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.
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.
Whether you come once a month or every week, whether or not you have a meal plan, regardless of financial ability or circumstance, you're always welcome at our Shabbat dinners.
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
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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.
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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.
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.
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Email hillel@brandeis.edu, and we’ll add you to our wait list.
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When you RSVP and don't come, we wonder if you’re okay.
We've already ordered and paid for your meal, and a student on the wait list may have been turned away.
If your plans change, just email hillel@brandeis.edu and we'll free up your seat. No explanation needed.
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No. Think of it like a scholarship for an extracurricular Jewish community experience.
Shabbat meals cost significantly more than a meal swipe, whether we use Harvest Table or an outside caterer. Hillel fundraises to cover the gap for students with meal plans, all students without plans, and the full cost whenever we use other caterers.
Whether you come once a month or every week, whether or not you have a meal plan, regardless of financial ability or circumstance, you're always welcome at our Shabbat dinners.
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Because Harvest Table is the University's food service provider, Hillel receives a partial credit when we use them, and only for students on a meal plan. It doesn't come close to covering the full cost, and it's new this year with no guarantee it continues. Hillel fundraises the rest.
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The way we do Shabbat dinner is based on years of experience. We want to balance the diversity of the Jewish student population on campus with making Shabbat as accessible as we can.
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.
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Some holiday meals carry a registration cost, because they're catered at a higher per-person cost. Our Holidays FAQ has the details, including how to get help if the cost is a barrier.
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Yes, because this maximizes inclusion. Most of our caterers are certified by KVH. Milk Street Cafe is certified kosher by ORC Kosher.
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Email hillel@brandeis.edu and connect with us by the RSVP deadline, and we'll do everything we can to work with you and our caterers to make Shabbat as inclusive as possible.
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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
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.
We offer different student-led options weekly.
Photos not taken on Shabbat.
