Submitted by Friday Night Shabbat
The Friday Night Shabbat initiative has quickly become a wonderful way for families in the Cincinnati Jewish community to wind down after a busy week, as evidenced by another big turnout on Friday, January 12th. One hundred plus people packed the Jewish Discovery Center for a fun and engaging evening that included everything from matzah ball soup to a magic show.
The free event was designed to cater to adults and kids alike with lots of unique touches that made the evening extra special. There was a Matzah Ball Soup Social, featuring cocktails and mocktails in one room for parents, and a magic show for the little ones in another room with a magician.
Later that night, the grownups got to share in the fun when he worked the room with some sleight of hand just for them.
One of the kids’ activities that “took the cake” according to nine-year-old Asher Reiss, was decorating cupcakes. “It was a fun night with others my age,” he said. Children were also treated to all their favorite fare, including spaghetti and meatballs, chicken nuggets, hotdogs, fries and more, while mom and dad dined on a more sophisticated menu of salmon, chicken, potatoes, delicious desserts and other culinary delights all prepared by Director of Youth and Family Programs, Goldy Kalmanson and her team at the Jewish Discovery Center. “We are excited to work with Friday Night Shabbat to offer programs like this to the entire community,” she said. “We are already in the process of planning two more in the coming months.”
Friday Night Shabbat has been partnering with congregations and organizations in the Cincinnati Jewish community since 2022 to help fund and organize free Shabbat dinners for young families.
“The Jewish Discovery Center shares a passion for Shabbat and offers meaningful Jewish experiences for the entire community,” explains Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson, Spiritual Leader of the Jewish Discovery Center. “We are delighted to be a partner in this endeavor and happy to have the opportunity to bring the joy and beauty of Shabbat to an even wider audience.”
