Our Second City: Chicago

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Meet Up In the Midwest:

OneTable Comes to Chicago

Are you ready for us, Chicago?

We’re ready for you. You had us at “City of the Big Shoulders” (h/t to Carl Sandberg). Cold winters and warm hearts, a vibrant array of neighborhoods, and a food scene that draws international acolytes – what better place for us to set our newest table?

We’ll be hitting the Windy City in June, when we figured it’d be least windy. So if you’ve been yearning for the chance to slow down your Friday nights and connect with friends old and new, here’s what you need to know:

Where’s my dinner invitation?

This is it: you’re invited. Just sign up for our email update list and we’ll let you know when we’ve organized the first dinners.

What if I’d like to host?

Oh, then you’re definitely invited. We’ll post our applications to become a host on June 1st.

Wait, why would I do that again?

Why wouldn’t you? OneTable is more than just a platform to help you plan, organize and execute Shabbat dinners. We’re also a community of people in our 20s and 30s looking to slow down and take in the peaceful joy of Friday night. If you become a host, you’ll be supported in hosting dinners, for eight to 12 guests each, between July and November.

Here’s our “Why Host?” mantra:

      • Awesome Karma
        Seriously. Shabbat dinner creates the kind of joy that swings right back around to you. It’s the kind of gift that keeps on giving.
      • Deeper Connections
        When you host, you endear yourself to your pals who didn’t make the effort (this time), and you may even end up welcoming fresh faces into your circle.
      • A Full Table
        We’ll help with the food – you set the menu. Check out all the nourishment options.
      • Nosh:pitality Events – Reclaiming the Lost Art of Hosting
        You’re not doing this alone. We’re here through the whole process, from invites to décor to themes and even etiquette. You and your friends are invited to a series of events that will make you an expert in party-giving, a serious skill set that will never stop coming in handy.
      • One-on-One Support
        OneTable wants to get to know you. Sit down for a drink with our Resident Rabbi, and receive tailored support from a Shabbat Coach who gets who you are, where you’re coming from, and what you need.

Yeah, but I don’t know if I’m the hosting type.

Okay, so apply and find out – we love all different kinds of hosts. (The application will be live June 1 – sign up here to stay updated.)

Whether you went to one Friday-night gathering in college — or grew up eating challah every week — the only requirement is that you’re curious and interested in bringing your people together.

Meet Our Chicago team:

Screen Shot 2015-05-19 at 2.30.07 PMEryn Bizar, Launch Manager eryn@onetable.org

Eryn grew up in L.A., went to school at UC Berkeley, and is now a proud Chicagoan. Her background is in the non-profit sector with a healthy dash of knowledge of and passion for all things epicurean (she’s even a certified sommelier!). Can you imagine a better combination of skills to launch our newest OneTable city? Neither can we!

feastly profile picJonathan Eisen, National Digital Media Director and Community Manager jonathan@onetable.org

Jonathan is a Midwest native, hailing from St. Louis and now ensconced in Wicker Park. He’s our connection to the social dining and food tech industries, and he’s a genius at making and deepening our relationships – with them, with our guests, with our hosts. When he’s not doing that, you can find him devouring anything avocado or going on culinary explorations through different Chicago neighborhoods (sometimes while eating avocado).

OneTable empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. The OneTable community is funded to support people (21-39ish), not in undergraduate studies, and without an existing weekly Shabbat practice, looking to find and share this powerful experience.

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