Shabbat at Hillel

Shabbat Dinners

We’re excited to host you for Shabbat! All Brandeis undergraduate students are welcome to join Shabbat dinners with great food, new friends, and time to relax.

Hillel’s Shabbat dinners are not connected to any university meal plan. Thanks to generous sponsors there is currently no charge for students. Students must RSVP in advance at this link by Tuesday at 11:59 PM. A lot of effort goes into hosting large communal meals each week, and it really helps our staff and our partners to know how many students are coming.

Graduate students can reach out to hillel@brandeis.edu for help organizing graduate student Shabbat meals.

If you would like to bring guests to Shabbat dinner, please contact hillel@brandeis.edu at least one week in advance.

Photos not taken on Shabbat.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Hundreds of students enjoy Hillel’s Shabbat dinners because they’re a great way to unwind after a hectic week, spend time connecting with friends, and the food is delicious.

    Students of all backgrounds are welcome at Hillel. No questions asked.

    We are committed to welcoming any student who wants to enjoy Shabbat dinner. There are no conditions. Hillel is not a membership organization or a club. We never limit Shabbat dinner to a particular group or club.

  • In order to have a place and food for everyone who wants to enjoy Shabbat, we really appreciate it if you RSVP on time. It turns out that providing a gourmet catered meal for hundreds of people each week involves tons of dedicated staff and volunteers.

  • Email hillel@brandeis.edu, and we’ll add you to our wait list.

  • It is a free country. Of course you can just show up.

    However, students with confirmed RSVPs will be seated first. We’ll always do our best to find a seat for another guest. That’s what we’re about.

    And thanks again for RSVPing in advance ;)

  • Three things happen when you RSVP but end up not coming.

    First, we wonder if you are OK. Second, another student who wanted a Shabbat meal was likely turned away because we were full. Third, we have to waste food.

  • No. Think of it like a scholarship for an extracurricular activity. Shabbat and holiday meals are not the same as a weekday lunch or dinner in a dining hall. The actual cost of a catered Shabbat dinner hosted by Hillel is about $3,000-$4,000. However, thanks to generous sponsors, there is no charge to students.

  • We love to host Community Shabbat Dinners because we know students love the experience.

    Catered food costs money and so does renting rooms, tables, chairs, and having additional staff each week. The actual cost of a single Shabbat dinner is $3,000-$4000.

    We’re very fortunate and grateful that these costs have been covered by generous philanthropic contributions, so that students can enjoy Hillel’s Shabbat dinners at no charge.

  • Please see here.

  • Yes, because this maximizes inclusion. Most of our caterers are certified by KVH. Milk Street Cafe is certified kosher by ORC Kosher.

  • If you email us (hillel@brandeis.edu), we’ll do everything we can to work with you and our caterers to make Shabbat dinner as accessible as possible.

  • The way we do Shabbat dinner is based on years of experience and dialog with students. We want to balance the diversity of the Jewish student population on campus with making Shabbat as accessible as we can.

    You can enjoy this explanatory video from the 2021 student board.

    A student leader often welcomes everyone and provides basic explanations. We never assume everyone has been to Shabbat dinner before and we know the explanations help.

    There are a few blessings we typically sing together. One is a blessing over grape juice called kiddush in Hebrew. We say or sing it together so that over time everyone is able to learn to do it on their own. We’re all about empowering you. Many students have a custom to wash their hands and not talk between washing their hands and eating bread. Other students talk quietly or start a song. We say the ha-motzi blessing over the bread by table because… well, you’ll see why when you come to Shabbat dinner.

    Everyone enjoys a delicious meal and good company. After dinner, some students say birkat ha-mazon, the blessing for after a meal, by table.

    Many students stay late hanging out and enjoying dessert. Sometimes students gather around a table for singing or to connect with a guest speaker.

  • We love when alumni and parents want to come to Shabbat dinner. Please email hillel@brandeis.edu and we’ll help you. Like students, we really appreciate when you reach out in advance. It is customary for guests who are not students to make a donation to Hillel.

    Prospective students are like current students - there is no charge to attend.

Shabbat Services

We offer different student-led options weekly.

Orthodox - Friday nights. Morning, afternoon, and evening on Shabbat. Men lead services, no instruments, gender separated seating by a mechitza (divider).

Conservative (Masorti) - Friday nights, Morning, and Havdalah (ceremony that closes out Shabbat) on Shabbat. A person of any gender may lead services, mixed seating, no instruments.

Reform - Friday nights, occasionally Morning, and Havdalah (ceremony that closes out Shabbat) on Shabbat. A person of any gender may lead services, mixed seating, with instruments.

Partnership (Shira Chadasha) - Friday nights once a month, Shabbat afternoon services once a month. Men and Women lead services, no instruments, gender separated seating by a mechitza (divider).

Sephardi - Schedule determined as needed by the community. Men lead services, no instruments, gender separated seating by a mechitza (divider). Traditional Sephardi tunes and songs.

Photos not taken on Shabbat.