My friend Eliezer just got into town.  He is just here through shabbat, a couple of days.  I know him from my days in Jerusalem.  And just as you do when a friend that you haven’t seen for a couple of years visits, you spend the first day catching up and the conversation goes all over the place.  One of the places where our conversation went was shabbat guests.  I have invited a few friends over and he asked me where the single women were.  I struggled to answer him.  In Jerusalem, people were very excited about shabbat and getting together for meals.  During the summer, we frequently had potlucks in the park and shabbat day.  There, I would have no problem calling up and inviting single women who are friends because that is what you do.

Here in Eugene, I struggled.  Sure I know single women.  I even know some single Jewish women.  However, not many.  And the ones I know, are not going to want to eat dinner at 8:30 at night.  And many are busy on Saturday afternoon and so won’t come.  Now, I am not begrudging them; it just isn’t a priority for them.

Eliezer and I also talked about the high holy days.  When I say high holy days, people think Rosh haShannah and Yom Kippor, and they think 3 very long and boring days in shul (synagogue).  They never think about including Succot into the list.  Many have no idea what Succot is.  Which is a shame.  Because after all the work we do on Rosh haShannah and Yom Kippor.  The boring, droning services.  The sore back and feet.  The hunger of the fasting.  After all that, we are given Succot, which is a week long celebration.  It is fun and joyous.  How does one go about “teaching” people about this week long celebration that comes after all the work of Rosh haShannah and Yom Kippor?

As I write this, I am starting to see that shabbat is kind of like Succot.  Friday we do all this work preparing for a party, and that party is called shabbat.  It becomes a day to relax and eat and visit with friends and let go of the world.

I would very much like to share this joy with my friends and community.  And I wonder how to do that.  How can I find and invite the Jewish community, singles and families, into my home for a joyous meal where phones and computers, etc. are all turned off, and we learn how to talk and laugh and sing and just be in each others presence?  If anyone has any ideas, or would like to help make this vision happen, comment below.  Or write us a note on our contact page.  And if you are interested in coming to a shabbat meal, let us know that as well.  Have a great shabbat, wherever you are.  And also, have a great month (Shabbat/Saturday begins the Jewish month of Nissan, the month of spring).

About the Author

Shmuel Shalom Cohen spent 10 years studying Torah in Jerusalem. Six years ago, he started Conscious Torah to help Jews connect to their tradition in ways they didn’t think possible. Shmuel also started, and is the executive directory of Jewish Events Willamette-valley, a non-profit whose mission is to build Jewish community, pride, and learning. In his free time, Shmuel likes walks in nature, playing music, writing poetry, and time with good friends.