Hospitality

Shabbat is an antidote to loneliness, an ancient communal wellness practice. Rooted in the foundational texts of Judaism, welcoming guests and being a guest are expressions of radical hospitality that honor the essential value in every human being (kavod ha’briot) and create opportunities for connection in the modern world. During COVID, it can mean checking in with your community, [etc, good words].

The Most Ancient ~Wellness~ Ritual

Shabbat, much like yoga or meditation for some, is an act of rebellion against a constantly moving world. We bring ritual to the table not because we have to, but because disconnecting in order to intentionally connect, separate from the work week, and build community is holy – and really good for you.

Our work creates an opportunity for everyone to better engage in their own work. Taking intentional time each week to recharge means everyone can return to their work (whether corporate, justice-oriented, creative, or otherwise) with fresh energy and focus.

Close up of two hands typing on a keyboard, one hand is wearing a silver ring and is tattooed with x's and o's on their fingers

Dinner Description Glow Up

Sometimes, writing is hard. But we hope that writing a dinner description can be a moment of reflection, light, gratitude, or acknowledgement that brings extra meaning to Friday nights. Whether you’re Shabbating for the first time (or the first time in a long time) and need some inspiration to make it feel meaningful, or you’re Shabbating every week and need a way to make each dinner distinct, here are some of my favorite ways to glow up a dinner description.

Screenshot of Houseparty video call with four woman and one man smiling at the camera, friends list shown to the left.

Virtual Game Shabbat

One of the best things about Friday night is gathering with friends and bonding over a shared activity — be that wine tasting, movie night, or board games. In the time of social distancing, that becomes harder…but even if you’re alone, you can enjoy the fun of shouting an answer through the interwebs in hopes your teammates will figure it out.

Overhead image of challah, vegetables, and plates on the table.

Last Minute Hosting Tips

You’re hosting a Shabbat dinner, and unless you have supernatural powers (and hey, maybe that’s you) things might be getting a little stressful. We pulled tips and tricks together from the OneTable fam about how to welcome Shabbat with a little more ease.

Two hands extending out to clink two glasses of white wine together

So, you wanna plan a Shabbat dinner...

Whether you’re one month out, or moments away from your friends knocking on your door, we know that a lot goes into Shabbat dinner prep. Use our timeline to make sure that you’re able to check boxes along the way … and enjoy the planning process.

Screenshot of Youtube video; Jake Cohen sitting on couch while on Zoom with Mike Solomonov who is chopping vegetables on a cutting board in the kitchen

Michael Solomonov Talks (+ Cooks!) Shabbat Dinner

Five-time James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov leads us virtually for a conversation and cooking demo with Jewish Food Influencer & OneTable Board Member/Superhost Jake Cohen. They had a little something to say about the power of Shabbat… you’ll want to hear this.

Overhead shot of silver pan, three purple onion slices, dry pasta, and four spoons overflowing with spices, all on a yellow table; one feminine-looking hand adjusting a spoon, the other adjusting an onion slice

Shabbat Swaps: Best Hacks for When You're Missing Ingredients

If you’re anything like the OneTable Team, you spend the week before each Shabbat dinner scouring the Internet (oh hey, Bon Appetit) for the perfect recipes to make your guests. You may also be having a hard time finding the ingredients you need to make the perfect meal right now, but you *can* cook with what you have! Here are some key swaps you need whether you’re making challah, matzo ball soup, chocolate chip cookies or anything else.

delish-crock-pot-butternut-squash-soup-horizontal-1535155553

Slow Cooking Shabbat

We know it can be daunting to prepare a meal for Friday night. How will you cook everything after a long workday? How can you ensure your dishes are perfectly timed and nice and hot when served?