Berris finds much in common with Europe’s young leaders

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2009-04-01T00:00:00

As a Jewish volunteer engaging young adults in the community, Portlander Jodi Berris, 29, found she had more in common with Europe’s young adult leaders than she does with young leaders in large U.S. Jewish communities.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland sponsored Berris’s trip to Austria for Wing, a gathering for 230 Jewish college students and young adult leaders from across Europe. The only person from America, other than one American who now lives in Italy, Berris said she was surprised to learn how much she had in common with her European counterparts.

“It was neat to go to Europe because all the participants are dealing with small Jewish communities,” she said. “In the United States, I met people from New York who are dealing with different issues than we are. In Europe, I met people dealing with similar issues.”

JFGP Executive Vice President Charles Schiffman said the federation sent Berris in hopes she would find program models and ideas to enrich her work in Portland.

“Jodi is a remarkable and virtually unprecedented activist within the young adult community,” said Schiffman. “She has been inspired over the years to bring many young adults into the community who otherwise might have remained outside. One of the major inspirations for community involvement can and should be an awareness of the remarkable worldwide nature of the Jewish community.”

“I have no doubt that the conference in Vienna provided Jodi with additional inspiration, networking and program models that will greatly enrich her work here in Portland,” he concluded.

Berris said she did indeed network with other young adult volunteers addressing the same challenges she does.

“I talked with one woman from Vienna about how we balance a full-time job and building Jewish community as a young adult volunteer,” said Berris, who is a global soccer equipment field test analyst for Nike. “I felt like I was having a conversation with myself, but with someone from a different country.”

She said that she also has contacts now for potential programs. One woman from Moldova who lives in Italy talked to Berris about creating an exchange program between Portland and Italy’s Jewish communities.

Berris said she was very impressed that though many of the attendees were not observant, the entire conference was kosher and shomer Shabbat enabling everyone to participate.

Berris has long pushed for community events here to meet that standard. When she plans events through Moishe House, which hosts events for young adults, and Portland Jewish Events, Berris always ensures that everyone can participate regardless of their level of observance.

The mix of formal workshops and informal ski trips each provided important interactions, she said, noting that one-on-one conversations on the bus to the slopes were some of her best networking opportunities.

An avid skier, who serves on the ski patrol at Mount Hood, Berris said the skiing aspect was “really cool for me.” An extremely active person, she said the ski outings allowed her to be active while “meeting people doing similar things to what I do and pick their brains.”

Now back in Portland, Berris said, “I’m motivated.”

For more information on events for young adults, visit PortlandJewishEvents.com.