What Makes Someone a “Jewish Professional?”

After two recent holiday parties back to back (one of which was the famous Jewcy party), I became curious about what defines a "Jewish professional."

From day to night, these two parties were completely different – or were they?

First stop, The Jewish Lawyers Guild party. Held each year around Chanukah and made up primarily of JLG members and their close friends, the party was all about networking, celebrating and ok, EATING!

The spread was "to die for" as they say…glatt kosher, all the old heart-clogging items you can imagine. Indulged upon by attorneys whose ties were loosened in preparation for the feast.

Most came from work, still in suits and ties (typical lawyers right?)..Then again maybe not. I met one man who I told in general terms, about the fun Jewcy party I was heading to right after the JLG event (no group name or address given- don’t worry Jewcy staff). As "lawyer-ish" as he looked, he was so excited at the mention of interacting with a down to earth, younger, creative crowd that he almost dropped his black and white cookie.

NAhhhh THAT would never happen! Lose a cookie?

I continued on in my path for a few more cookies myself, then off to very different Jewcy party.

As I crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge back into the promised land, I opened my shirt (just a little bit- to the equivalent of loosening one’s tie).

As soon as I reached the lobby door I could feel the energy/vibe increase ten old.

From meat to dairy (dont tell anyone).

From red ties to red and green yarmulkes..

From a leather chair to santa’s chair.

And from suit jackets to Budweiser jackets..these were two different groups.

Or were they?

I figured out fairly quickly that as "different" as my two groups of friends/colleagues/fellow Jews appeared to be, was really more of a testament to our likenesses…our cultural bonds.

Food, parties, friends, creative conversation (whether about law or libation), we had more in common than one would first observe.

Even if the twain probably don’t meet often, we are met and bonded by our common love for life, people and parties. For networking and for not working. For shmoozing and for, well…more shmoozing.

Let’s join hands and realize that we are all one people and should really stick together because to many (but not all) people in the "non-tribal" sector, we are all the same..and they define us by our religion. Therefore WE should not redefine ourselves as separatists, suit wearing vs. Keds wearing.  It’s all good!

Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, and Happy Jew Year!