Mission l Leadership l Contact Us l Benefactors l FAQS
After fielding hundreds of calls and emails, we realized many people are seeking the same information. So we put together this list of frequently asked questions and answers to help you out:
And if you still have questions, then just Ask GesherCity!
1. 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.
2. How do I find a synagogue? Where do a lot of young people go?
There are many great synagogues in the St. Louis area. You can view our Resources page to see some of them. Central Reform Congregation tends to attract a lot of young adults given its setting in the Central West End. Bais Abraham also attracts a lot of young adults. Shaare Emeth and Temple Israel both have young adult organizations. Feel free to explore our Clusters and Resources pages to learn more.
3. Are There Leadership Opportunities For Me Within GesherCity St. Louis?
YES! There are lots of different ways to get involved in GesherCity St. Louis. 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 St. Louis. If you would like to learn more about or become a part of GesherCity St. Louis’ advisory board or become a cluster coordinator please call Marisa Reby.
4. 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 St. Louis Post Dispatch is a good place to start. Other printed resources include the Riverfront Times (which is free). 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. In addition, many Clusters are good places to look for networking opportunities.
5. What big events does St. Louis have?
Mardi Gras is HUGE here, second only to New Orleans as far as US Mardi Gras go. Soulard is the place to be. Stay close to your friends because cell phones don't work on Mardi Gras...still bring them though, in case you want to take any pictures (wink wink). Fair St. Louis is a wonderful 4th of July festival. Fireworks are beautiful underneath the Arch. We always have great sports too...Cardinals, Rams, Blues, NCAA tourneys...etc.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Why do the different groups program events for the same day?The St. Louis 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.
9. How about good sight-seeing spots?
Here are some great St. Louis attractions, we'll start with the free ones. Free Attractions: Forest Park St. Louis Zoo (one of the best in the world) Art Museum History Museum Others: Busch Stadium (you HAVE to see a Cardinals game) Anheuser Busch Brewery (take the tour...enjoy the hospitality room!) Science Center ,Six Flags ,The Edward Jones Dome Also, go eat at an Italian Restaurant in "The Hill," visit an Irish Pub in Soulard, party on Laclede's Landing, and overpay a cover charge on Washington Avenue.
10. 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 GesherCity staff can be a great resource. Don’t be afraid to ask!
11. 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 St. Louis, 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. Consult the GesherCity Resource Guide to Jewish St. Louis for information on a variety of groups, or contact us!
