Who We Are
East Side Tribe is a grassroots social and spiritual community fueled by Jewish Values and rooted in East Nashville.
Our mission is to support the Jewish community of East Nashville in the process of creating and strengthening relationships with each other and with Judaism by collaboratively organizing social, ritual, and educational gatherings in our own neighborhoods.
We envision an East Nashville that’s an awesome place to be Jewish, where any individual regardless of background, faith, or ability feels a sense of belonging in the community and can engage with Jewish values, culture, ritual, and spirituality in whatever ways create purpose, meaning, and joy in their lives.
Check out all our upcoming events on our Eventbrite or in the calendar below!
Holiday Gatherings
Celebrate Jewish Holidays on the East Side, including a big community Yom Kippur break fast, Hanukkah at Inglewood Lounge, and more!
The Wandering Scholar Torah & Text Study
Learn from experts and visionaries willing to wander across the Cumberland and share some Torah. Past scholars include Amy-Jill Levine, Marcus Whitney, and Rabbi Rami Shapiro.
No! Ever since we started in 2017, our mission has been to help build Jewish life in a part of the city that doesn’t have formal Jewish institutions. But we sometimes hold events in other neighborhoods as well, and all are invited to join us, regardless of location.
No! Folks who are Christian, Muslim, non-religious, and other are all very involved in our community. Some come because they have Jewish partners or friends; others are beginning a journey of reconnecting with their Jewish family history. We ask that all members of our community, regardless of religious background, bring curiosity and respect for each other’s traditions.
No! East Side Tribe was founded by a group of folks in their 20s and 30s, but we’re intentionally multi-generational. At any given event, you could meet singles in their 50s, interfaith couples in their 30s, and lots of very squishy babies.
No! We think of ourselves more like a chavurah. We don’t have many of the things you might associate with synagogues, like a building, a rabbi, or high holiday services. However, we love collaborating with the synagogues “across the river,” and many East Side Tribers are members of those communities as well!
We see ourselves as a connector and incubator of Jewish life in East Nashville. We want to connect our community to the amazing Jewish resources that already exist in other parts of the city. We also want to help Jews and Jewish-adjacent folks in East Nashville connect with each other, with their Jewish values and culture, and even with their spirituality, in whatever ways help them find purpose, meaning, and joy in their lives.
We're constantly helping folks cook up new ideas. Want to plan a program? Start a series? Host a Shabbat dinner? Let us know.
East Side Tribe is focused on serving the East Nashville Jewish community. If you are interested in other Jewish organizations or services in the greater Nashville area such as Jewish congregations, religious education, professional groups, or other family resources, check out www.jewishnashville.org or e-mail us at eastsidetribenashville@gmail.com. We would be delighted to answer any questions you have and get you connected!
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that's safe and welcoming to people of any background, faith, or ability. Please email us if you have questions or concerns about accommodations at one of our events.
We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee for sharing our vision and supporting our mission.
East Side Tribe Nashville © 2023