Houston Couple Launches Moishe house pod, Building Jewish Community for Young Adults
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A new initiative aimed at fostering Jewish community in Houston took root on November 1, with the opening of a Moishe House Pod by Dori Jezmir and Eric Stevelman. This smaller version of the established Moishe house model provides a dedicated space for Jewish adults in their 20s and 30s to connect through engaging programs and social activities.
A Growing Network of Jewish Community
mir and Stevelman’s Pod represents the city’s first foray into this more intimate, home-based model. The Pod operates with a monthly program budget and a rent subsidy, allowing them to host three Jewish programs each month. Participants can engage with the community for up to three and a half years.
From Secular upbringings to Deepening Faith
Jezmir, 22, and Stevelman, 25, both experienced secular Jewish upbringings. They found their way to a more observant practice later in life, a journey that ultimately led them to create this community space. The couple met when Jezmir was completing an internship in Houston and have since visited Israel seven times together. Stevelman, a Houston native, holds a degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University, while Jezmir graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in marketing earlier this year.
“We love hosting people,” Jezmir explained. “it is very natural for us,and now we’ll be hosting even more and finding ways to be involved in the jewish community. We thought a Moishe House Pod would be a good option for us.”
A diverse program Calendar
Initial offerings include a housewarming event and a “Friendsgiving” Shabbat dinner. Looking ahead, the couple plans a diverse calendar of events, including themed Shabbats, movie nights, football watch parties, artsy gatherings, a unique “Tacos and Torah” event, and learning sessions. They also expressed a desire to collaborate with other Jewish organizations in the area.
“We hope to partner with as many Jewish organizations as would like to partner with us,” Jezmir said.
The couple regularly attends Chabad of Uptown and participates in YJP – young Jewish Professionals, a group they describe as welcoming to individuals across the spectrum of Jewish observance. “That group runs the gamut of observance,” Jezmir noted. “Everyone is excited to be around other Jews.”
Facing Antisemitism and Embracing Identity
Both Jezmir and Stevelman have personal experiences with antisemitism that shaped their commitment to Jewish life.Jezmir, the daughter of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union, recounted how her father began observing Shabbat after arriving in the United States in the 1990s, instilling the tradition in his four children. She often found herself the only Jewish student in her public school classes, a similar experience to Stevelman’s.
Jezmir actively confronted antisemitism during her time at the University of kansas, organizing counterprotests after Jewish students were targeted.”That experience made me prouder and wanting to be louder about being Jewish,” she said. “Our group went to the state capitol and spoke to the university chancellor. The KU management was supportive.”
stevelman recalled four antisemitic incidents in neighboring high schools during his senior year in 2018, events that garnered regional attention. He shared that he began to more actively embrace his Jewish identity in college, integrating it into his daily life.
“dori and I are continuing to grow in our Judaism every day,” Stevelman stated. “We have the education and shared experiences. Chabad and Hillel shaped us into the people we are now.”
The moishe House Pod represents not just a space for community, but a testament to the couple’s journey of faith and their dedication to building a vibrant Jewish future in Houston.