Introduction
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 Sciences in Jewish Education) at the George Washington University, 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. Click here to view the report.
“While loneliness has the potential to kill, connection has even more potential to heal.” – Dr. Vivek Murthy, Former U.S. Surgeon General
Research Findings
Shabbat dinner on Friday night holds a kind of magic no other evening can match. It’s not just a meal — it’s a moment set apart, a ritual of pause and presence.
As the week ends, Friday invites us to slow down and to mark time together. And that feeling simply doesn’t happen on Tuesday. Our experimental study shows that the Friday night Shabbat gathering has more benefits than a social gathering on other days.
“It’s not just a dinner on a Friday. It’s Shabbat, because we’ve lit candles and blessed. It’s a reminder that it’s a Jewish and special meal and not just a Friday night dinner.” – Shelley, OneTable Host + Study Participant
Background + Methodology
As the alarming increase and the health risks of social disconnection were becoming publicly recognized, the Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises (SoRSE) initiative called for more targeted research — specifically on how spiritual practices affect human flourishing. And, since the horrific October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, increasing antisemitism and polarizing opinions around Israel have left some young Jews feeling increasingly isolated – making finding answers to the problems of loneliness and isolation for the Jewish community more urgent than ever.
Over the course of three years, the research team used a mixed-methods approach. In the experimental study, which used a cluster randomized trial design, groups of participants were randomly assigned to a variation on a Shabbat dinner gathering. We had 47 experimental gatherings and collected data both pre- and post-gathering from 156 participants. The goal of this portion of the study was to determine which facets of gatherings most influenced feelings of connection.
The observational study recruited participants from the OneTable list and asked them to take a pre-survey before Shabbat and a post-survey after Shabbat, regardless of how they spent their Friday night. We heard from 1,020 participants over two Fridays in July 2024, no matter what they did on Friday night. The goal of this portion was to understand whether Shabbat dinner gives added benefit compared to other Friday night social activities.
In both the experimental and observational studies, the focus was on examining how Shabbat dinner practices can promote social connectedness. For more information, please refer to this Shabbat Dinner Study Instrument Guide.
At a Glance: The Seven Main Findings
Shabbat Dinner Lessens Loneliness – Especially for the Most Isolated
More than other social gatherings, Shabbat dinner reduces feelings of isolation and boosts social well-being – even after just one Friday night! Sharing time with others may not guarantee happiness, but it’s one of the most valuable tools we have in relieving loneliness. However, what we learned through this study is that while gathering with others is beneficial, gathering for Shabbat dinner offers more benefits than other types of social plans on Friday night for reducing loneliness and improving a sense of social well-being.
It’s Not About Breaking Bread – It’s About Breaking Isolation
One of this study’s most surprising discoveries came from our experimenting with a “foodless” Shabbat gathering. We found that the food itself wasn’t an important factor in creating social connectedness. Ultimately the key ingredient is connection – it’s the act of gathering on Friday night that matters most. Food may bring people to the table, but it’s Shabbat that builds connection. When it comes to lessening loneliness, shared meaningful moments are far more impactful than a shared meal.
Host or Guest? Shabbat Dinner Cuts Through Loneliness in Equal Measures
Being either a host or a guest is beneficial for loneliness and social well-being. There are differences in what someone brings to the table in their role as a host or guest at Shabbat dinner. Hosts have more responsibility, more input, and more control over the gathering as a whole. Guests have fewer tasks on their plate, but they may also have greater anxiety around what will be expected of them and who else will be at the gathering. We thought that this difference in roles would result in varying degrees of social well-being after the dinner. Surprisingly, it didn’t.
The question of “whether it’s better to give or to receive?” proved to be irrelevant. While there were some differences in benefits that hosts or guests accrued, they left with greater social connectedness and lessened feelings of loneliness in equal portions.
The Magic of Shabbat Dinner Lies in the Whole, not the Parts
Whatever the recipe, it takes more than one ingredient to make a satisfying meal. The study participants came from diverse Jewish backgrounds and practices. And while lighting candles, saying Kiddush, and reciting blessings over the challah were essential Shabbat rituals for many, there was no single ritual or component that was responsible for the positive effects felt by most participants. In fact, when researchers dug even further into this and grouped components together, there was still no single component or grouping of components that led to more social connection.
In a Fractured World, Shabbat Dinner Helps Bridge the Divides
The world we live in is becoming increasingly polarized. Shabbat, however, focuses on connecting to a oneness – strengthening universal bonds. And this study shows that it can work. After attending a Shabbat dinner, most participants felt a greater sense of connection not only to the other attendees but to people everywhere. However, in a finding that was very surprising, we did not see that same improvement in terms of their connections to other Jews. While in the interviews, we heard that participating in traditional Shabbat rituals did give them a connection to Jewish history and to Jews worldwide.
A Table Set for Shabbat Dinner, Also Sets Out a Safe Place for Hard Conversations
For study participants, Shabbat dinner is a container for difficult conversations about critical topics, like Israel and antisemitism. The discussions held around a Shabbat table are another reason why it’s not just any ordinary Friday night. When hosting in the future, it can be important to set up guardrails for sensitive conversations around Jewish issues for a fruitful Shabbat gathering. However, it may not be enough for everyone, which is one of the reasons why it’s crucial to understand people’s expectations and establish guidelines for a Shabbat gathering in advance.
Holding Nuanced Opinions Leaves Young Jews Feeling Isolated
We know from other studies that since October 7, more than half of young Jews felt unwelcome or excluded because of their Jewish identity or Israel. We heard similar themes from the participants in our study and found that some young Jewish adults who have nuanced views feel particularly isolated. For some young Jewish adults, one of the greatest challenges that leads to isolation is that they hold multiple perspectives at once. So rather than feeling connected by this capacity, they can end up feeling like an island. From their perspective, there’s no safe space where they can share their thoughts and opinions.
