Shabbat Dinners for young jews
One of the most common places Jews connect is around the Shabbat table. For many of us, "Friday night dinner" is sacred family time, when we rest, recharge, and spend quality time with loved ones.
But what if you, like many Jews in their 20s and 30s, don't have a Shabbat table to go to? What if you live far away from your family, don't have kids of your own, or don't belong to a synagogue?
Now, thanks to a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, you can go to the Philly hub of OneTable. This organization empowers Jewish young adults to build an enduring Shabbat practice by helping them host and find Shabbat dinners in their area. Not only does it provide logistical support through a convenient app, it also reimburses hosts for food expenses.
Since the Philadelphia hub of OneTable was established, they have seen an increase in the number of dinners per week, and engaged 47 hosts and 851 individuals through 120 Shabbat dinners.
celebrating shabbat during COVID-19
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March, OneTable had to pivot rapidly to adapt their business model to the reality of social isolation.
OneTable began supporting in-person Shabbat dinners for those isolating together or individuals living alone, as well as virtual group Shabbats via Zoom. During the first weeks of the pandemic, OneTable supported more than 1,400 dinners across the country, including 30 in Philadelphia. They also created their own lineup of Friday night programming including OneTable Live and a Shabbat ShAlone guide.
When time itself feels distorted, many participants say the ritual of Shabbat is more important than ever. “It was so nice to all be together virtually," said one host. "I think specifically for people who are alone in an apartment right now in a city, this actually made [our] week.”
Looking to meet Philly Jews in their 20s and 30s? Check out NextGen, our program for young professionals.