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The Talmud makes a surprising claim: “One who lengthens their time at the table lengthens their days.” At first, it sounds almost too simple. Can staying at the dinner table really help us live longer? The Talmud explains that when we linger, someone who needs a meal might still arrive. Then, it goes even further. After the destruction of the Temple, the rabbis imagine the table taking the place of the altar as a focal point of spiritual life.
This High Holiday season, we’re exploring what it means to leave room for another guest, another conversation, a part of ourselves we want to make space for, or another chance to begin again.
During the month of Elul, Permission to Unplug gives you the thing you’ve quietly been waiting for someone to say out loud: You’re allowed to put it down! Shabbat has been holding that door open for thousands of years. We’re just walking through it with you, one Friday night dinner at a time, until the week ends, and Shabbat begins, at candle lighting with the people we love.
The new year begins around a table. We gather with apples and honey, round challah, blessings, and hope for the year ahead. Begin the year at the pace you hope the year will unfold. Don’t rush to the next blessing or clear the plates too quickly. Leave room for another story or another person to pull up a chair. Check out and download the Rosh Hashana on a Friday Night resource.
The Sabbath of Return reminds us that relationships are rarely repaired in a single sentence. Many apologies need another chat. This week, resist the urge to end the evening or conversation too soon. Some of the most important exchanges happen after the meal is over. Perhaps the rabbis understood that some things can only happen when we sit together long enough to talk. Read and download the Shabbat Shuva resource.
The Talmud imagines lingering at the table because someone else might still arrive! Sukkot turns that possibility into a practice. We build homes that are intentionally open and invite guests – friends, neighbors, newcomers, and the symbolic ushpizin (guests) of generations past. The sukkah reminds us that hospitality is an essential feature of our celebration. Flip through and download the Sukkot on a Friday Night resource.
We began this season thinking about how more space creates the opportunity for new guests— new friends, parts of ourselves, conversations, and ideas. It ends with the tradition’s most beautiful reminder that even God asks us to stay a little longer. View and download the Shemini Atzeret on a Friday night resource.