On Friday, March 1, Commons was filled with Poly families of all faiths coming together to break bread for its first ever community Shabbat dinner. This special event was organized by the members of the Jewish Families HUGs affinity group. It was a full house and the space buzzed with the energy of good conversation, laughter, a delicious meal, and the sharing of traditions. Noah Saivetz ’24 reflected on Poly’s Shabbat dinner and the significance of the religious tradition in his own life.

by Noah Saivetz ’24

Although we do not celebrate it every Friday, Shabbat dinner with my family has always produced special moments. My mother makes challah for us to enjoy on Friday night and then its leftovers would carry us through the weekend in the form of challah French toast. That’s one of my favorite traditions. We never have a set dinner menu, but we would always eat a lot of food. Nights when we’re together for family dinners are the most important nights of the week, especially as my sisters and I have grown up, enjoying dinners with all five of us present has become increasingly rare. Shabbat dinners ensure that our whole family would be able to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal while recapping the week. I most vividly remember the Shabbat right before both my sister’s and my Bat and Bar Mitzvahs where we ate with our entire extended family and were excited for the milestone to come the next day. Shabbat, to me, is a way to ensure valuable time with loved ones and create long-lasting memories with traditions. 

Experiencing Shabbat dinner at Poly was special. Everything about the night felt perfect. It was well planned and resulted in a really cool night. When I walked into Commons I was shocked by the turnout. The room was packed with families and kids from all grades ranging from Nursery to Grade 12. We conversed for a bit before the candle lighting ceremony began. It was announced that a Poly parent, who is also a Rabbi, was going to lead us through the ceremony. This, to me, created a really authentic community experience. The Rabbi led us through the prayers as the entire room participated. Middle school volunteers assisted the Rabbi through the ceremony.

When dinner was served I was blown away by the quality of food. They brought out dishes and sandwiches from 2nd Avenue Deli, a famous Jewish-style deli, along with pita, hummus, and other dishes. I walked away from the buffet with a plate full of food and happily finished it all. I was also impressed with the turnout from a lot of the Poly administration. Seeing Ms. [Michal] Hershkowitz and Mr. [John] Rankin, who rushed to get there from a last minute flight returning into New York, meant a lot. Their presence emphasized the support and sense of community that the Shabbat dinner was all about. The Shabbat dinner at Poly was the epitome of what community looks like and I hope, like my own family’s traditions, it will continue to occur for years to come.