In the first few minutes of Dan Senor’s recent podcast episode, “The State of World Jewry,” he and his guests tap into something deep and quietly urgent. The episode isn’t about just the rise in antisemitism (although that’s in there too). It’s about something more nuanced: The desire so many Jews feel – especially those of us raised without strong communal institutions – for connection. For meaning. For belonging.
And here’s what hit me while listening: Jewfolk is one of the answers to that yearning. Especially for those of us who feel like we came to this search “too late.” And as the Board Chair for Jewfolk, I will tell you how real that experience is – because I feel the same way.
Maybe you didn’t go to Jewish summer camp. I didn’t either. Maybe Hebrew school was more of a carpool negotiation than a formative experience. It was the same for me. Maybe you’ve Googled “what is Shavuot?” more times than you’d like to admit. Only a few times for me. And maybe you’ve watched your friends find meaning in Jewish community and thought, that looks nice, but it’s probably too late for me. Absolutely!
But it’s not. That’s the whole point.
One of the most powerful takeaways from Senor’s conversation is the idea that the Jewish future hinges on adults – yes, adults – rediscovering what it means to be part of something bigger. Not just for their kids, but for themselves. The institutions of childhood are important, of course. Day school and camp and youth groups matter. But if those weren’t your entry points, you’re not disqualified.
Jewfolk exists for this exact moment. We’re not a synagogue or a school or a Federation. We’re a community builder – offering content, conversations, and connections that feel relevant and rooted at the same time. We meet you where you are, whether you’re in your first year of parenting, your 17th year of therapy, or your third round of trying to find a Haggadah that doesn’t make you cringe.
When we publish articles, host podcasts like Who the Folk?!, or throw events like Jewish networking meetups, we’re saying: You belong here. Even if you’ve never quite felt that way before.
Look – I get the skepticism. I’ve been the person standing awkwardly at the edge of a Jewish event wondering if I was too old, too out-of-place, too behind to jump in. But what I’ve seen, again and again, is that the Jewish community is not a gated garden. It’s more like a potluck. Everyone brings something, even if it’s just a willingness to show up.
Dan Senor talks about the need to rebuild Jewish infrastructure in a way that meets this moment – not the one we wish we were in, but the one we’re actually in. A moment where digital community matters. Where grown adults are asking big questions about identity, family, safety, and faith. Where we crave each other’s stories as much as we crave stability.
That’s the world Jewfolk was built for. I know, because Jewfolk was built for people like me, and like you.
So if you’re reading this and thinking, I’m not Jewish enough or it’s too late for me, I want to gently, lovingly push back. You’re already here. You clicked the link. You’re curious. That’s more than enough to start. Come join me.
Let’s build something together.
Ready to find your place in Jewish community? Here’s how:
- Listen to an episode of The Kibbitz and come to the The Kibbitz Launch Party
- Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss an event or story
- DM us on Instagram and say hi — we actually read them.
- Check out our options for Shabbat in the Park this summer and come say hi!
- Come hear local storytelling at our Stories from the Tribe event.
