Host a Shabbat meal for your peers with Stony Brook Hillel’s Student Hosted Shabbat program! Through Hillel, you can host a “private” Shabbat or Holiday meal in your home for your roommates and friends, or you can choose to host an “open to all” or “host approval” meal if you want to welcome students you don’t yet know (AKA new friends) to join you! All of your hosting needs will be managed through our online engagement platform and supported by our staff (who are experts in hosting fantastic meals)! If you do not follow all of these steps, there is no guarantee that your meal will be reimbursed. You are eligible for reimbursement for up to $10 per Stony Brook University student for Shabbat and chag (holiday) gatherings.

Event Checklist:

  • Location & Vibe: Where are you going to host your meal? How are you going to set the tone? (decoration, conversation, etc;)

  • Guest List: How many people do you want to host? Who are they? How are you getting in contact with them and confirming?

  • Food: How much food do you need? What is your meal going to include? Do you have options for all your guests dietary needs? Be sure to inform your guests about the kosher standards your food meets!

  • Table Setting: Where is everyone going to sit? Do you have serving utensils? Plates? Cups? Napkins? Forks?

  • Rituals: Who is going to lead the rituals? What rituals are you going to do? Do you have a cup for kiddush, challah for motzi? A place for hand washing? Candles and matches? Other holiday traditions?

  • Check out this page for resources and inspo!

Event Request Form:

  • Head to Hillel’s event platform and select “Create an Experience” in the upper right corner.

  • Fill out event details including date, time, location, budget, theme, and menu.

  • You can choose to make the event “private” “host approval” or “public” for event visibility.

  • For the the event photo, make sure it’s 1228 x 756 px.

  • Make sure to submit this at least 10 days before your event!

Need a Shabbat kit?

Fill out this form to request a kit just for you or for the whole group! We’ll set you up with prayer sheets, grape juice, challah, tea light candles, and matches — basically everything you need to make your Shabbat or holiday meal a success. Please make sure to fill out this form no less than 7 days prior to your event.

Can’t host in your dorm or apartment?

Hillel can help you find a space on campus to host your meal whether it’s a classroom, the Hillel lounge, or the Interfaith Center! Just jump to the latter part of this form to request assistance and a member of our team will be in touch to help find something that works best for you. Please make sure to fill out this form no less than 7 days prior to your event.

Note: this is the same form as the Shabbat kit request form! We consolidated the forms for your convenience.

Spread the word!

Let all your friends know that your event is coming up! Or let Hillel know that the more the merrier and you’re open to anyone joining you for dinner and we’ll promote it in our own networks.

Arguably the best part…HAVE FUN!

Make sure you have someone to lead the different rituals like candlelighting, kiddush, handwashing, and motzi. If you want to prep a little to get more comfortable leading any of these, email Arin to set up a time to chat!

Debrief & Get Reimbursed

  • Fill out this post-event form with:

    • Pictures of itemized receipts

    • Attendance list including first and last names

    • Any pictures taken before Shabbat/chag of your set up, you cooking or preparing, or people arriving

    • A couple of sentences about how the event went!

  • You’ll be reimbursed up to $10 per Stony Brook University student that attends the event within 5-7 business days of submitting the form

  • The form must be submitted within 5 days of the event