EntryPointDC

Shabbat Clusters 2.0

Young Professionals (21-45)

Celebrating 25 years of community, connection, and Shabbat dinners. Register for Shabbat Clusters and start connecting with other young Jewish adults near you.

Overview

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

Finding Jewish community in DC has never been so easy. Shabbat Clusters are small, curated groups that meet for a Shabbat meal once a month (or more!). Groups are organized by the EDCJCC based on age, neighborhood, and/or interests, including solo parents, Jews of Color, the LGBTQ community, and more.

Registration opening soon

Fall Shabbat Clusters registration will open on August 11!

Fall 2025/2026 Suggested Dates & Themes:

(Your group coordinator will survey the group to decide exact dates)

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 1: Friday, October 24
Suggested Theme: Fall
The leaves are turning, pumpkin lattes are steaming, and the morning air is crisp – meet your cluster for a fall themed meal that includes all of your favorite harvest-themed dishes.

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 2: Friday, November 14
Suggested Theme: Friendsgiving
Make your favorite Thanksgiving side dish, collect canned goods for your community, and share what you are grateful for with your new cluster friends.

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 3: Friday, December 19
Suggested Theme: Chanukah
Chanukah Shabbat is the best – eat some latkes, wear your ugly sweater, play dreidel, and don’t forget to light the Chanukah candles together.

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 4: Friday, January 23, 2026
Suggested Theme: Winter Vibes
Break out the hot chocolate, board games, and wear your favorite fleece pajama pants – it’s time to get cozy!

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 5: Friday, February 20
Suggested Theme: Tu B’shvat
Happy birthday to the trees! Tu B’shvat is a Jewish holiday that celebrates trees and our planet. Incorporate dates, figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives, barley, or wheat – the 7 species of Israel – into your festive meal this month.

Shabbat Cluster Dinner 6: Friday, March 20
Suggested Theme: Purim and/or March Madness
Rep your favorite college team or break out your Purim costume and celebrate with a cocktail or mocktail, Hamantaschen baking, and cheering on your top pic for the NCAA championship.

Frequently Asked Questions

The goal is to connect you to Jewish community- how your cluster shows up is entirely up to what feels most comfortable for you. In the past, Shabbat Clusters have had Shabbat lunch on Saturday afternoon or met for dinners at a restaurant, beer garden, or park.

Each Cluster is assigned a Cluster Coordinator or two who will contact the group and help plan details for each meal. You’ll receive that information after you register and the clusters are formed.

It’s okay if you can’t attend every get together, but it is encouraged!

We have Shabbat Clusters all over Washington, DC as well as a handful in Northern Virginia and in the Maryland suburbs.

There is an administrative 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.

Our system will only allow you to register multiple people if you live in the same household (for example, yourself and your spouse or partner). The system will prompt you to fill out the registration questions for each individual who you are registering.

If you would like a friend or roommate to sign up for Shabbat Clusters with you, please share the registration link with them so they can sign up themselves!

Yes! There is a question in the registration form to request this. In order for the request to be honored, both parties must fill this section out.

The deadline ensures we will have enough time to organize the groups before the program begins. That being said, we will continue to accept registrations through the second month of each session. After that, we ask that you wait until the next session to register.

If you are having trouble signing into the system or registering for Shabbat Clusters, please email info@edcjcc.org.

If you have questions about the program, don’t know what group to join, or want to change your answers after you’ve registered, please email Sonya.