What Got Vegas Mayor Elected

By COLlive reporter

1200 young Jewish professionals from around the country spent two full days in Las Vegas this past week for Tribefest, a gathering for “the next generation of Jewish leaders and activists.”

Organized by the Jewish Federation of North America, it drew participants in their 20s and 30s for a series of lectures and music concerts.

“The first-time event, with its mix of music, learning, social networking and fun, offers a unusual range of choices, from concerts,” organizers said.

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, Director of North County Chabad Center in Yorba Linda, California, was one of the featured speakers.

A prolific writer, hundreds attended his classes taken from the most recent course “Towards a Meaningful Life” from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.

Head Shliach of Nevada, Rabbi Shea Harlig participated in the event by opening a Tefillin and Jewish information booth. He also organized daily minyanim.

Chabad’s participation was partially made possible by a special grant from Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.

The booth was staffed full time by two Lubavitch bochurim Sruli Edelman (who is a chosson) and Shmuel Lowbenstein from New York.

During Tribefest, over 100 people put on Tefillin including a number of karkaftas and dozens of Neshek kits and literature were distributed.

Shluchim Rabbi Mendy Harlig and Rabbi Tzvi Bronchtain along with a number of bochurim from New York supervised the kosher food.

In his address to Tribefest participants, the Jewish Mayor of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman told the crowd about his putting on Tefillin in the Chabad Center on the day of his election.