What is a YJP? YJP stands for Young Jewish Professional: a Jewish adult, usually in their twenties or thirties, who is early or mid-way into their career. It’s also the name of a network of Jewish young professional groups, many of them run by Chabad.
- Most cities with a sizable Jewish community have YJP groups, Moishe Houses, Federation young adult divisions or synagogue young professional groups.
- The quickest way to find young Jewish professionals near you is a local directory, then one Shabbat dinner or networking event.
- To meet young Jewish professionals from more than 60 countries at once, spend six weeks or more working, interning or working remotely in Tel Aviv with Masa.
What is a YJP?
A YJP is a young Jewish professional. There’s no official definition, but the term usually means a Jewish adult between their early twenties and late thirties who has finished college and is building a career. “YJP” is also the name people use for the events, groups and networks built for them.
The phrase matters because this stage of life is when a lot of people lose their Jewish community. College comes with Hillel and Chabad on campus. Family life later comes with schools and synagogues. In between, you’re often in a new city, working long hours, and not sure where Jewish people your age actually spend time. YJP groups exist to fill that gap.
- YJP, the term
- Short for “young Jewish professional.” Any Jewish adult in their 20s or 30s who is working or building a career.
- YJP, the organization
- A young professionals network founded in New York in 2008 as part of Chabad of Gramercy Park. Many Chabad young professional groups in other cities now use the YJP name too, such as YJP Houston and YJP Las Vegas.
What does YJP stand for?
YJP stands for Young Jewish Professionals. You’ll see it in group names such as “YJP Boston,” in event listings such as “YJP Shabbat dinner,” and as a quick way of saying “Jewish, working, in my 20s or 30s.”
What age counts as a young Jewish professional?
Most YJP groups aim at people from about 22 to 39, though every group sets its own range. Moishe House, for example, is for people in their 20s and 30s, and Chicago’s JUF Young Leadership Division is for ages 22 to 39. If you’re unsure whether you fit, check the group’s event page or just ask the organizer.
Types of young Jewish professional groups
When people search for “YJP near me,” they’re usually looking for one of six kinds of group. Most cities have several, and they work well together: plenty of people go to a Moishe House Shabbat one week and a Federation networking night the next.
Chabad YJP groups
Shabbat dinners, holiday parties, learning and networking events, run by a Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin.
Best for: warm, regular events, and a Shabbat table almost anywhere.
Moishe House
Young adults live together in a shared home and host Jewish community events for their peers. Moishe House is now part of Mem Global, which runs peer-led programs in more than 25 countries.
Best for: people in their 20s and 30s who want relaxed, peer-led events.
Base
A rabbinic couple opens their home for Shabbat, learning and service projects. Base is now part of Mem Global, alongside Moishe House, with 11 homes across eight US cities.
Best for: Jewish learning and a pluralistic, home-based community.
Federation young adult divisions
Most Jewish Federations run a young leadership or NextGen division with networking events, volunteering and leadership programs.
Best for: professional networking and community leadership.
Synagogue young professional groups
Many large synagogues run their own young professionals programs, such as KJ Makor in New York or Westminster Synagogue’s group in London.
Best for: people who want a regular service and a community to belong to.
City-wide connectors and event platforms
Groups like GatherDC help you find the right events and people in your city. Tribester lists Jewish events and organizations city by city.
Best for: newcomers who don’t know where to start.
Where to find young Jewish professionals near you
Here’s where to start in the cities with the largest young Jewish professional communities. Groups change their names and schedules often, so use this as a starting list and check each group’s current events before you go.
