgh, I can attend services and have a festive meal. With the wide variety of opportunities, there is truly something for everyone. It has created a close community in Pittsburgh for Jewish young adults!

An outstanding innovative program that is reaching a historically neglected population. The programming is varied so that there is something there for everyone. Well done.

As a new member of the Hillel JUC Board I have been inspired by the impact of J'Burgh on the young-adult population so critical to the future of the Jewish community. J'Burgh is a creative program tailored to the unique needs and expectations of young adults as they make critical decisions regarding community and affiliation. It is a protoptype that should be used in many other demographic populations.

J'Burgh is a great asset to the Pittsburgh community. The leadership of David Katz is outstanding. They participate in other community programs as a team.

Although I moved from Pittsburgh shortly after I became aware of J'Burgh, the organization has had a profound impact on my feeling part of the greater American Jewish community. There is no better opportunity for Jewish adults to celebrate their unique and evolving culture, and I hope that a similar organization forms in the Denver area soon! I think that J'Burgh is a terrific outlet for the great potential that Pittsburgh's Jewish young adults exhibit to make a positive impact, and I am honored to have been involved with them, even if for a short time.

David Katz does a great job of getting as many people as possible involved and at the same time organizing a huge range of events.

Was Awesome. Met a lot of nice people. Had a great time. Was a great experience and I will continue to participate in their programs.

I've had an amazing experience being involved in J'Burgh for the past year+. I am mostly involved in the sports activities J'Burgh participates in. Win or lose its great to get together with young jewish adults like myself. I think David Kats is doing a fabulous job with J'Burgh. From shabbat dinners to kickball on mondays there are so many activities for a variety of people.

J'Burgh is meaningful but fun, well-run and seems to be very much "on the grow" -- the organizations offers a wide range of spiritual, cultural, political and intellectual activities, and is becoming more and more important to the young Jewish social scene of Pittsburgh! Please consider rewarding this up-and-coming organization with the recognition it deserves -- positive public relations can only serve to enhance the parts of its mission that are already going strong.

J'Burgh does a great job reaching out to the Jewish graduate and young professionals in the Pittsburgh area. They provide great community oreinted events for people new to the area and those who are here for a predetermined amount of time for study and fellowships. The organization is very inclusive and welcoming and open to new ideas that make all feel wanted and comfortable. There are many opportunities provided by J'Burgh to participate in cultural events and lecture series in the Pittsburgh area. Also there are a number of events for professional and social networking that provide particapants with a way to create important bonds and connections in Pittsburgh.

J'Burgh is a geat organization that provides young adults and graduate students with so many wonderful opportunities-community service, social programs, cultural opportunities, etc. I recently moved and am looking for something similar to J'Burgh in DC to provide the same thing.

J'Burgh is a great organization getting Jewish grads and recent grads together for tons of events from shabbat dinner to kickball. It empowers its members to plans events that want.

Wonderful programming provided by very passionate professionals. There was a group of participants who came to our synagogue for High Holiday services.

As a recent graduate in the pittsburgh area J'Burgh has proven a great way to stay connected with the young Jewish community while moving away from the university setting.

I had a blast meeting young Jewish people in the Pittsburgh area! These are programs that are meaningful AND fun! J'Burgh is an outstanding program that I'm happy to have been a part of.

Great organization to meet friendly people with my age and interests. A variety of events- sports, movies, holiday gatherings with something for everyone. Very inviting.

Let's be honest...there were not many organizations in Pittsburgh which catered to young Jewish people. This is exactly what Pittsburgh needed. I have enjoyed myself more at J'Burgh events than all other local Jewish events in Pittsburgh combined. I am grateful for J'Burgh and excited for the next event.

This organization has great programming that is available to a wide array of interests. THe program has grown so much since under the leadership of David Katz

Great organization. Works hard to include everyone in the graduate/ young professional Jewish community in Pittsburgh and create a friendly environment.

J'burgh has been incredibly supportive of Maimonides, the Jewish medical student organization at the University of Pittsburgh, throughout my time there. David Katz (who runs J'burgh) has reached out to us consistently and has helped us achieve more with the limited resources available to us. He has connected us to Jewish community leaders who have gone on to speak to the med student community, included the Maimonides students in J'burgh's annual High Holidays functions (including a delicious Break Fast meal), and helped us procure much-needed funding through various organizations in Pittsburgh. Maimonides would not be anywhere close to the organization it now is without J'burgh's proactive and enthusiastic approach! Ben Israel President, Maimonides MS-II University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

This is a great way to meet people in the area, especially if you are new. Lots of great activities and events.

Every J'Burgh program I have attended has been engaging, with a good mix of interesting people and a lot of fun. Keep it up!

While I was born in Pittsburgh, I have not lived here for a number of years, and recently returned for a job. I'm amazed at how open and friendly everyone is in J'Burgh. The organization continues to grow, which benefits all of the participants by extending their network of friends. I don't know of any other cities that place such value on their future leaders? J'Burgh is empowering their participants to take an active role in creating their Jewish environment and I commend this organization for doing that.

