Young adults are experiencing social isolation and loneliness in huge numbers, all around the world. Devices intended to bring us closer together instead seem to be keeping us apart. For more than a decade OneTable, has utilized Shabbat dinners for young adults as a method of creating community, and in October 2025, together with CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) at the George Washington University and supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation, we set out to examine whether Friday night Shabbat dinner, a weekly ritual rooted in Jewish tradition, could lead to social connection. We wanted to determine if and how this ritual could measurably reduce loneliness, strengthen community ties, and promote well-being. In short, we wanted to find out if Shabbat dinner is a proven antidote to loneliness. The research is also supported by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the BeWell Initiative at Jewish Federations of North America. CASJE Managing Director Arielle Levites, Ph.D., led the research team. Read more here.