Aish used some sharp thinking to set up this meeting place. Instead of going to clubs, young Jews can hang out at Morry's and meet each other.

So I think about 300 young Jews, average age of about 25, were milling around outside the place. I pushed my way in. It was jammed. There was a mehitza but it was pointless. The place was packed and the men and women's sides were equally filled with the opposite sex.

I haven't seen such a jammed Jewish event on Pico Blvd ever.

What caught my attention was that 95% of the crowd was Persian.

My theory and my experience is that Persians tend to need less personal space than those born in America. Your typical Ashkenazi Jew born and bred in America would look at this event and think, "Way too crowded. I'm out of here." The typical Persian thinks, "This is crowded. Interesting. Wonder what's going on?"

I notice most Israelis don't have the same need for personal space as Americans.

I grew up a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). I converted to Orthodox Judaism. WASPs tend to need more personal space than Orthodox Jews.

I spent about 15 years in Modern Orthodoxy before switching to Chabad a couple of years ago. I notice that the Modern Orthodox expect much more personal space than do Hasidic Jews.

Persians, Israelis and other Middle Easterners tend to push and shove and to need less personal space than westernized Ashkenazi Jews who in turn push and shove more than WASPs, who are known for their reserve.

Thursday night, many of the Persians were on their cell phones. This crowd was overwhelmingly non-observant, but they had shown up to a Simchat Torah event.

When your typical Western Ashkenazi Jew abandons Jewish observance, he stops showing up to Jewish events, but most Persian Jews in America tend to be traditional. They'll still show up to Jewish events such as Passover even if they don't observe Jewish law. They might go to shul Shabbos morning and then drive to soccer practice Saturday afternoon.

A class open to men and women

Thursday, January 6th @ 8pm @ Aish Conference room
9100 West Pico Blvd

Rabbi Kahn is Vice President of Migdal Ohr institutions in Israel, he is also Director of foreign student programs @Bar Ilan University where he is a senior lecturer, in addition he is a senior lecturer in MATAN, and Aish Hatorah Jerusalem

Prices for Young Professionals Ages 18-33: $50 Each
OR 2 for 1 if you bring a friend new to Aish: for $25 each (MUST SIGN UP BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1ST)
…
All services are taking place at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel on Beverly Drive.

Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 8-10 Yom Kippur: Sept. 17-18

Go to www.aishla.com to OFFICIALLY SIGN UP and see a schedule.

DON'T DROP THE CALL!

For questions, call Sanaz or Michali at 310-278-8762 Ext. 0

Find out more through their Facebook page.

PS Over 100 people showed up Friday night for a rocking party in the hood.