2026-01-08 12:06:AM <br/> Tags: #organization #WorldJewry #AmericanJewry ![[image-212.png|516x286]] # Moishe House - Moishe House is a Jewish nonprofit organization that provides "Moishe houses" - rent subsidized housing - to Jewish young adults to cultivate their Jewish identity. [^1] - Moishe houses were described in a [2011 *JTA* article](https://www.jta.org/2011/10/12/ny/moishe-house-hitting-big-apple#:~:text=homes%20where%20post%2Dcollege%2C%20pre%2Dmarriage%20Jews%20get%20rent%20subsidies%20in%20exchange%20for%20hosting%20Shabbat%20dinners%20and%20other%20Jewish%20programs%20for%20their%20peers) as "homes where post-college, pre-marriage Jews get rent subsidies in exchange for hosting Shabbat dinners and other Jewish programs for their peers."[^2] - In a [2011 article in *Nextbook Press*](https://web.archive.org/web/20081018033231/http://www.nextbook.org/cultural/feature.html?id=741#:~:text=It%E2%80%99s%20also%20just%20plain%20unusual%3A%20The%20people%20throwing%20this%20party%20are%20being%20paid%20to%20be%20Jewish.), Moishe houses were described as outwardly secular party-like environments that are "just plain unusual: The people throwing this party are being paid to be Jewish."[^3] #### Structure and Activities - Moishe House was founded in Oakland, California in 2006 by David Cygielman and Morris "Moishe" Bear Squire. *Moishe is the Yiddish name for Morris.* - Morris B. Squire is noted as the initial financier of Moishe House. - Squire is described as an "eccentric philanthropist," who can be thought of like a "beloved, and very strange uncle."[^3] - In 2009, Moishe House became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. - Today, Moishe House operates as the flagship program of MEM Global, a Jewish organization that runs programs meant to foster Jewish life. - Today there are over 100 Moishe houses in over 25 countries. [^4] - Moishe House is headquartered in Encinitas, California about 20 miles north of San Diego. - Typically, Moishe House will pay up to 75% of residents' rent and residents will stay for 1-3 years.[^2] ---- - In 2010, Moishe House began a partnership with [[Birthright Israel]] regarding shabbat programming.[^1] - In 2011, Moishe House made its foray into New York in partnership with the [[UJA-Federation of New York]] and [[Genesis Philanthropy Group]]. [^2] - In regions of the former Soviet Union Moishe House has partnered with the [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]] on programming.[^8] - In 2021, Moishe House absorbed the [[Hillel International]] program called Base.[^7] - Base is like Moishe House except it is ran by a rabbi out of his house where he will provide subsidized Jewish activities. - In Los Angeles, Moise House is partnered with the [[Israeli-American Council]] providing housing specifically for Israeli young adults in the United States. [^9] - Moishe house also has a considerable prescence in Israel, with houses in a number of Israeli cities. #### Funding and Donors - Moishe house's revenue has consistently risen since its inception.[^10] - In 2024, Moishe house reported ~$20.9 million in revenue. - Moishe House has received financial backing from many notable groups and individuals. - [[Lynn Schusterman]] via the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]][^5] - The Schusterman Family Foundation began funding Moishe House in 2006, the year Moishe was founded. - The [[Jim Joseph Foundation]][^5] - The JJF began funding Moishe in 2009. - [[Genesis Philanthropy Group]] [^5] - Moishe house often partners with the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], and notably the [[UJA-Federation of New York]]. - [[Paul Singer]] via the [[Paul E. Singer Foundation]] - $740,180 from 2015-2019[^11] #### Notable Figures - David Cygielman - Founder and CEO. *Cygielman was paid around $400,000 for his role as CEO in 2024.*[^10] - Morris Bear Squire - Founder and namesake, initial financial backer. - Raanan Eliaz - Current Senior VP of global development. - Eliaz is a "native Israeli" who has "served in the Israeli government's National Security Council, and most recently as Senior Advisor to the [[Ministry of Diaspora Affairs|Minister of Diaspora Affairs]]."[^6] - Eliaz has "also established and led ELNET, an [[AIPAC]]-like effort in Europe."[^6] #### References [^1]: _Moishe House_, Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moishe_House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moishe_House). [^2]: Julie Wiener, “Moishe House Hitting Big Apple,” _JTA_, October 12, 2011, [https://www.jta.org/2011/10/12/ny/moishe-house-hitting-big-apple/](https://www.jta.org/2011/10/12/ny/moishe-house-hitting-big-apple/). [^3]: Eli Sanders, “House Party: An Eccentric Philanthropist Is Paying Young People to Be Jewish-Whatever That Means,” _Nextbook_, December 20, 2007, archived at the Internet Archive, [https://web.archive.org/web/20081018033231/http://www.nextbook.org/cultural/feature.html?id=741](https://web.archive.org/web/20081018033231/http://www.nextbook.org/cultural/feature.html?id=741). [^4]: _Find a Moishe House_, Mem Global, [https://memglobal.org/find-a-house/](https://memglobal.org/find-a-house/). [^5]: “Moishe House to Implement Strategic Growth Plan Focused on Expansion and Sustainability,” Jim Joseph Foundation (press release), August 7, 2012, [https://jimjosephfoundation.org/press-releases/moishe-house-to-implement-strategic-growth-plan-focused-on-expansion-and-sustainability/](https://jimjosephfoundation.org/press-releases/moishe-house-to-implement-strategic-growth-plan-focused-on-expansion-and-sustainability/). [^6]: _Raanan Eliaz Selected to Lead Moishe House’s Global Development Efforts_, Mem Global news, March 7, 2024, [https://memglobal.org/news/raanan-eliaz-selected-to-lead-moishe-houses-global-development-efforts](https://memglobal.org/news/raanan-eliaz-selected-to-lead-moishe-houses-global-development-efforts). [^7]: Helen Chernikoff, “Moishe House taking over Hillel’s Base Movement, a rabbinical network,” eJewishPhilanthropy, March 6, 2021, [https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/moishe-house-taking-over-hillels-base-movement-a-rabbinical-network/](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/moishe-house-taking-over-hillels-base-movement-a-rabbinical-network/). [^8]: _Hesed and Moishe House Team Up in Minsk_, JDC, March 7, 2017, [https://www.jdc.org/voice/hesed-and-moishe-house-team-up-in-minsk/](https://www.jdc.org/voice/hesed-and-moishe-house-team-up-in-minsk/). [^9]: Ryan Torok, “Moishe House aims to create social scene downtown for young Jews,” _Jewish Journal_, August 18, 2016, [https://jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/189120/](https://jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/189120/). [^10]: _Moishe House_, Nonprofit Explorer, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262599786](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262599786). [^11]: ProPublica, “Paul E Singer Foundation,” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342)