Program Empowers Young Adults to Create Shabbat Dinners That Build Connection and Jewish Joy

(Rochester, NY) – OneTable, a North American non-profit best known for empowering young people to build community through Shabbat dinner, has launched in Rochester for those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. With the support of the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, those post-college are invited to host or attend a Shabbat dinner in their own home or a venue of their choosing via OneTable’s signature platform, dedicated to connecting people to create their own Shabbat practices. 

“Our peer-led program really rests on a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach that allows hosts to create unique, meaningful Shabbat dinner experiences,” explained Amy Bebchick, OneTable’s chief program officer.

“We’re excited to partner with the Farash Foundation to pilot an expansion and support not only young adults but also those in their forties in Rochester. As we know from recent research, the epidemic of loneliness and disassociation from organized Jewish life continues well into adulthood and we have so much to offer this age range.”

In addition to connecting people on its platform, OneTable offers a range of support and resources to make Shabbat rituals personally significant. These include financial boosts in the form of Nourishment credits, which enable hosts to elevate their dinners through food, ritual items, or other elements. 

“We love to help our community members elevate their Friday nights,” said Hannah Busis, senior community + Jewish learning manager at OneTable. “OneTable has been helping adults across the country experiment and learn about their preferred Shabbat practices for over a decade, and I’m overjoyed that I get to be the one to assist our new community in Rochester.”

Since its founding in 2014, OneTable has enabled 300,000+ unique participants to enjoy  170,000+ dinners in 700+ cities across the United States and Toronto. These dinners have created more than 1.3 million opportunities to build community and Jewish joy.

“OneTable invites people to gather, share, and belong — three things we believe are at the heart of a thriving community. We’re thrilled to help bring this spirit of Shabbat connection to Rochester,” said Dr. Jennie Schaff, CEO of the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation. 

By simply visiting the OneTable platform, Rochesterians can now post the Shabbat dinners they’ll be hosting, search for dinners to join as guests, start connecting with peers, and maybe even reconnect with old friends. By creating an account, all become part of the OneTable community and can find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners in Rochester and while traveling, as well as access personalized support, on demand DIY tools, and Jewish learning resources.

Busis will be in Rochester in late August to meet with local community members and organizations, and to host a community gathering. Anyone interested in meeting with her or learning more can reach out to hannahbusis@onetable.org. 

# # #

OneTable is a North American non-profit empowering people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. The backbone of OneTable is a focus on empowering young adults to find, share, and enjoy impactful Shabbat dinners, making the most of their Friday nights. They’ve extended the table to new generations by inviting those 50ish+ to do the same with OneTable Together, and have adapted their signature Software as a Service (SaaS) technology to help other organizations overcome community building barriers. Together, their family of offerings helps make community accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for all. Learn more at www.onetable.org.