More than 100 young adults gathered for TLV Nights, the event hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council’s St. Louis Israel Connection (SLIC). In true Israeli fashion, the party grew as the night wore on for the pre-Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration for young adults. Everyone danced and schmoozed until close to midnight at rBar, one of the new clubs in St. Louis located in “The Grove” neighborhood.

“The evening was a huge success,” JCRC international issues associate Galia Wolff said.

The club was decorated with Israeli flags to celebrate the spirit of Israel’s 59th birthday. There was plenty of food on hand to nosh on for people arriving after work including pizza and candies and cookies from Israel. A photographic slide show played continuously on one wall featuring diverse scenes of Israeli life in Tel Aviv.

Familiar Israeli songs had people dancing and singing with increased energy as the party progressed.

“TLV Nights is modeled after the clubs in Tel Aviv which is a hot club scene,” event chair Liz Singer said. “We like to have events which bring attention to new venues like the rBar.”

Singer moved back to St. Louis from Israel two years ago. She was introduced to SLIC by a friend and has really liked the diversity of events put on by the organization. Participants learn about Israel at each event through a variety of experiential activities.

“SLIC fosters connections between young Jewish adults and Israel,” SLIC chair Richard Woolf said. “It gives young Jewish adults an opportunity to see the other side of life in Israel — not the conflicts.”

Several young adults attending the event enjoyed the opportunity to meet other people in a social environment. They felt it was easier to get to make connections in a social rather than educational setting. While some young adults liked the opportunity to meet other Jewish singles, it was also a way for young Jewish adults to connect with another.

This was the second SLIC event Ursula and Uri Bamnohker have attended. Uri came to the United States from Israel in 2001. He met Ursula two years later and the couple has been married for four years and now have a two-year-old daughter. They enjoyed being able to celebrate Israel with other young adults in the community.

Hadas Metzger who served on the event subcommittee lived in Israel for four years.

“Each event we have seems to grow and bring in new faces,” Metzger said. “I’ve met some of my best friends at these events.”