Guest Resources
What to Expect

You’re Invited!

We heard you’re coming to Shabbat dinner, and we’re so excited! We also know it can be a little intimidating to show up to Shabbat dinner if you’ve never been to one before. Here are some Shab-Basics you know what to expect!

  • What is Shabbat? Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. It begins 18 minutes before sunset on Friday and ends when you can see the first three stars in the sky on Saturday night. Each Shabbat dinner is as diverse as the Jewish people who celebrate. But some things are true no matter where you go: Shabbat is a time to relax and recharge with loved ones after the workweek.

 

  • What Should I Expect? The specifics – the timing, location, general vibe, and whether or not you can bring anything – can all be found on the OneTable platform where you RSVP’d. In general, most Shabbat dinners include a few rituals before the meal. These rituals include blessings that may be in Hebrew or English, they might be sung or spoken, and have specific actions that accompany them. Shabbat dinner is a home-based do-it-yourself experience, the language of the blessings – and even the number of blessings–can be as diverse as the people hosting the dinner. When in doubt, we encourage you to ask your host, Judaism is all about questioning. We promise they won’t mind telling you about what Shabbat means to them. 

 

  • Want to know more about Shabbat rituals? Check out our Ritual Card.

 

  • Is there a special greeting for Shabbat? Yes! You may hear people greet each other by saying, “Shabbat Shalom!” which translates to “Have a Peaceful Shabbat.” Feel free to try it out when you arrive at your Shabbat dinner.

If you’ve gotten this far, congrats, you’re ready for Shabbat! We hope you have the best time, and we can’t wait to hear all about it. In fact, we’ll ask you about how your dinner was after you attend, please let us know! And if you have any lingering questions, remember that you can always ask your host before, during, or after the meal.