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| April 4, 2008/Adar II 28 5768, Volume 60, No. 33 | ||
| COMMUNITY | Close window | Print this page |
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Young adults gather for Shabbat potlucks One Shabbat in January 2007, four friends hosted a potluck dinner, and each invited a couple of friends. The tradition continued each month, and in January of this year, the number grew to 47 guests, made up of singles and couples in their 20s and 30s. Until now, these Shabbat dinners, held in people's homes, have been word-of-mouth affairs, but because of the large turnout, organizers recently decided to make some changes. "We didn't like the idea of ever turning people away, and there were just too many people wanting to come (so) we needed to do something differently," explained Cory Shapiro, one of the group's founders. They came up with a name, ShabbatLuck, designed a Web site, created a logo and developed a new format. An Evite, which now has more than 160 names on it, is sent before each dinner, according to Shapiro. This is how it works: One month ShabbatLuck hosts a large potluck Shabbat dinner, and then the next two months the group plans smaller get-togethers. The next large gathering is 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 11, at a neighborhood community center in Scottsdale. The Dana Cheryl Beitscher Charitable Foundation is sponsoring the facility rental. The potluck is kosher-style: Although people bring both meat and dairy dishes, they are kept separately. In addition, each person is asked to provide a list of ingredients with each dish so those who keep kosher or who are vegetarians or vegans can determine what they can eat. The dinner begins with a short service and reciting of the prayers and, this month, guests are asked to bring a canned food item to donate to Labor's Community Service Agency, a transitional housing program for homeless families. At this dinner, participants will receive forms to sign up for cluster dinners, a smaller group of 12-16 people that will meet in participants' homes on May 30 and another Shabbat in June. Preferences listed on the form include locations, dietary preferences and whether they'd want to be with other singles, other couples or in a mixed group. This concept is modeled after GesherCity, Shapiro said, a nonprofit entrepreneurial venture connecting young adults, primarily in their early 20s and 30s, to the Jewish community. It started in Boston in 1998 and has expanded to include several cities (geshercity.org). Besides Shapiro, the other founders were Amy Adelman, Suzy Stone and Jared Leaderman; Stone and Leaderman have since moved out of town. Currently, there are about nine people who help with the planning, Shapiro said. ShabbatLuck participants are joining other local Jewish young adult groups to volunteer in the Israeli Lounge at the April 6 Israel at 60 communitywide celebration at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale. For more details about the group, visit myspace.com/shabbatluck. To get on the Evite list, e-mail shabbatluck@gmail.com or call Shapiro, 602-525-6051. Har Zion hosts Passover dinner Har Zion Congregation is hosting a community Passover Shabbat dinner 7 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the synagogue's social hall. The menu includes a roasted turkey dinner buffet, salad, kugel, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and a dessert buffet. The dinner is catered by Arizona Catering and is kosher for Passover under the supervision of Rabbi Mark Bisman. A vegetarian option is available. Cost is $29.95 adults, $21.50 children ages 5-11 and free for children younger than 5. The Conservative congregation is located at 6140 E. Thunderbird Road, Scottsdale. Registration is required. Call 480-991-0720. Women's seder at Emanuel "Women as Leaders" is the theme of Temple Emanuel's women's Passover seder, to be held 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13. This event is open to all Jewish women aged 15 and older in the community. An art project will kick off the afternoon program, followed by the Haggadah reading and dairy potluck dinner. Cost is $5 for Temple Emanuel members, $8 for nonmembers, plus $10 for a copy of the Ma'yan Haggadah. All participants must have a copy, though women under 18 may share the Haggadah with their mothers. To sign up for a dairy Passover-style potluck dish, call Roz Monahan, 480-668-6971. Reservations are required by April 9 with a check to Temple Emanuel, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe 85283. - Leisah Woldoff | ||