Mission I Leadership I Contact Us I Benefactors I FAQS
About GesherCity
GesherCity bridges young adults to the Austin Jewish community by providing personal networks and access to information and resources. Whether you are new to town or an established Austinite, GesherCity is your entry into the Jewish community. We’ll help you find just what you’re looking for.
FAQs
What is a Cluster?A Cluster is a group of individuals, led by a volunteer Cluster coordinator (“CC”), which gives people the opportunity to meet other others with similar interests in a welcoming environment. Clusters help people who are new in town, or new to the Jewish community, interact in an intimate, informal atmosphere.
Clusters are theme based - by geographic location, profession, hobby, interest, etc. – and are limited only by your creativity. On your initial sign up, you can join only one Cluster, however, if there are other Clusters you find interesting, you can log out and re-sign in to join other Clusters. Please limit the Clusters you join only to ones you will actively participate in, as space in Clusters is limited. Clusters last for four to six months. At that time, you will be able to sign up for a new Cluster or start one of your own.
Are There Leadership Opportunities For Me Within GesherCity Austin?
YES! There are lots of different ways to get involved in GesherCity Austin. If you are looking for a rewarding and fun way to meet new people, develop your leadership skills, and find your place in the young adult Jewish community, you can join the ranks of experienced leaders in GesherCity Boston. If you would like to learn more about or become a part of GesherCity Austin’s advisory board or become a cluster coordinator please call Dana Epstein at 795-9937 ext.17.
Why lead a Cluster?Meet New Friends
Personal Achievement
Skills Development
Network with other Young Adults
Get Involved in Something Worthwhile
Be a Part of an Organization Doing Great Things for Young Adults
Rewarding to Work with a Talented Group of Volunteers
Experience that Transfers to Professional Career
Give Back to Jewish Community
Build Connections to the Community
How much time will this take?
Four to six hours per month on average
Time includes:
“welcome call” to Cluster members
E-mails about your “Cluster get-together” or other Cluster related events
time planning your monthly Cluster get-together
Do I have to do Jewish stuff?
No. Part of the GesherCity mission is to “bridge young adults to the Jewish community.” Keeping this in mind, you can plan your events around any concept you choose as long as it relates to your Cluster’s theme. You can always decide what level of Jewish content each event should have.
If you would like to add more Jewish content to an event, but aren’t sure how, your JCC-GesherCity staff can be a great resource. Don’t be afraid to ask!
Will I get a date by joining GesherCity?Although a vast majority of our members are single, GesherCity is not a "Singles" program and we always strive to ensure that our programs are comfortable for everyone, regardless of their personal interests.
However, GesherCity does offer a wide variety of opportunities for all of its members to socialize with other Jewish young adults of both genders. A few members have met their significant others at programs or activities sponsored by GesherCity, but many more have formed long-lasting friendships with both men and women which span beyond GesherCity. If you are interested in learning about Jewish singles groups and dating services in the area, check our Resource guide or contact us for more information.
Is GesherCity competing with the other Jewish groups?
In no way do we want to compete with any other Jewish organization. In fact, our goal is to connect people to the Jewish community and other organizations by providing them with access to information and resources. We try to educate our members about the vast array of different organizations in the community and help each member find exactly what he/she is looking for.
Why do the different groups program events for the same day?
The Austin Jewish community is fortunate to have many organizations that offer people a large variety of ways to express their Judaism, whether through religious, cultural, or social events. Because there are so many organizations, two or more events are often scheduled for the same day; our mission is to connect people to as many resources as possible so therefore, we do not limit event postings to one a day.
How do I find a job?
Try checking the GesherCity bulletin boards first. You can also try Craigslist which has lots of rapidly updated job postings. The (local newspaper) is a good place to start, but it can be overwhelming because of ads that are not organized. Other printed resources include the Austin American Statesman. There are also several job publications that are available for free in those plastic/steel magazine racks on the city sidewalks. Even Ebay ( www.ebay.com) has jobs wanted.
Also check out www.jewishjobs.com. Looking around at the universities in the area is a good idea is well. You can look on their websites, contact their human resources departments, or even look for postings on campuses.
I'm new to Austin; where should I live?
Much of the answer depends on your priorities and your individual situation. Some things to consider are your finances, where you work or go to school, and whether or not you have a car.
If you are looking to live in a "Jewish neighborhood", then consider Far West off Mopac or the Arboretum area.
Austin rents are on the expensive side. Median rent for a one bedroom is _________, 2BR=_______and 3BR=__________ But, cheaper apartments do exist.
How can I find an apartment/roommate?
Check out the GesherCity bulletin boards or try the Austin American Statesman Saturday and Sunday real estate sections and their website www.austinamericanstatesman.com , Craigslist, and the alternative newspaper, the Austin Chronicle.
Popular online roommate services include Craigslist and www.roommateaccess.com .
If you are a student, try the off-campus housing office at your university. Many of them have listings for both apartments and roommates. Check out Kline Properties for some help and talk to David.
How do I find a synagogue? Where do a lot of young people go?
You can always call Dana Epstein at 795-9937 ext. 17 to talk about the various congregations or to try and find someone to check out services with or request a Shalom Austin guide to Jewish Living. The various congregations in Austin are listed below.
Congregation Agudas Achim (Conservative)
7300 Hart Lane, Austin TX 78731 Dell Jewish Community Campus
Visit http://www.caa-austin.org/ .
Temple Beth Shalom (Reform)
7300 Hart Lane, Austin TX 78731 Dell Jewish Community Campus
Visit http://www.bethshalomaustin.org
Congregation Beth Israel (Reform)
3901 Shoal Creek Blvd. Austin, TX 78756
Visit http://www.bethisrael.org/
Congregation: Kol Halev (Post-Denominational)
7300 Hart Lane, Austin TX 78731 Dell Jewish Community Campus
Visit www.kolhalev.org
Congregation Shalom Rav (Reconstructionist)
4700 Grover Ave. Austin, 78756 -First Unitarian Universalist Church
Visit www.main.org/shalomrav/calendar
Hillel (All Denominations)
2105 San Antonio St., Austin, TX 78705
Call 512-476-0125 or Visit www.texashillel.org
Congregation Shir Ami (Reform)
3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park (Live Oak Unitarian Church)
Visit www.shir-ami.org or call 1-877-715-1413
Congregation Beth El (Conservative)
8902 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78731
Visit www.BethElAustin@aol.com for more information.
Congregation Tiferet Israel (Orthodox)
Visit www.tiferetaustin.org
Congrgation Kol Hashalom (Co-operative, Non-Denominational)
Visit www.main.org/kolhashalom
Congregation Ohev Tsedek (Orthodox)
Call 345-5871
Chabad House- Lubavitch @
2101 Nueces, Austin, Texas 78705
- AND -
Chabad Center for Jewish Living @
7010 Village Center Drive, Austin, Texas, 78731
Please call 512-472-3900 for more information.
What are good day-trips around Boston that will help me get to know the asrea better?
Local Information Where can I find Kosher/Jewish food?
Local Info and see Resources
How about good sight-seeing spots?
Local Info
Can GesherCity help people outside the 22-40 age range? Though one of GesherCity's goals is to welcome young adults in their 20's and early 30's to Jewish Austin, the resources that we provide are designed to give access to all parts of the Jewish community. GesherCity connects its members to many programs and organizations for young adults of all ages, and to some community-wide opportunities as well. Many GesherCity participants in their late 30's and early 40's have had positive experiences with GesherCity as recipients of information & resources. We can also help to connect you to organizations that focus on older Jewish singles, couples, young families, and so forth.
