Project Shabbat acts to ensure Jewish continuity by providing young Jews a social link to their heritage
How it all began:
Project Shabbat is a grass-roots initiative shared by Jews both on campus and post-college graduates who wish to participate in a staple of Jewish heritage: Shabbat dinner. Project Shabbat started in the fall of 2006 at BinghamtonUniversity when two friends, Avi and Ron. Avi – a good cook –decided to host their own Shabbat dinner for their friends. They enjoyed it so much that they hosted another Shabbat dinner the following week. When the food costs became too high, Avi sought funding from NAJSA, a Jewish non-Profit which Ron was involved in. After NAJSA agreed to fund the Shabbat dinner Ron realized that more young Jews like himself would want to participate in Shabbat programs if they were more personal and intimate.. Ron was determined to find funding, so that Jewish students would be able to run their own Shabbat dinners. He envisioned hosts inviting their own guests to an intimate, peer-led event. The following semester, he experimented with the project, opening it up to select hosts from campuses across North America.He soon found out that project Shabbat indeed filled a niche in local Jewish programming. Students and young professionals, from LA to Boston, began hosting their own dinners helping our efforts become a national success.
Today Project Shabbat has more than 50 regular hosts and sponsors 15 dinners a month. Project Shabbat participants have hosted over 200 dinners and brought together some 2000 people to experience an intimate Shabbat dinner for the first time. The campaign is active in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. More recently, with cooperation and funding from Dor le Dor and the North American Jewish Student Alliance, Project Shabbat is undertaking an ambitious course of expansion, reaching out to hosts in more cities and universities. We hope you join us in our task of developing leaders and building communities through the continuation of our Jewish heritage.
The Project Shabbat Board
Michelle Bloom:
Michelle Bloom graduated from Binghamton University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Education. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work. She is an active member in the Jewish community, facilitating and developing Jewish communal programs. She currently lives in Manhattan and utlizes her love and passion to fuel both her professional and personal endeavors.
Ron Kutas:
Ron Kutas graduated from Binghamton University in 2006 with a computer science degree. During his college career Ron served as the President of NAJSA for three years. Since graduating college, Ron has been overseeing Project Shabbat, dealing with finances and implemnting the projects vision and goals. Ron is currently employed at StandWithUs, a non-profit Israel Education organization.
Eryn London:
Eryn is doing a MA in Applied Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London. She does intergenerational programming and theatre with older adults. On the side she is involved with Jewish activities in London. If you are in London, and need somewhere for Shabbat please let her know.
Jon Novick:
Jon Novick graduated from Binghamton University in 2007 with a degree in both Economics and Psychology. Since graduating college he has been involved in the Jewish non-profit sector working in marketing for various organizations. Currently he is part of the marketing department for a Civil Engineering firm in New York City.
David Shmookler:
David Shmookler is a recent SUNY Binghamton graduate working in finance. His hobbies are Jewish and Israel programming, playing sports, and learning languages. In college he was an active member of the student body, taking leadership roles in the Jewish community as well as student government. David currently lives in Manhattan and plans one day on making Aliyah.
Rabbi Charles Lebow:
Rabbi Lebow is the International Director of Dor Le Dor, a Jerusalem-based educational incubator. He also serves as an advisor to the North American Jewish Student Alliance. Contact: dled@netvision.net.il
