What is this conference all about?
How is the conference set up?
When is the conference?
Registration dates
What does the conference cost?
Who attends this conference?
Where is this conference held?
Am I eligible for subsidies?
How can I find a roommate?
What if I haven't found my roommate when I register?
What if I need to cancel my registration?
Shabbat in NOLA
NOLA Saturday Night Event
What should I wear?
Transportation

What is this conference all about?
The United Jewish Communities’ (UJC) National Young Leadership New Orleans Conference will bring hundreds of other like-minded young Jewish professionals together to learn about the concept of tikkun olam – repairing our world – through the lens of post-hurricane New Orleans. Participants will take part in an all-day service project, which will include meeting local residents, as well as a bus tour of hurricane-affected areas of the city and the Jewish community of New Orleans. You will also engage with bright, dynamic and interesting speakers, and connect with each other in a fun and energetic setting.

How is the conference set up? [top]
The conference is comprised of several different components. On Sunday, March 15th, the conference will formally open at 1:30 pm with a plenary session in the hotel and continue with tours that will take conference participants to different sites in the city as we learn about the history of the community before and after Hurricane Katrina as well as the most recent hurricanes. Monday, we will be leaving the hotel for an all-day service project – both interactive and hands on – in St. Bernard Parish, which is southeast of New Orleans. Participants will have Monday night free to explore the city and enjoy the local food and entertainment. Tuesday, we will conclude the conference with sessions at the hotel related to how to take this experience and have an impact in your home communities.

When is the conference? [top]
March 15-17, 2009

The conference begins on Sunday, March 15, 2009 with the first session beginning at 1:30 pm. Programming will conclude by noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

All participants are invited to participate in a Saturday night event hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. For more information, click here.

Registration dates [top]
Registration opens on November 3, 2008 and will close on March 2, 2009. Space is limited to the first 500 registrants. Click here to register

What does the conference cost? [top]
Only $350 if you register during the month of November and $400 if you register from December 1st to March 2nd. The registration fee includes four meals (dinner on Sunday night, breakfast on Monday, lunch on Monday and breakfast on Tuesday), participation in an all-day service project, a bus tour of New Orleans and all sessions and programming at the conference. (Please note: dinner is on your own on Monday night.)

Hotel Accommodations:
• Single room: $159 + tax
• Double room: $159 + tax

All hotel reservations must be booked online. You will not be able to make reservations for this conference directly with the hotel. Conference rates apply from Thursday night, March 12th through Tuesday night, March 17th, subject to availability. Rates are guaranteed through February 20, 2009.

Who attends this conference? [top]
The New Orleans Conference will include hundreds of young professionals, ages 22-45. We expect a very diverse group – people from all across North America, from many backgrounds, involved in a myriad of professions and volunteer activities, married and single, with and without children, and of all sexual orientations. There is no typical participant – all are unique and welcome!

Where is this conference held? [top]
The conference headquarters will be the Doubletree Hotel, which is a few blocks from the French Quarter. All plenary and breakout sessions will take place at the Doubletree. We will be leaving the hotel, however, for bus tours on Sunday as well as for the service project site on Monday.

Am I eligible for subsidies? [top]
Please contact your local federation regarding subsidy opportunities. To find the federation closest to you, click here or email UJCDirect@ujc.org for more information about local federations.

How can I find a roommate? [top]
Having a roommate at the New Orleans Conference can help save on rooming costs and enhance the conference experience. While we encourage participants to share rooms, UJC will not assign roommates.

      For help finding a roommate: Have a friend register with you!

      Contact your local federation to see if they can suggest a roommate

      Post a roommate request on our Facebook event page. 

What if I haven’t found my roommate when I register? [top]
If you plan on sharing a room but have not found a roommate, you should book a single room through our website for the time being. Once you find a roommate, you can go back and modify your registration and upgrade to a double room OR you can cancel your room and add your name to your roommate’s reservation. Whichever roommate books the room will be given the option of adding a second credit card to the reservation so that the room charge can be split between two people.

Remember: if you are sharing a room only ONE person should make a hotel room reservation. (If both you and your roommate have reserved rooms, make sure one of you cancels your room reservation.)

