On Shabbat, giving young people a seat at the table

Growing up in Colorado Springs, Aliza Kline remembers how she and her family celebrated Shabbat. Every Friday after her mother baked challah (most of which her brother would eat), she would set the table and her sister would welcome guests.

“Shabbat dinner was a staple in my house,” she says.

With her fond memory of family traditions and her background working for such groups as the Hillel International Center and the Jewish National Fund, it’s no wonder that she was tapped to launch OneTable.

On Shabbat, Giving Young People a Seat at the Table2

The nonprofit, based at WeWork River North in Chicago and WeWork NoMad in New York City, connects young Jews in their 20s and 30s. It lets them host meals in their homes and have guests sign up online.

“More than ever, people turn to online social networks and peer-to-peer technologies to meet and try new things, while craving real life connection,” says Kline. “They actively carve out time to relax and delight in the delicious details of good food and wine. Shabbat dinner has always been a personalized Jewish space to slow down and enjoy time together.”

In 2015, the OneTable team helped people fill 10,000 seats around their tables. Hosts have held events like Wet Hot American Shabbat, where the guests dressed as characters from the cult classic, a Shabbanikuh Ugly Christmas Sweater dinner, and a Transpizza Shabbat dinner, during which everyone binge-watched the TV show Transparent.

On Shabbat, Giving Young People a Seat at the Table3

The biggest challenges of her job, Kline says, are trying to raise money and choosing the right hires. But it all pays off when she sees what kind of effects she’s having on people’s lives.

“I love seeing our staff work with the volunteer dinners hosts and then seeing guests’ write positive reviews about their dinners,” she says. “It’s a ripple effect—if we teach hospitality well, then hosts feel great, their guests feel great, and then the hosts get to be the guests. It’s an excellent cycle.”

Looking ahead, Kline is doubling her staff over the next few months, which means that OneTable will have 10 full-time employees. They’re aiming to increase the number of participants from 10,000 to 30,000. It’s a big job, but Kline is excited about the challenge.

“There is enough data about how spending time with people you love and savoring a meal can enrich one’s life,” says Kline. “Fundamentally, we have to make it as easy as possible for people to fulfill this basic desire: to create and attend Friday night dinners in a way that feels personally authentic, and so compelling that they want to do it again and again.”

Photos: Pretty Instant

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