By Levi Stein
It’s like, ‘get your schmooze on,’ “ explained Weinberg, a 27-year-old from Silver Spring, MD, who conceived the get-together, the second such gathering nationally. “The idea is for everyone to tap into the power of the Jewish community and to give a social networking feel to it.”
ParnasaFest, parnasa is the Hebrew word for livelihood, is an international grassroots effort to provide networking and job assistance opportunities for the Jewish people and the greater community at large. With the help of a few friends, Weinberg pulled together ParnasaFest in a flash in early February immediately after learning that Yeshiva University in New York laid off more than 100 people, including several of Weinberg’s friends.
The mission of a ParnasaFest event is not the same as a traditional job fair. It is meant to be a casual, low stress networking event where those looking for work and those who can offer support and opportunity get together to meet, schmooze, and make new connections. Whether it is a kind word, making others laugh, asking for help or just passing on a good lead — the goals of ParnasaFest are universal and benefit all involved.
“I’ve been unemployed before,” said Weinberg, a marketing and social media strategist, not to mention the executive editor and founder of Jewneric, a Jewish blog. “You can be depressed or you can be busy and positive. One of the best ways to find a job is to be positive. It lifts your spirits.”
The first Parnasafest was held in New York, and 17 are now planned for locations around the world.
The local partners; JVS, JFS, MJI, ORT, The Shul, Partners in Torah, and Magnetic U have collaborated to put on the local ParnasaFest in hopes of reaching those in need of regaining their Parnasa. A goal of ParnasaFest is to teach the power of networking & social media to further ones personal brand, job search, and career. We’re bringing together people from various fields, as well as recruiters, to schmooze and mingle with one another. This event will highlight Terry Bean from Magnetic U who will be speaking on networking and job searching amidst the current economic crisis. “ParnesaFest will allow you to connect with new folks today who may be responsible for connecting you with your future.” Said Bean “This will be a great event for both job and talent seekers in the Detroit area and I am excited to be a part of it.”
This ParnasaFest is specifically geared to the people of our community who may be struggling to pay their school tuition, meet mortgage payments, or anyone recently laid off and looking for a new opportunity. It may be an invaluable opportunity for those who have been affected by the current economy.
ParnasaFest will be held tomorrow at 6 p.m. at The Shul in West Bloomfield. For more information visit www.TheShul.net or call (248) 788-4000.
It is called partnering with local organizations.
Partnering with “Partners in Torah”??????
The competition to Jnet, and is run by our biggest opponents from Lakewood??? What a shame.
a brilliant idea. kol hakavod.