IN the semi-darkness, there are no Stars of David or Shalom greeting mats distinguishing the basement apartment on Washington Parks western edge.
A painted sunflower left by previous tenants is the lone indicator that something warm and welcoming beckons inside the spacious green-walled kitchen.
Moishe House Denver, which opened Oct. 1, offers Shabbat dinners, social interaction and tikkun olam projects for underserved Jewish adults ages 21-30.
The local residence, part of a national network scattered throughout the US and international locales as unlikely as Beijing, is funded by the Rose Community Foundation.
The Washington Park domicile belongs to Moishe House Denver staffers Natalie Zelinsky, Josh Sperling and Elliot Cohen, all 24. This is where they live, eat, study, sleep.
But unlike typical roommates who may occasionally host parties for close friends, they willingly open their home to an entire community.
While the apartment exudes a laid-back, off-campus ambience circa 1975, the trios sensibilities are pure 21st century.
As their website intro reads, Moishe House is chillin out, maxin, relaxin all cool . . . So if youre into hangin out-relaxin-celebratin-eatin-explorin-bustin a move with the savvy, 20-something Jewish community of Denver, then come on over!
Theres a new generation of Jewish kids in the 21 to 30 category, says Sperling, who sits with Zelinsky at the circular kitchen table. Theyre out of college, establishing careers, often delaying marriage.
Post-Hillel and pre-federation, this age group often falls off the Jewish radar screen and some never make a return blip.
Theres not a lot out there for us, Zelinsky says. I think were a very neglected sector of the Jewish community. We dont always join a synagogue or even maintain our Jewish roots until we have kids of our own and its time to enroll them in religious school.
Moishe House Denver is an informal chavurah with chutzpah no membership dues, just a free pass to hang out, explore and enjoy the Jewish world, and each other.
We want to infuse energy and a sense of Jewish connection into young adults, Sperling says. People who come over are very excited because they realize were filling a void.
SPERLING and Cohen are both engineers pursuing advanced degrees at UCD. Zelinsky is a marketing strategist at a database marketing firm.
They meet weekly probably around this very table to strategize ways to publicize their existence and plan upcoming events such as preparing meals for the Denver Rescue Mission.
Similar to the 29 Moishe Houses situated all over the planet, Moishe House Denver embraces Jews of all affiliations, singles and couples, and does not impose a religious agenda.
About 20 young people attended the first Shabbat dinner held in the home, and more were expected at the second dinner on Nov. 6.
Some regularly celebrated Shabbat with their families, while others had never participated in the traditional Jewish celebration, Sperling says.
But regardless of prior expectations, they enjoyed the newness of socializing with their Jewish counterparts as independent adults.
Additional activities include watching Monday night football, hikes and other recreational outings, tikkun olam projects and inevitable discussions about Judaism and Israel.
While Moishe House has the potential to be a safe haven where Jewish singles could form alliances with the opposite sex, thats not the goal.
That may very well be the basis for a lot of Jewish programming, Zelinsky laughs, and were open to that. If it happens, were happy. But thats certainly not our priority.
Sperling stands up and announces that he has to leave. But first the tour, he suggests.
The kitchen is huge, the bedrooms small. The bathroom, while far from fancy, functions.
Shabbat dinners are held in the communal room at the end of the hallway. The walls are mellow-yellow. Comfy sofas are arranged to stimulate conversation. An upright mattress in the corner comes in handy for guests who spend the night.
Zelinsky estimates that Moishe House Denver programs can accommodate 50 to 60 young Jewish adults.
A hundred, Sperling raises the bar. I have the feeling that well grow quickly.
Then hes off.
MOISHE House opened its first grassroots community center in 2006 in Oakland, Calif. Funded by national Jewish foundations, the network increasingly utilizes local funders.
Sperling, who has been close friends with Cohen since childhood, met Zelinsky through CUs Hillel.
Together, their involvement in Moishe House Denver was a fortuitous tapestry woven by overlapping desires.
