Adam Jackson runs us through two initiatives for young adults in the community, giving them a voice and an active network.
Adam Jackson is an active member of both The Jewish Stand (TJS) and Moishe House Without Walls (MHWoW) in Leeds. Adam grew up in the Leeds Jewish community and following completion of an undergraduate degree at Birmingham and a subsequent successful conversion to law, he starts a training contract in Leeds in September 2026. With a life planned ahead to stay in Leeds, Adam has sought to promote initiatives that encourage activity and engagement for the young adult and young professional Jewish community in Leeds. In addition to setting up a pub quiz team at the Lord Darcy in Leeds, he found his way onto The Jewish Stand’s team and began engaging with Leeds’ MHWoW initiative through Susie Gordon and Libi Fileman.
The Jewish Stand
Founded by former University of Leeds student Shmuel Von Weisel, The Jewish Stand is an initiative to connect Jewish voices for the purpose of speaking up and speaking out about interests, opinions, and ties – whether they’re religious, political, or social – to the essence shared as Jewish people.
It hopes to open a dialogue both within the community and from the community outwards through content that comes under three categories. ‘Our World’ covers the political space, the advocate’s corner, and writer’s response to events that are happening across the world; ‘Jewish Life’ tackles philosophy and religion, community, and culture and entertainment; and ‘Extra’ is everything else! There are a multitude of platforms in which TJS shares content and engages with its audience such as articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, social media, and more.
The group seeks to strengthen the sense of community felt by Jews aged predominantly between 18 and 38, a group the team often feels gets pushed aside when it comes to activity in the local, national, and global communities and often is not taken seriously. It welcomes people from across the spectrum, from those deeply engaged with Jewish texts such as the Talmud and Zohar to those who simply have Jewish roots or connections. People from all walks of life are welcome and encouraged to contribute in order to get as broad a representation of Jewish life as possible; diverse backgrounds, those from smaller communities, LGBTQ+ members, or even just those who feel as if they’ve never had a voice or opinion to share, TJS wants to hear what you have to say!
Get in touch today to get involved at editorial@thejewishstand.com
Thejewishstand.com
Moishe House
Moishe House Without Walls is an organisation that seeks to build connections to Jewish life in the places it sets up shop and create a safe space for Jews from all walks of life by connecting those looking to interact, learn, network, and party with others in the community who may otherwise have felt disconnected. The organisation operates across 25 countries around the world with around 280 hosts passionate about helping and developing these communities for Jewish people. It’s aimed at those between 18 and early 30s as these are the most formative years for people who are looking to be a part of something.
MHWoW in Leeds is relatively new, beginning in 2025 with around four members. It now has a WhatsApp group of 40+ consisting of those that have moved here and have nowhere else to go, those who don’t have a support network nearby, and people who simply just want to engage with others. There’s an active acknowledgement that not everybody engages in the same way, and neurodivergent individuals are welcomed and catered for; current Host, Libi Fileman, is always happy to help accommodate and facilitate for those who may struggle in social situations.
Events are hosted once or twice a month – board games nights, a Halloween party, Friday night dinners, and a Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration are just some of what’s been going on in the past year, with plenty more planned for the coming months!
If you or someone you know would benefit from meeting like-minded individuals or want to get involved contact libifileman@icloud.com or adamrjackson16@outlook.com