| City | Where to start |
|---|---|
| New York City | The original YJP began here. Also look up KJ Makor on the Upper East Side, Base on the Upper West Side, local Moishe Houses and UJA-Federation young adult events. |
| Los Angeles | Base in Picfair Village, Moishe Houses, Chabad young professional groups and the Jewish Federation’s young adult events. |
| Miami and South Florida | Base Miami in Miami Beach, Chabad young professional groups and the Federation’s young leadership events. |
| Chicago | The JUF Young Leadership Division, Base homes in Andersonville, Lincoln Park, Logan Square and the West Loop, and local Moishe Houses. |
| Boston | Base in Cambridge, YJP Boston, Moishe Houses and young adult events from Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston’s Jewish Federation. |
| Toronto | UJA Federation’s NextGen events and Chabad young professional groups. |
| London | Spark, a fast-growing young Jewish professionals network, plus young professionals groups at Bevis Marks and Westminster Synagogue. |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Base Bay in Rockridge, on the Berkeley-Oakland border, plus Moishe Houses and Chabad young professional groups. |
| Washington, DC | GatherDC, which connects Jewish people in their 20s and 30s with events and with each other, plus Moishe Houses and Chabad young professional groups. |
| Philadelphia and Denver | Base Philly in South Philadelphia and Base Denver in Cherry Creek, along with Moishe Houses and Federation young adult programs. |
| Houston, Austin and Las Vegas | Active Chabad YJP groups, including YJP Houston, YJP Las Vegas and Chabad Young Jewish Professionals in Austin. |
Not in one of these cities? Search your local Jewish Federation’s website for “young adults” or “NextGen,” or use the Chabad.org local events finder.
Already a Masa alum? Your YJP network is already waiting
The Masa Alumni Community connects more than 200,000 alumni worldwide, with social, professional development and networking events in Israel and abroad. Follow it to hear about upcoming events near you, and stay in touch through its WhatsApp, Facebook and LinkedIn groups.
Join the Masa Alumni CommunityHow to meet young Jewish professionals in a new city
Knowing the groups exist is the easy part. Actually building a circle takes a few deliberate steps:
- Start with one directoryUse your Federation’s young adult page, Tribester or the Chabad.org finder to list three or four groups near you, then follow them on Instagram or WhatsApp so you hear about events.
- Go to a Shabbat dinner firstDinner is easier than a mixer. You sit next to the same people for two hours, and hosts usually introduce newcomers.
- Go back a second timeThe second or third event is much easier, because you’ll recognize people. Pick one group and commit to it for a month.
- Volunteer or join a committeeHelping run events, or joining a young leadership cohort, is the fastest way to know everyone.
- Use your professionMany Federations run networking groups by industry, such as law, real estate or tech. That’s where your Jewish and professional networks overlap.
- Think bigger than your cityThe strongest YJP networks are often built abroad, when you spend time in Israel with Jewish peers from all over the world.
Meet young Jewish professionals from around the world in Israel
A local YJP group connects you with Jewish professionals in your city. Spending time in Israel connects you with Jewish professionals from more than 60 countries, plus thousands of young Israelis working in tech, startups, design, marketing and nonprofits.
Tel Aviv is the center of it. It’s young, English is widely spoken at work, and its weekly rhythm (work during the week, beach and Friday dinners on the weekend) makes meeting people easy. Live there for six weeks or a few months with a Masa cohort, and you come home with a network that most YJP groups can’t match: friends in London, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Paris and Tel Aviv.
Masa brings together more than 5,000 young adults from over 60 countries, and its alumni network numbers more than 200,000. It runs three ways to join them, depending on how long you can stay and whether you already have a job.
Masa Go: short-term programs in Israel
Masa Go is for young adults who want a real taste of living in Israel without taking a whole year off. Choose a career skills and professional development program, volunteering, an ulpan or another track, and live alongside other young Jewish adults from around the world. A Masa grant of $3,150 for six weeks, or $4,200 for eight weeks, brings the price down to as little as $400.
- Length
- 6 or 8 weeks
- Price
- From $400 after the grant; career skills from $500
- Included
- Housing on most tracks, health insurance, bus pass, trips, program advisor
Masa Remote: work remotely from Tel Aviv
Already work remotely? Masa Remote lets you keep your job and your salary while you live in Tel Aviv with a cohort of other young professionals. The six- and eight-week program adds career workshops, access to hiring managers and recruiters, networking events and two overnight trips. You arrange your own housing, with help from the Masa team.
