New Partnership Represents a Significant Investment for Meaningful and Strategic Growth

(New York) OneTable, a North American nonprofit organization that empowers people in their 20s and 30s to envision new rituals and build community through Shabbat dinner, today announced it has received a generous grant from The Leon Levine Foundation (TLLF), which represents a significant investment to expand OneTable in the Carolinas.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for this inaugural grant from The Leon Levine Foundation to expand OneTable within the Carolinas and help even more young Jewish adults find community in the southeast,” said Irit Gross, Chief Advancement Officer at OneTable. “This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the region, and we are thrilled that more people will engage in meaningful Shabbat experiences as a result.”

Since 2014, OneTable has facilitated more than one million Shabbat dinner reservations across the United States and Toronto. With the resources provided by TLLF, OneTable has hired Hannah Busis as its National Field Specialist based in the Carolinas to support the organization’s work throughout the region. 

“When I moved to Asheville in 2020, OneTable was my way to find Jewish community,” said Busis, who herself was a OneTable participant prior to her hiring. “I’d known of OneTable from hosting with a friend a few years ago in a different city, and when I was finding it challenging to find Jewish friends my own age after moving I returned to Shabbat dinner and OneTable. It’s been the best change in my Shabbat practice. OneTable makes such a big difference, and I want to share all that it has brought into my life with others across the Carolinas.”

Among other responsibilities, Busis will provide Shabbat dinner coaching and resources to support dinner hosts and guests and deepen and grow relationships with local Jewish institutions. These efforts aim to positively impact and enrich the lives of Jewish young adults who seek community, using the Shabbat dinner as a means to gather and celebrate Jewish joy.

About OneTable:

OneTable empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. OneTable is a national nonprofit funded to support people (21-39ish) looking to find and share this powerful experience. We envision a whole generation of slowing down, joining together, unplugging from the week, creating intention in their lives, and building meaningful communities. 

About The Leon Levine Foundation:

Established in 1980 by Leon Levine (Founder and Former Chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc.), The Leon Levine Foundation supports programs and organizations that align with its four core mission areas: education, healthcare, human services, and Jewish values. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Foundation invests in nonprofits across North Carolina and South Carolina with strong leadership, a track record of success, and a plan for financial sustainability. Through its investments, the Foundation intends to create pathways to self-sufficiency, champion strategies for permanent change, and facilitate opportunities for growth. 

Learn more online at www.leonlevinefoundation.org.