For Denver native Gabby Plotkin, the tradition of hosting Shabbat dinner stems from her childhood.
"That was the way that we saw our family friends and built community," she recalled.
Following her graduation from Northwestern University in 2021, Plotkin began attending and hosting Shabbat dinners through OneTable, a national organization that empowers people in their 20s and 30s to build a consistent Shabbat dinner practice that feels authentic, sustainable, and meaningful.
"I really appreciate how they make Shabbat dinners accessible," Plotkin said. "It's a nice way to bring people together and introduce people who have just moved here as well as others not in the same circles."
Since October 7, the organization has seen unprecedented demand throughout Chicago and nationwide. In fact, OneTable recently celebrated its 1 millionth dinner reservation since its founding in 2014.
Aliza Kline, CEO and president of OneTable, remembers the substantial increase in participation in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack.
"We kept hearing people say, 'I just want to do something Jewish with other Jewish people," she recalled. "Even more remarkable was the increase of people who were ready to host for the first time. They had been our Jews in the pews; they were happy to participate, but never wanted to lead. But a significant number of them stepped up and said, 'I'm ready.'"
"The human aspect of hosting Shabbat dinner creates a great space to see the humanity in others," Plotkin added. "There is such a divide among young adults when it comes to the war, so it's more important than ever to build connections and community. We're all Jewish and we're all connected."
In the weeks following October 7, OneTable saw a 105 percent increase in Shabbat dinner host applications and 87 percent more participants in 2023 than 2022. Forty-five percent of 2023 took place immediately following the attack.
"One of the reasons that OneTable has been able to capture and hold on to so many young adults is that we are really here for them," Kline said. "We know that they're going to keep changing, but Shabbat is a constant. Ahad Ha'am famously said, 'More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews,' and that really feels fitting right now."
Kline reports that Chicago is among OneTable's "most robust" cities, with an average of more than 50 dinners on the platform every week. Since launching in Chicago a decade ago, more than 23,000 people have participated here. Since January, over 3,000 have participated.
"People are really hungry for connection," she said. Kline adds that there was already rising demand prior to October 7 partly due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw increased levels of anxiety and loneliness among communities of all ages. "The DIY Shabbat dinner space is a bright spot amid dark times for Jewish young adults right now."
To support local communities, OneTable employs full-time field managers to lead growth and involvement in specific geographic communities. Leah Weinstein currently oversees the Chicago area, which she describes as "really welcoming and open."
"There are people who want to gather, host, cook, sing, dance, talk, and do all sorts of things at Shabbat dinners," she said. Non-Jews are even frequent guests. "We truly believe that Shabbat dinner is for everyone as long as they are respectful, curious, and open to Judaism and this amazing ancient ritual."
"We are literally bringing people together at the table," Kline added. "And Shabbat gives everybody a reason to come together. It can deepen relationships and remind us about what we're connected to."
To learn more about hosting or attending a OneTable Shabbat dinner in the Chicago area, visit onetable.org.
