Judaism Unbound Episode 547: Shabbat Dinner Party - Lex Rofeberg, Rena Yehuda Newman, Miriam Terlinchamp
Shabbat Dinner Party is an audio exploration through a Shabbat dinner from setting the intention, to making the dinner, to the dinner conversation — all with audio. Each week over five episodes, Kate Mishkin talks to people we wish were at the real Shabbat dinner table with us because they think carefully about what to put on the table and help us to understand how this ancient tradition remains relevant and necessary today. If you're looking to slow down and be more intentional in a fast-paced digital world, how to find a spiritual center, or even how to just have a good dinner party, we want you at this imaginary dinner party. First episode drops on August 12th!
Lex, Rena Yehuda and Miriam introduce Shabbat Dinner Party, the new podcast and discuss themes such as the anxiety of being "Jewish enough," the tension between tradition and innovation, the idea that Judaism has always evolved, and how authentic Jewish practice can be both deeply personal and connected to a broader community. Ultimately, they argue that Shabbat is not about achieving a single "correct" form but about cultivating intentional practices that balance recognizable tradition with creative experimentation, helping each person discover a version of Shabbat that feels both meaningful and life-giving.
[2] In this episode, Rena Yehuda mentions a meaningful illustration. Check out Rena Yehuda's illustration on their instagram.
[3] In this episode, Lex mentions the website notjewishenough.com. Check it out for yourself!
[4] The entire series of Rest to Return has now been released, Shabbat Dinner Party begins on August 12 and the third monthly episode of Shabbat Unbound dropped on July 24. All three are a part of Judaism Unbound’s Shabbat podcast offerings.
[5] Check out Shabbat Unbound in its first form, a year-long Shabbat service that gathers in Zoom once per month, at JudaismUnbound.com/Shabbat. For all of our Shabbat resources that we’ve generated, in the first 2 years of Shabbat Unbound so far, see JudaismUnbound.com/Shabbat5785 and/or JudaismUnbound.com/Shabbat5786.