Celebrating Shabbat and holidays at Tufts Hillel offers a unique opportunity to bring together many members of the community. Each Shabbat students join together for Reform or Conservative Services and a delicious Shabbat meal. Holiday celebrations are as varied as the backgrounds of the students, and there is always room for new and different traditions. Hillel has celebrations for all holidays during the year, fostering a warm community atmosphere.
Shabbat | Shabbat Dinner |Shabbat Your Way | Holidays and Festivals | Resources
Every
week, between 80 to 170 or more students and Tufts community
members join together at the Granoff Family Hillel Center
for student-led Reform and Conservative Friday evening Shabbat
services followed by dinner. The Shabbat
, Reform and Conservative
Committees often plan special celebrations such as Faculty Shabbat and Alumni Shabbat.
Hillel also hosts weekly Saturday morning services. All services are followed by a free lunch—no reservations required! Every other week, on Saturday afternoon/evening, a group of students come together for an informal se'udah shlishit ("Third meal") and havdallah.
For a schedule of services or to make a reservation for Friday night dinner (by Wednesday at 10:00 AM), please visit our calendar of events. For students who think that they will come to Shabbat dinner more often than not, they can join the Shabbat-A-Lot list.
For Upcoming Events and Programs, please click here.
Friday Night Shabbat Dinners
Following most Friday Shabbat services at Hillel, students and Tufts community members join together for a delicious kosher meal (with vegetarian options). The dinner is served family-style with people seated at round tables complete with linen table cloths and flowers. Students and Tufts community members are welcome to attend only services, only dinner or both.
How to Make a Dinner Reservation
Dinner reservations must be made by the Wednesday preceding
that week's Shabbat. Only reservations received before 10:00
AM can be guaranteed. To make a reservation, go to the "Shabbat
Dinner" on the calendar of
events or call 617-627-3242.
For those who think that they will come to dinner more often than not, students can join the Shabbat-A-Lot List . Rather than making a reservation each week, those on this list only need to inform Hillel if they will not attend during a particular week. For more information, contact Hillel or register for dinner on-line for the next Shabbat dinner and indicate that you would like to enroll in the List.
Cost and Payment Options *
- Tufts University Meal Plan. The plan will be charged for one meal.
- Tufts University Jumbo Cash. The cost is equivalent to $12.50, the cost of one meal on the University Meal Plan.
- For those not using Jumbo Cash or the Meal Plan, the cost is $12.50 payable by cash, check or credit card .
* Special pricing and reservations may apply for some dinners, (e.g., Parents Weekend, and Graduation/Alumni Shabbat).
Tufts Hillel is proud to introduce Shabbat Your Way, a program designed to provide upperclassmen with innovative and meaningful ways to celebrate Shabbat. See Shabbat Your Way to learn more about the choices available to you. From '"Be Our Guest" Shabbat dinners to Shabbat to-go kits to Neighborhood Shabbat, there are so many great ways to celebrate! Don't see anything that interests you? Want to participate in meditation services, a Shabbat discussion group or something else entirely? Email Lauren Estes or call 627-3242 to make it happen.
See Shabbat Your Way for more information
Saturday Morning at Hillel
Shabbat doesn't end on Friday night! Saturday morning's conservative egalitarian services are a relaxing way to continue your celebration of Shabbat. Everyone is invited to enjoy a free deli lunch after services.
First Friday
Click here for dates and times
Bring your friends for this monthly night of food, music and
celebration. Choose from reform, conservative and Carlebach
services or just join us for a delicious dinner. Stay to enjoy
dessert, play board games, meet new friends, sing or just
relax. The choice is yours.
Dinner costs one meal or $12.50. Please RSVP for dinner by Wednesday at 2PM .
Shabbat 101
Click here for dates and times
Everything you wanted to know about Shabbat but were afraid
to ask. Come by Hillel at before services to discover more
about the most important Jewish holiday. You'll learn why
we celebrate Shabbat as well as the elements of the service
and some basic prayers while relaxing and enjoying a pre-Shabbat
snack. This event is open to all students regardless of religious
background or identity.
Shabbat: My Place or Yours?
Enjoy Shabbat in the comfort of your own apartment. Hillel
provides all the fixings for a fabulous Shabbat experience.
You pick a date, invite your friends, cook dinner and celebrate
your way. Please call 627-3242 to reserve a Shabbat kit.
Shabbat with
Faculty
When was the last time you spent Friday night with a professor?
Celebrate Shabbat with a home cooked meal and brilliant conversation
with an intimate group of students at a professor's home.
Look for more details on tuftslife.com if you want to participate.
The choice is yours.
Shabbat at Tufts.
The Choice is Yours.
Tufts Hillel runs a full program of services and meals for the High Holidays, Passover, and other festivals and holidays. During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, services are held for the Tufts community and tickets are available for dinners and lunches, plus pre-fast and break-fast dinners on Yom Kippur. During Passover, Hillel hosts a variety of seders on the first and second nights, and students may even purchase "Seder Kits to Go" for use in their dorm, off-campus apartment, or fraternity/sorority. Other holidays are celebrated with programs, services, and dinners depending on where they fall during the academic calendar. For more information, visit the Holidays Committee page and the calendar of events.
High Holidays
- High Holidays 2011
- High Holidays 2010
- High Holidays 2009
- High Holidays 2008
- High Holidays 2007
- High Holidays 2006
- High Holidays 2005
- High Holidays 2004
Passover
Sukkot