Not your zaide’s kiddush: Jerusalem's young olim are reinventing the Shabbat kiddush

The traditional Shabbat kiddush, once characterized by simple fare like cholent and herring, is undergoing a significant transformation among young Jewish immigrants in Jerusalem. For many, it has evolved from a post-synagogue ritual into an essential social function, providing a vital connection point in their busy lives.

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From a young age, after shul, you kibbitz and schmooze at kiddush. In college, it becomes a kiddush at Hillel or people’s apartments or houses before lunch, and then in Israel, especially in Jerusalem, where there isn’t one centralized shul where everybody goes to all the time, it is a fun way to see your friends. And it is a little more distributed and dispersed than places like Tel Aviv. It is a great time to hang.

Max Koffler, who has been involved in the startup scene and military service since college, notes that while the kiddush itself isn't new, its role has shifted. "In college, it becomes a kiddush at Hillel or people’s apartments or houses before lunch, and then in Israel, especially in Jerusalem... it is a fun way to see your friends," he observed. He highlighted that Jerusalem's dispersed religious community makes these gatherings a more organic way to connect than in more centralized locations.

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People are so busy during the week. You don’t necessarily have time to schmooze with all of your friends in one place. You get coffee here and there, but for five or 10 friends all at once who don’t necessarily live near each other, kiddush is a good chance to hang.

These modern kiddushes often take place in private apartments, operating on an open-house format that encourages mingling. "People are so busy during the week. You don’t necessarily have time to schmooze with all of your friends in one place," Koffler explained. Standard "nosh" items are still present, but the emphasis is on the social interaction and the opportunity to catch up with friends, often before a late lunch.

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It is at different apartments. I host sometimes; friends host sometimes. It is usually an open-house format for people to mingle. We usually have the [standard] kiddush nosh – cholent, deli roll, kugel, desserts and, of course, l’chaims.

Avi and Judith Levisohn, a rabbinical student and his wife, host a kiddush every other Shabbat, incorporating a learning component. They have studied biblical texts like the Book of Ruth with friends. Avi described the post-synagogue slot as ideal for social activities, noting that "people have been sitting in shul, they haven’t done anything yet and have lots of social energy." He also pointed out the efficiency of this timing, calling it a "very concentrated window" of about 45 minutes when everyone is available.

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It is kind of an open secret – those who know, know – and you can bring a friend.