Born in Texas and raised in Colorado, Zelinsky was involved with Hillels Ambassadors program at CU. She graduated with a BS in business marketing in 2007 and moved to Denver to launch her career.
Sperling, who grew up in New York City and Washington, DC, lived for a year on Kibbutz Beit Hashita when he was 16. He became involved with the Habonim Dror Youth Movement and served as ambassador of the movement in Australia in 2006.
He earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from CU and is now a National Science Foundation PhD fellow in UCDs Sustainable Urban Infrastructure program.
Cohen lived in Israel for two years. After spending a year at an international high school on Kibbutz Beit-Hashita, he then worked as a mechanic on Kibbutz Revivim and later as a medic for Magen David Adom.
An engineering graduate from the University of Maryland-College Park, he is currently studying for his MA and PhD in environmental and sustainability engineering at UCD.
When Sperling and Cohen decided to move to Denver this summer, they contacted Zelinsky about finding a place to live.
It worked out perfectly, says Zelinsky, who immediately invited them to be her housemates. They moved in sight unseen in August.
The roommates soon learned that Moishe House was planning to open a location in Denver.
Josh knew about Moishe House because he stayed at the London house while he was traveling, Zelinsky says in his absence. So he had connections.
The application process consisted of providing their personal and Jewish histories and submitting a short video that later appeared on YouTube.
After a couple of conference calls, we were asked how we felt about opening a house here on Oct. 1, Zelinsky says.
Their answer was unanimous, and affirmative.
An amiable and candid young woman, Zelinsky says the responsibilities inherent in running Moishe House Denver were a lot more than any of us expected.
I say it was more than we expected because we want people to feel welcome and know that they can come to our home any time. I find it very rewarding.
But its hard to find those pockets of young Jewish adults who are hiding in the woodwork, just waiting for something like this to happen.
What might seem insurmountable to others inspires these three young adults to clear the hurdles in record time.
So far, no one has sought out Moishe House Denvers staffers for advice about personal problems.
That hasnt happened yet, Zelinsky smiles.
Still, we all have the type of personality where we want to help people; be here as friends. So if somebody wanted to talk to me, Id say come on over.
Were not licensed therapists, she concedes. But we do have ears. We can listen.
As Elliot Cohen rushes in and occupies Sperlings vacant chair at the table, its easy to visualize a seamless schedule of arrivals and departures occurring in this kitchen every day.
Getting the word out, ensuring a congenial atmosphere at Shabbat dinners, planning events and maintaining an open-door policy leaves little room for privacy.
But this doesnt seem to be an issue at Moishe House Denver, where the end justifies the sometimes taxing means.
Ive been in this setting before, says Cohen, who never removes his woolen cap. I lived in an intentional house for two years at the University of Maryland.
We pooled our resources, engaged in endless dialogues about want vs. need: Who bought the Sprinkles? Do we really need Sprinkles?
Here, we may have different schedules and agendas, but we share a common goal.
In the interim between Hillel and establishing a family of ones own, the young Jewish world is up in the air, Cohen says. Most young adults dont live in the same city as their parents. They either reaffirm their Jewish identity or negate it.
Attracting this often subterranean age group may be an upstream battle, but Moishe House Denver staffers appear primed for the challenge.
They also agree that the communal living arrangement, which can be challenging at times, fulfills their personal expectations.
You cant be a recluse and do this, Cohen grins. You have to like people. Youre opening up your home. You dont have total control over who comes over when, and you have to be OK with it.
I love it, Zelinsky says. And so do my parents. Its their dream come true.
Mine too, Cohen says. At Moishe House, were acknowledging our Judaism. I think my parents appreciate that the values they tried to instill in me have come to fruition.
Moishe House does not require a specific time commitment from its young coordinators.
Josh, Elliot and I wont be doing this forever, Zelinsky realizes. Eventually, well be passing the torch of Moishe House Denver to someone else.
And that will be exciting, to see the next group of young adults leading our Jewish community.
For information on Moishe House Denver, contact Natalie Zelinsky at (303) 829-9245 or e-mail moishehousedenver@gmail.com.
