A new research project supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation will explore the impact of Shabbat dinner as a spiritual exercise to promote flourishing. The project, led by CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) at George Washington University, is a partnership with OneTable, a national nonprofit that empowers young adults to find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners. 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., leads the research team.

The study’s focus on social connection honors the collectivist nature of Judaism, seeking to understand how Jewish practice can promote not only individual but also, group flourishing. The research team completed data collection via experimental and observational studies in July 2024. Currently, we are in the process of analyzing the data and early analysis. 

The study’s key findings will be shared widely when completed in 2025, particularly with mental health and community-engagement oriented organizations, leaders of interfaith organizations, and leaders of civic organizations that build connections across neighborhoods and cities. 

• “I went to a Shabbat dinner this week because I am in a new city and feel like I don’t have a strong sense of community. I wanted to take part in an event to gather, unwind, and feel a sense of belonging.”
• “We have forgotten how to relate as humans outside of our daily work habits and Shabbat provides an opportunity to remember there’s more to life than coming home and being alone.”

“What if Shabbat offers a framework to help all humans flourish? What if the main components of Shabbat dinner – gathering over food, shared reflection, and marking sacred time – can help everyone increase social connections and decrease feelings of loneliness?” says Aliza Kline, President and CEO of OneTable. 

“There’s a national epidemic of loneliness, there’s deep political divisiveness, there’s a real fraying of society and social connectedness,” says Dr. Levites. “Shabbat dinner, in particular, is often used by Jewish communities as a tool for fostering connection and community. Now we have an opportunity to use empirical data to test this hypothesis. Social connection is a fundamental, universal human need. By deepening our understanding of the Shabbat dinner experience and its potential effects, we hope to reveal new ways to promote connection among people.” 

Dr. Levites is joined on the research team by Dr. Julianne Holt-Lundstad, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University and a national expert on loneliness who advises the US Surgeon General, and Dr. Adam Cohen a professor of Psychology at Arizona State University who studies how world religions, including Judaism, affect well-being.

“Different faith or civic groups might adapt these Shabbat dinner components, inspiring meaningful, ritualized gatherings that result in a more cohesive community, ” adds Kline. “In the Jewish community, we certainly see Shabbat dinner’s influence on social connectedness which leads to happy, healthier lives. Other communities might develop their own programs and infrastructure to help combat a national epidemic of loneliness and social fraying.”

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