Meal Hosting

Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming guests) is a beautiful mitzvah in which people open their homes to those in need and strengthen bonds within the community. As our community grows, there is a need for providing meals that we want to fulfill. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, we have come up with a system to aid in matching guests and hosts for Shabbat and holiday meals.

Hosts:
Volunteers who are willing to make space at their Shabbat tables for an extra guest or two will fill out this form. Your names will be added to a hosting list serve managed by a Meal Coordinator (MC). When a request for a meal comes in, the MC will send an e-mail to all the hosts to see who is available that Shabbat/holiday. All types of homes are welcome and encouraged to be hosts.

To be hosted:
On any given Shabbat or Holiday there are many reasons people might need a meal: they are visiting the neighborhood, just recently moved, had a busy week at work or school, are tight on finances, or simply want to spend Shabbat meals in community. Whatever the reason, you can now complete this form to let the Meal Coordinator know you need a meal. No explanation necessary. Please try and fill the form out by 10AM on a Thursday before the day you are requesting to be hosted.

The Meal Coordinator will do their best to find a host for you from the group of volunteer hosts.

We would like to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and offer a place at your table to someone you don’t know well, or offer yourself as a guest to be hosted by someone new. Whether you are a parent of toddlers or of teenagers, single, married, gay, straight, a doctor, an educator, a rabbi, or a student — anyone and everyone is welcome to host and be hosted!

If you would like to get more involved, have questions, or want to share feedback, please e-mail the Meal Coordinator at meals@ftjc.org.