Shabbat Services Summer 2021

Friday Night Dinner and Services

Kabbalat Shabbat (Receiving Shabbat) at Brown RISD Hillel is vibrant and welcoming. Some students come for both services and dinner, and some come just for services or just for dinner. Many students bring their friends--all are welcome. Some weeks there is a special theme for services or dinner, some weeks we have special dinner speakers, and some weeks are just a time to relax and connect with the community. 

Our services are entirely student-led. We host multiple different kinds of minyans (services) depending on what students want. If you want to get involved in leading an existing service, please contact the minyan coordinators listed below. If you want to start (or re-start!) a new minyan, please contact Shabbat chair Aliyah Blattner. Previous minyans have included Orthodox/mehitzah, Conservative, and a study/learner's service.

Currently, we have the following service options on Friday Night: 

• Based on the Hebrew word for “friend,” Havurah at Brown RISD Hillel is a moving, melodic way to welcome the Sabbath. Havurah strives to be a pluralist, transdenominational space open to all and with our own style. To do so, we synthesize a traditional Hebrew liturgy, dedication to an accessible prayer space, and energetic, soulful singing. Practically, this means that our liturgy hues most closely to the Orthodox and Conservative movements, our siddur (prayer book) hues most closely to the Reconstructionist movement, and we love a long Kabbalat Shabbat. If you don't know what any of the terms in the last sentence mean, please just ask - we welcome you and we welcome questions! This Friday, please join us in the Beit Midrash (room of learning), sitting on chairs or comfy cushions! Email Michal Loren with thoughts, questions, and concerns. 
• Reform Minyan at Brown RISD Hillel is a progressive, creative, and intellectual prayer space rooted in the traditions of the Reform Movement.  A rotating group of creative leaders craft the theme of our service each week, resulting in a diversity of styles ranging from Musical Shabbat to Shabbat in the Dark! All services are full of music and community and open to participants of all backgrounds. Join us in the student lounge! Email Sy Gitin or Jordan Kei-Rahn with any questions.
• Orthodox service is a traditional, orthodox prayer-space led by Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz. There is separate seating for men and women in these prayer spaces, and they happen on a rotating schedule on an about-monthly basis. Contact Seiji Shaw or Becca Rosensweig for more information! 

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Saturday Services

​Brown RISD Hillel offers weekly Saturday services on a rotating basis. Options include Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, musical, contemplative, and more. For this year's schedule of services, please click here. Participants include undergraduates, graduate students, alumni, professors, and community members. If you would like to be involved in leading parts of Saturday services or if there is a service you would like to see offered, please contact Shabbat Chair Aliyah Blattner.

Additional Shabbat Programming

​There is always lunch at 12:30 pm. We also host a Third Meal (a small meal) about an hour before Havdalah begins. Many students stay around the building during the afternoon, reading, playing games or hanging out. Student leadership organizes the third meal and a beautiful Havdalah service (the candlelight service that marks the end of Shabbat) weekly as well.

*Learn the Shalom Aleichem and Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals) prayers from Shabbat at Hillel here! If you would like to follow along with the recording using transliteration, please open a new tab and use the following links. 
Shalom Aleichem
Birkat Hamazon

Read about our Eruv extension →