Please welcome Rachel, our new New York Hub Manager, to the OneTable team! Rachel is joining OneTable after completing her M.A. in Jewish Education from the William Davidson School at JTS, where she had a concentration in art education. Rachel is proudly from New Jersey and completed B.A.s at Indiana University in Jewish Studies and Ethnomusicology/Folklore. She strongly believes in exploring and celebrating diverse traditions, rituals, and modalities of practice. Additionally, Rachel previously was part owner of a family restaurant in New Jersey that focused on green, sustainable, and local foods. When she isn’t working, you can find Rachel exploring museums, working out, trying new restaurants, and petting as many dogs as possible. We are thrilled to have her join us as a staff member to help you all create awesome and impactful Friday nights. Reach out to say hi and get to know a little about her:

What brings you to OneTable?

My driving force in life has been to strengthen Jewish peoplehood, to allow others to explore their personal connections to their culture, AND anything to do with great food. During my undergrad at Indiana University, Shabbat, specifically Shabbat dinners, allowed me to connect with my friends and destress. Since moving to NYC two years ago for graduate school, Shabbat is essential to my week. In this hectic, noisy city, I need Shabbat to recharge for my week ahead and to be more present in all aspects of my life. I learned about OneTable through a dinner I attended, and basically everyone in my Jewish community telling me about it. I knew I had to be a part of furthering its goals and helping people to do Shabbat their way.

What’re you most looking forward to doing as a Hub Manager?

I’m the most excited about meeting and sharing in Shabbat with different people from all over the world. There’s no one way to do Shabbat. I’m thrilled to share in other people’s ideas and to hear about the diversity of practice and interest.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

My mom’s brisket! First of all, it’s the best brisket ever. Period. No contest. Secondly, it reminds me of home and family. My mom made it for every Jewish holiday. It would make me feel like every day was a holiday…A girl can dream.

What’s your favorite NYC experience?

Sunday morning dim sum adventures in Chinatown, followed by a walk through Little Italy for cannolis and coffee. After the dim sum I can always use the walk, and you never know what amazing stores, music, street art, or cool things you’ll find along the way. I love how diverse NYC is. One way that I love to celebrate this multiculturalism is through the amazing foodways that make up the foodscape of NYC.

What does Shabbat dinner mean to you?

Shabbat dinner means so many different things to me, and varies from week to week. Some weeks, it’s a reflective and meditative practice on my past week filled with intentions of what I hope to bring into my next week. Other weeks, it means a time to sit down with a bunch of people I love while enjoying some delicious food and (hopefully good) wine!
Shabbat is unceasing. No matter what happens in the world, Shabbat continues. But I’d much rather it continue with us and to allow it give us a sacred space to convene and celebrate.