Program
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Hosting with the Shabbat Haggadah
Want to host Shabbat but not sure where to start?
Join us for Hosting with the Shabbat Haggadah, a live class on using ACJ's monthly Shabbat guide to bring people together around your table.
We'll walk through the blessings, talk through the questions hosts run into (What about the Hebrew? What if my guests have very different backgrounds? What if I'm the least experienced person there?), and help you plan your own Shabbat meal.
No experience or Hebrew required. You'll leave with a worksheet, a marked-up guide, and a plan.
What does it take to bring people together around a Shabbat table, especially when everyone arrives with different backgrounds, expectations, and comfort levels?
This class gives you a simple, practical way to host a Shabbat meal using the ACJ Shabbat Haggadah, our monthly guide created with Rabbis for Ceasefire. Each guide includes blessings over candles, wine, handwashing, and bread, short intentions to read before each one, and reflection texts tied to the themes of the Hebrew month.
Together we'll cover:
The basics of planning a meaningful gathering, from who to invite to how to tell guests what to expect.- How the Haggadah is structured, and how to use as much or as little of it as your table wants
- Different ways to read and lead the blessings as a group
- How to make choices about Hebrew, English, and transliteration so everyone at the table can take part
- Hosting for a mixed crowd: first-timers, day school grads, and everyone in between
You'll leave with a planning worksheet, a copy of the guide marked up with your own choices, and a plan for your next Shabbat. We’ll then join back together to debrief how they went!
This class is for first-time hosts, experienced hosts looking for fresh ideas, and anyone curious about building Jewish ritual into their home. You don't need to read Hebrew or have any background in Jewish practice.
Facilitated by Rabbi Andy Kahn, Executive Director of the American Council for Judaism, and Batya Kline, ACJ Administrative Coordinator.
Tuesday, October 13th, 7:00pm Eastern
Monday, November 9th, 7:00pm Eastern
Live on Zoom. A link will be sent after registration.
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