06/10/2015
Meet a New Jew – In Person!
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Young Leadership Division social events, including the Summer Soirée and The YLD Big Event garner more than 300 young professionals to mix and mingle.
Cleveland Yentas
by Rachel Heiser
You know every Jew in Cleveland, right? Eh, probably not. It might feel like you know everyone, but with Cleveland’s summer parties upon us, you can expand your social circle or even meet the love of your life.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of meeting new people, face-to-face:
- Tell a Friend. Tell your friends about the events you are going to. Bring them and have them bring someone else, too. Even if you know everyone who has attended happy hours in the past, if everyone follows this suggestion there will be someone new there to meet.
- Bring Your “A” Game. Gentlemen, get a haircut and shave, or trim that beard if that is your thing. Ladies, get your hair done, shave your legs, and wear those fun new shoes. Take some time between work or wherever you are coming from to freshen up. You could even add a conversation piece to your ensemble. At last year’s Summer Soirée, a vegetarian in a leather vest gained a lot of attention.
- Say Hi, Hello, Shalom or Hola. That’s how it begins. You don’t need some creative line to break the ice, but you can use one if you’d like. You may get a laugh out of something like: “I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?” Or, “Do you work at Starbucks? Because I like you a latte.” Most people respond best to a simple greeting. Save the cheese for the cheese plate.
- Get Past Hi. Instead of checking Facebook on your phone every couple of seconds, focus on the person standing in front of you. Everyone loves a good listener! Ask questions, and be an active and engaged listener.
- Stay Positive. No matter how your day went before you arrived at an event, people generally don’t want to hear complaining the first time they meet you. So, rally and stay upbeat. Even if you end up not being interested in her, she may have a friend whom you could be very interesting in. Bring a wingman to help start the conversation or to be waiting in the wings to help intervene, if needed.
- Attend. 80% of success is showing up. So, show up. Even if you get stuck at work and arrive late – show up. If you want to meet someone new you should try to go somewhere new.
Here are just a few events to check out this summer where you can meet a new Jew:
6/18/15 – Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) & JCLE’s Summer Soirée
6/20/15 – Moishe House’s House Cooling Party
6/24/15 – JStyle's Summer Nights
7/1/15 – JCLE’s Happy Hour at Azure
7/9/15 – JCLE's Cleveland Indians Game
7/30/15 – Downtown Chabad & Cleveland Yentas’ White Party
8/21/15 – Atid’s Shabbat Rocks and Dinner
Rachel Heiser is President and CEO of Cleveland Yentas, a non-profit, for-purpose organization. Cleveland Yentas provides free matchmaking for all Jewish singles over 21. Currently, about 94% of Cleveland Yentas’ clients are Conservative, Reform or Unaffiliated Jews. Learn more or register at www.CLEyentas.com.
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