What if I need to cancel my registration? [top]
If you cancel between December 15, 2008 and January 15, 2009, you will be charged a conference registration cancellation fee of $50. If you cancel between January 15 and March 4, 2009, you will be charged a conference registration cancellation fee of $100. There will be NO registration refunds for cancellations received after March 4, 2009.

Hotel cancellations must be received 3 days (72 hours) prior to your scheduled arrival for a full refund. Otherwise, you will be charged the full amount for your hotel.

Meals [top]
Conference registration includes dinner on Sunday, breakfast and lunch on Monday and breakfast on Tuesday. Please note, in order for all participants to have an opportunity to enjoy the famous New Orleans nightlife and culture, dinner on Monday is on your own. Please be in touch with your local federation professional to coordinate your dinner plans. If you need a certified kosher meal for Monday night’s dinner, please make sure it is noted on your conference registration.

All food served at the conference is certified kosher.

Shabbat in NOLA [top]
Temple Sinai is hosting an oneg on Friday, March 13th, following Kabbalat Shabbat services to welcome participants of the UJC National Young Leadership Conference and to support the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.  Kabbalat Shabbat services will begin at 6:15 pm.  Cantor Steven Weiss of Congregation Sha'aray Shalom in Boston (and a member of the second year class of National Young Leadership Cabinet) will join Rabbi Ed Cohn and Cantor Joel Colman for a service that incorporates the themes of tikkun olam and giving back to our community. 

Temple Sinai is a URJ Congregation located at 6227 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.  It is very easy to get there, whether on the St. Charles streetcar or via taxi (for conference participants from out of town).  Founded in 1870, Temple Sinai is the largest congregation in the State of Louisiana and the oldest Reform one.  Temple Sinai is proud of its history of inspired rabbinic leadership committed to tikkun olam. 

In addition, Anshe Sfard (the closest Orthodox synagogue from the Doubletree Hotel – about 1.8 miles away according to Google Maps) has Shabbat morning services that start at 9:15 am.  Anyone is welcome to join and stay for lunch afterwards.  No RSVP is needed.

Each congregation has hosted NOLA YAD at some point throughout the year and the weekend of the conference is the week that Temple Sinai chose.  The other major congregations (i.e. Touro and Gates of Prayer) have been invited to Temple Sinai to join us.

Below is a list of options for those arriving early who wish to celebrate Shabbat with a local synagogue.

Anshe Sfard (Orthodox)
2230 Carondelet Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504.522.4714
www.anshesfard.com
anshesfardnola@yahoo.com

Congregation Beth Israel (Orthodox)
4000 West Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: 504.454.5080
www.bethisraenola.com
office@bethisraelnola.com

Chabad Center (Orthodox)
4141 W. Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: 504.454.2910 (B); 504.455.7817 (H)
www.jewishlouisiana.com

Congregation Gates of Prayer (Reform)
4000 West Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: 504.885.2600
www.gatesofprayer.org

Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation
3737 West Esplanade Avenue
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: 504.889.1144
shirchadash@bellsouth.net

Temple Sinai (Reform)
6227 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: 504.861.3693
www.templesinaino.org

Touro Synagogue (Reform)
4238 Saint Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504.895.4843
www.tourosynagogue.com

NOLA Saturday Night Event [top]
Reserve your tickets for Gratitude with Attitude: Young Leadership Celebrates New Orleans
  
Join the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans for Gratitude with Attitude: Young Leadership Celebrates New Orleans on Saturday, March 14th at 8:30 pm at The Howlin' Wolf (907 South Peters Street, New Orleans). 

Mingle with other young leaders over kosher New Orleans-style fare, and check out the Hot 8 Brass Band live on stage.  The cost is $20 per person, which includes one drink ticket.

Reserve your tickets here. 

For more information, please contact Lauren Goodman at lauren@jewishnola.com or at 504.780.5604.

What should I wear?  [top]The attire for the conference is casual. For Monday's service projects, please wear clothing that you do not mind getting dirty or ruined.

Transportation  [top]
Taxicabs: A cab ride costs $28.00 from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) for one or two persons and $12.00 (per passenger) for three or more passengers.  Pick-up is on the lower level, outside the baggage claim area.  There may be an additional charge for extra baggage.  $1 fuel surcharge added to total fare.