NowGen PHX

08/18/2026

Challah Baking Class!

Join our Community Connector, Max, and his wife, Sam, (Kvell Bakery) on Sunday, August 30 at 2 PM for a fun afternoon of challah baking just in time for Rosh Hashanah!

Learn how to make, braid, and bake your own challah while hanging out with other Jewish young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Priority will be given to those who have moved to the Phoenix area or gotten involved in the community within the last two years.

Spots are limited, so message us for the registration link!

06/12/2026

We’re excited to introduce our two Community Connectors for Phoenix’s 20s/30s Jewish community.

Makayla and Max will be helping build meaningful relationships across the Phoenix Jewish community by bringing people together through gatherings, conversations, and shared experiences. Our Community Connectors program is all about strengthening Jewish life locally—helping individuals and couples connect with each other, explore Jewish identity, and find new ways to get involved.

Makayla Flaton was born in San Diego and has lived all over before calling Phoenix home for the past five years. She holds a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and a Master’s in Data Science and works as a Management Analyst for Maricopa County. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, learning new languages, and building community wherever she goes.

Max Simpson was born and raised in Tucson and has lived in the Phoenix area for the past 13 years. He has grown through the Jewish community, including participation in CJP’s LAS program, and is passionate about bringing people together through conversation, shared experiences, sports, hiking, and film.

Both Makayla and Max will begin hosting programming as soon as next month—watch this space for upcoming events and opportunities to connect.

05/28/2026

Congratulations to all of the Jewish News AZ 18 Under 50 honorees! We’re incredibly grateful to work alongside so many of you as you help strengthen and enrich our community. Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and all that you do.

05/05/2026

Mazel tov to our phenomenal Director of Family & Volunteer Engagement, Marcy Lewis.

Last week at the PJ Library International conference, five individuals were awarded the first-ever PJ Library Golden Ticket, with a prize from program founder Harold Grinspoon, in recognition of their outstanding efforts in creating innovative growth strategies. ⁠
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- Marcy Lewis, from Phoenix, was recognized for building an extraordinary bridge between PJ Library and local Jewish organizations. ⁠
- Allison Granet, from Austin, was recognized for going far beyond the usual spaces to find families where they live, work, and play.⁠
- Alyssa Kaitz, from Boston, was recognized for experimenting with new online strategies to engage families. ⁠
- Erica Danziger, from Western Bergen County, NJ, and Risa Goldstein, from LA, were each recognized for investing in strategies to welcome new families.⁠
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Congratulations to all of these PJ Library program professionals — and to their communities! We are all so lucky to benefit from your work and creativity.

04/21/2026

04/15/2026

Host an event on us.

There are 113,200 Jews in the Greater Phoenix area, and each connection matters.

After two years of success with NowGen Gather Grants, CJP is expanding this impact to the entire community, helping people build Jewish relationships how, when, and where it feels most authentic and meaningful.

Your event is not too small.

Introducing CJP Get Together Grants, offering up to $180 to bring your Jewish experiences to life. From happy hours and wine and paint nights to wellness events, Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, sports leagues, and more, create something meaningful that brings people together.

Rolling applications now open. Apply at http://phoenixcjp.org/gather. Let’s gather.

04/06/2026

Applications close this weekend for the next cohort of our Leadership and Advancement Series (LAS).

This one-year experience is designed to cultivate emerging Jewish leaders in Greater Phoenix (ages 22–40).

Build relationships, explore Jewish identity, strengthen leadership skills, while deepening your impact in Jewish Phoenix and beyond.

To apply, visit the link in our bio.