By Sheri Rodman, Executive Director

Our monthly Shabbat dinners at Hillel continue to be a joyful and grounding touchpoint for students—an opportunity to pause, connect, and build community over a shared meal. Whether it’s a full room on a Friday night or smaller gatherings throughout the semester, there is something undeniably special about the warmth and rhythm of Shabbat on campus.

In February, we joined the National Council of Jewish Women’s Repro Rights Shabbat, part of a national movement honoring the Jewish value of reproductive freedom. One of our student leaders thoughtfully crafted a menu inspired by “mom or grandma’s home-cooked meal”— in her words, not in a “women should be in the kitchen” sort of way, but as a way to celebrate the strong, loving women who nourish and shape our lives. The evening felt both deeply meaningful and warmly familiar.

This semester, we are facilitating a Shabbat Hosting Lab program for a small cohort of student leaders to explore what it means to create meaningful, personal Shabbat experiences. Over the past few months, it has been a true joy to watch these students fall more deeply in love with Shabbat and begin to make it their own.

In March, our students began bringing their own visions to life. Two members of the cohort hosted simultaneous Shabbat experiences in their own spaces, inviting peers to “taste the flavors that shaped them” and experience Shabbat through a personal lens. One dinner featured a Cajun-inspired menu, while another highlighted Asian-inspired dishes—each reflecting the unique backgrounds and traditions of the hosts. Another student, passionate about online gaming, is planning a virtual Shabbat experience that will bring the spirit of Shabbat to friends near and far in a way that feels authentic and accessible.

Before the program ends, each student will select their own set of Shabbat candlesticks—a meaningful keepsake that they can carry with them into adulthood. Many have already expressed how special it feels to choose something that reflects their identity and will become part of their future homes and traditions.

At its core, Shabbat Hosting Lab is about more than just hosting dinners—it’s about empowering students to find their place within Jewish life and to carry forward traditions in ways that feel genuine and alive. Watching this unfold has been incredibly special, and we can’t wait to see how these students continue to shape and share Shabbat in the years to come.