For a longer stay, Masa Remote Work runs for four months or more. It includes a furnished apartment in Tel Aviv, a co-working space, medical insurance, Hebrew lessons, monthly trips, and the paperwork to stay in Israel legally while you work.
- Length
- 6 or 8 weeks, or 4+ months
- Price
- $500 for 6 weeks, $600 for 8 weeks; long-term from $1,500 a month, housing included
- Best for
- Remote employees, freelancers and digital nomads
Internships in Israel
A Masa internship places you in an Israeli company or organization for several months, usually in Tel Aviv, in fields from tech and marketing to design, business and nonprofits. You live with your cohort, take Hebrew classes and travel the country on weekends. Internship programs typically run four to six months, some run longer, and Masa grants and need-based scholarships help cover the cost.
If you already have at least two years of work experience, Masa Fast Track Pro offers a four- to nine-month job placement in Tel Aviv, with mentoring, housing, Hebrew lessons and visa support.
- Length
- Usually 4–6 months
- Where
- Mainly Tel Aviv
- Best for
- Graduates and early-career professionals
“My Masa Career Israel experience was exactly what I needed. Not only was I able to jumpstart my career as a software engineer by working with some of the brightest people at a Tel Aviv tech center, but I was also able to reconnect with my ancestral homeland while forming lifelong connections.”
“It was one of the greatest experiences of all time. I met so many great people in this program.”
Masa programs are open to Jewish young adults, and age limits vary by program. Check the Masa eligibility requirements before you apply. If you’d rather come for a shorter trip first, see our guide to Jewish trips for singles and young professionals. And if you’re wondering what Israeli offices are like, here’s what to expect from office culture in Israel’s tech world.
Not sure which program fits?
Book a call with a Masa advisor. We’ll help you compare Masa Go, Masa Remote and internships based on your dates, career and budget.
Schedule a callFAQs about Young Jewish Professionals
What does YJP stand for?
YJP stands for Young Jewish Professionals. It describes Jewish adults in their 20s and 30s who are building their careers, and it’s also the name of a network of young professional groups that started in New York in 2008.
Is YJP part of Chabad?
The original YJP was founded as part of Chabad of Gramercy Park in New York, and many Chabad young professional groups in other cities use the YJP name. But “YJP” is also used as a general term, and plenty of young Jewish professional groups have no connection to Chabad.
What age is a young Jewish professional?
Usually from about 22 to 39. There’s no official cutoff, and each group sets its own age range.
How do I find young Jewish professionals near me?
Start with your local Jewish Federation’s young adult or NextGen page, Mem Global’s Moishe House listings, the Chabad.org events finder or Tribester. Then go to one Shabbat dinner or networking event and ask the hosts what else is happening in your city.
Do I need to be religious to go to YJP events?
No. Most young Jewish professional groups welcome Jews of every background and level of observance, including people who are just curious. Each group has its own style, so it’s worth trying a few.
Where can I meet young Jewish professionals from other countries?
Israel is the easiest place. Programs such as Masa Go, Masa Remote and Masa internships bring together young Jewish adults from more than 60 countries to live, work and travel in Israel for six weeks or longer.
Does Masa run events for young Jewish professionals?
Yes. The Masa Alumni Community connects more than 200,000 alumni and runs social, professional development and networking events in Israel and abroad. Follow it to hear about upcoming events and stay in touch with other alumni.
Can I work in Israel for a few months as a young professional?
Yes. You can do an internship of four months or more, work remotely from Tel Aviv for six weeks or longer while keeping your current job, or join a short career skills program with Masa Go.
How much does Masa Go cost?
Masa Go programs start at $400 after a Masa grant of $3,150 for six weeks or $4,200 for eight weeks. Career skills and professional development programs start at $500. Most tracks include housing, health insurance and a bus pass.
Ready to meet young Jewish professionals in Israel?
Leave your details below and a Masa advisor will get back to you about the career programs that fit your dates and goals. Rather talk now? Book a call with our team.
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