As a college Senior who is looking to stay in Pittsburgh, I'm very excited about what J'Burgh has to offer. I know that immediately after leaving my Hillel Community, there will be an exciting group for me to participate in. We are lucky to have an organization in this city that allows young adults to celebrate their Judaism with their friends!

I moved to Pittsburgh from Cincinnati 1 year ago, and have been able to watch J'Burgh grow over the course of the past year. From BBQ's to hosting a Jew Eat? in my apartment, J'Burgh has helped me to build my personal Jewish community here in Pittsburgh!

Excellent program, a variety of activities, and very pleasant people to work with. My stay in this country (coming from Israel) is much bettered by the

I joined J'Burgh a few weeks after I moved here from a different city. It was a wonderful way to be introduced to the Pittsburgh Jewish community, and everyone made me feel right at home. There are always fun things to do with the group from holiday celebrations and Shabbat dinners to parties and group outings to the theater and sporting events. Two of the highlights for me were seeing Topol in "Fiddler on the Roof" and Yitzchak Perlman in concert, but I enjoy every event I go to.

I represent a local foundation that helps JUC with funds for its various programs. We were involved in the capital campaign and have continued our support and interest in the ongoing effort. A few of us have been on the board and are very well informed and knowledgeable about the program achievement. We also have two students in the program who have had good experiences.It truly has been reaching the older student while not missing a beat with the undergraduate.

It's been great to experience a renewed focus on programming for Jewish post-undergraduates and professionals in Pittsburgh! The social and sporting events are a great way to interact with local Jews in what is otherwise a rather small community, where meeting Jews in our age bracket is not always so easy. In the past, the Pitt/CMU Hillel had not given much attention to anyone except undergraduate students; it promised a lot but never diverted enough resources. What is the point of trying to form a Jewish community if after you graduate the community ends? Finally now there is a full-time director for J'Burgh, and David Katz has shown that he is committed to doing an awesome job! Some things still lacking are better connections with the local Jewish community, more empowerment of others to volunteer to organize more events, and of course more funding for social events.

This has been a great group for me to make professional and social networking contacts. David does a great job.

This is an essential program for many Jews throughout Pittsburgh. It has been a draw for many people who choose to attend graduate school here. I have always enjoyed interacting with the staff and students.

J'Burgh is an incredibly unique program in Pittsburgh. I have been involved in J'Burgh for over a year, serving as an active member and cultural chair on the planning board. It is an amazing organization, providing young Jewish professionals and grad students with an opportunity to meet other Jewish people, while at the same time learning more about Pittsburgh and all that the city has to offer. Varied programming allows people to explore different aspects of Judiasm, and serves as a support system for those searching for their own Jewish identity as a young professional. I have made many good friends through East End Minyan, which is a monthly potluck Shabbat dinner, or through my softball and kickball teams with the Pittsburgh Sports League. I have helped plan many cultural events, including events at the Benedum theater to see Yitzhak Perlman, or exploring new bands in areas being revitalized throughout Pittsburgh. We plan on having many more in the coming months, too! I think that J'Burgh is doing a great job of achieving its goal of bringing Jewish young professionals together. This was the first year I have spent the High Holidays with friends; we attended services together for Rosh Hashanah, even met a few new people, and then for Yom Kippur I hosted a potluck pre-fast at my house. This was very special for me, because it was the first time in Pittsburgh that I have felt really connected to other Jewish peers, and I really enjoyed spending the holidays with good friends. I would like to see members of J'Burgh connect with other organizations in the Pittsburgh region. Our members possess a range of talents, come from different backgrounds, and most, if not all, are involved in other organizations or social networks. It would be great to see J'Burgh's presence expand not only within the Jewish community (Hillel, synagogues, etc.), but also within a larger interdisciplinary network, supporting social action, fundraisers, arts programs, etc. Imagine the impact and success rate we could have if we paired up with another non-profit to help communities in need; not only would it increase the credibility and expansion of both orgs. within the community, but it would also help expose its members to other networking opportunities. J'Burgh has come a long way since I have joined, and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow and succeed, fostering relationships and proving wonderful experiences for young Jewish professionals in Pittsburgh.

I was the programming intern/assistant for J'Burgh during the fall 2008 semester. J'Burgh has really innovative programming and has so much to offer Jewish graduates and young professionals in the Pittsburgh area. I loved working for David and for J'Burgh and I am always excited to see it grow within each year.

J'burgh is really great. When I moved here from Cincinnati for grad school I didn't know that there was a place for me to hang out and interact with other Jewish young adults my age. I've met dozens of new friends through J'burgh and David Katz, the director, really made me feel comfortable in the community. I attend as many events as I can...the Jewish Law Students group has had a bunch of great events and the sports events and high holidays were very fun and intimate.

As a grad student in Pittsburgh 2007-2009, I saw J'Burgh grow. In my experience, J'Burgh does a good job of trying to meet the challenge needs of the post-college, pre-kids, Jewish demographic.