By Elizabeth Johnson
On a Friday evening in late January, long banquet tables stretched across the Brinkley Dining Hall at Providence Day School, set not for a fundraiser or awards ceremony, but for something far more intimate. Candlesticks. Kiddush cups.
Challah boards. Wine poured. Blessings recited. Conversations unfolded between families who, until that night, may never have shared a meal.
More than 350 people showed up. They came for Shabbat.
“ This event is part of our Parents’ Association’ s Cultural Connections program, which celebrates the rich diversity within our school and aims to build understanding through shared traditions,” said Amy Bohl, a Providence Day parent and one of the event organizers.“ In years past, we’ ve hosted events for Hanukkah and Purim but changed direction this year
with our first-ever Providence Day Friday Night Shabbat Dinner. We wanted to create an evening revealing the beauty and meaning of Shabbat to the broader Providence Day community.”
The invitation was intentional. Jewish families were encouraged not only to attend but to bring a non-Jewish family to the table. The focus was not on observation but participation. Guests were welcomed to sit, listen, eat, sing, and take part in a ritual that, for many Jewish families, anchors the week. For those parents involved in organizing the evening, the goal was simple: to share something intentional in a way that felt both welcoming and authentic.
Jimmy Collins, a Providence Day parent, reflected on the evening’ s impact.“ I was deeply appreciative that Providence Day created such a warm and welcoming Shabbat dinner, bringing Jewish families together with friends who wanted to learn, connect, and take part.”
This framing reflects a broader approach at Providence Day School, where equity, inclusion, and belonging are woven into the life of the school rather than confined to individual events. Cultural exchange is approached not as a lesson to be taught but as an experience to be shared.
Shabbat, with its emphasis on welcome, rest, and togetherness, fits seamlessly into that philosophy.
Jewish families were encouraged to bring ritual objects from home: candlesticks passed down through generations, embroidered challah covers, and wellworn kiddush cups. Those who had extras shared them across tables, so no setting felt incomplete. For families unfamiliar with the ritual, the table itself became the guide. This was not about explaining Judaism; it was about making space for it. And for many families, the evening’ s power was found in its simplicity.
“ It was deeply meaningful to see such a large community gathering to embrace the ritual of Shabbat,” said Rebecca Kasper, a Providence Day parent.“ Shabbat is one of our core mitzvahs in Judaism, a sacred time to slow down, reflect, reset, and create space for rest, thoughtfulness, and care for one another. It is always powerful to share our traditions with others and to recognize how much we have in
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common. We gathered as curious, intentional people to break bread and share in the warmth of one another’ s company.”
As the evening unfolded, conversation carried well past the final blessings. Families remained engaged, chatting, laughing, and lingering in a way that felt unhurried and genuine. What endured was a sense of something done thoughtfully and well, a tradition shared not as performance, but as invitation.
“ While Shabbat is distinctly Jewish, I believe it offers something universal,” Kasper added.“ In a busy world, we all value the time to pause, connect, and be present with one another. I hope people left curious and inspired to continue exploring about each other’ s traditions.”
And the evening resonated beyond the room.
“ In a time when antisemitism continues to rise across the world, it is more important than ever to honor Jewish traditions proudly and to open Shabbat tables to friends who want to experience, engage, and celebrate,” Bohl continued.“ Ultimately, we hope families left with full hearts and a deeper understanding of why Shabbat remains such a beloved ritual.”
A school opened its doors. Families pulled up chairs. And for one Friday night, a centuries-old ritual became a shared table, wide enough for everyone.
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