Shabbat Clusters 2.0

Join Shabbat Clusters – your Jewish community for monthly Shabbat dinners!

Looking for a Shabbat community? Want to meet new people in your area? Shabbat Clusters are small, curated groups for Jewish adults that meet for monthly Shabbat dinners at participants’ homes, community rooms, parks, and other venues. Clusters are organized based on age, location, and affinity, with room for everyone!

You do not need to attend all Shabbat dinners to participate in the program and you can request to be placed in a group with friends or significant others.

Each group is led by two volunteer members called Shabbat Cluster Coordinators. Coordinators set up each dinner and make sure everyone feels included, the vibes are good, and the food shows up. Want to learn more about coordinating a Shabbat Cluster and the perks? Email Sonya.

Shabbat dinners often have themes – including World Cup Shabbat, Pride Shabbat, Musical Shabbat, Hibachi Shabbat, Murder Mystery Shabbat, and so much more!

How It Works

Step 1: Register for a 6-month season of Shabbat Clusters (fall/winter or spring/summer).
Step 2: Get assigned to a group of about 30 other adults in your age group and approximate geographic area in DC, MD, or VA.
Step 3: Get a note from your Shabbat Cluster Coordinators with information about your first Shabbat dinner within a few weeks of registering for the program.
Step 4: Enjoy Shabbat dinner once a month with your new crew at group members’ homes, the JCC, or another location the Coordinators choose.

Shabbat Clusters are brought to you in partnership with OneTable.

Register for the Fall session (October 2026–April 2027) by September 27.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does our group have to meet on Friday nights for potluck dinners?

At the core of the Shabbat Cluster experience is gathering in community for a Shabbat dinner. Clusters are welcome to meet for alternative experiences like Shabbat lunch or Havdalah, as well as additional meet-ups like trivia or happy hours but Shabbat dinner is central to Shabbat Clusters.

How will I know when my Shabbat Cluster meets?

Each Shabbat Cluster has two volunteer coordinators who plan each dinner and will send all of the information about each dinner to you in advance. Shabbat Clusters communicate via email and WhatsApp.

Does it cost money to join a Shabbat Cluster?

There is a $25 program fee to register for Shabbat Clusters which both helps cover the EDCJCC’s costs in running this program as well as demonstrates your commitment to the program. If the administrative fee is in any way prohibitive to your participation, please email Sonya.

Oops, I missed the deadline. Can I still be in a cluster?

Shabbat Clusters are meant to be small groups where people get to know each other and build relationships. To make it possible for Cluster Coordinators to plan dinners and for the groups to gel, we unfortunately have to stick to our registration deadline. If you miss it, registration for the next season will be right around the corner!