SHABBAT

Berkeley Hillel is happy to welcome an average of 175 students for Shabbat Services and a kosher chicken dinner each week. Shabbat is brought in with three student led services—Conservative, Orthodox and Reform. By doing this we ensure vibrant Shabbat and holiday celebrations that speak directly to the campus community.

Shabbat Information

What is Shabbat?

The special quality of the Day of Shabbat is based on the concept of the holiness of time . The Shabbat is that one day out of seven that was charged with holiness, by the holy Creator of time.

Shabbat has a double theme, the significance of each of which is developed in the paragraphs below. One is to commemorate the Creation of the universe by G-d in six "days," and his "rest" from his "Melachah", and that it was for that reason that He blessed the seventh day and made it holy - Shemot version. The other is to commemorate the Exodus, that awesome event in which the L-rd took the Jewish People out of Egypt; that we should remember that we ourselves were slaves in Egypt, and that G-d Himself redeemed us with a "strong hand and an outstretched arm."

Schedule:

Services:

Reform: Kesher Guitar-led Services
A combination of Reform Hebrew liturgy, English readings, and lively singing in an informal chavurah style setting. The Reform minyan is organized by Kesher, the Reform Jewish Group at UC Berkeley! We do exciting social, educational, and religious programming designed to help build the Reform Jewish campus community and teach about liberal Jewish ideologies.  Last year the group hosted Reform Shabbat Services, two special Reform Shabbat dinners, a Havdallah event, the Tu B'shvat Seder, the Chocolate Passover Seder and more!

Conservative Egalitarian: Koach Service
Traditional davening and singing led from Sim Shalom , the Conservative Movement's prayer book. Join the Conservative/Egalitarian Minyan in participating and leading lively Friday night services full of singing, and learning. Students and visiting rabbis lead us in prayer as well as classes. We look forward to expanding our sponsored activities this year.

Orthodox: Chevre Minyan
A lively joy-filled approach to traditional prayer. Join Chevre Minyan in participating and leading Torah-observant, thought-provoking, and lively Friday night services full of singing, dancing, and learning. Students and visiting rabbis lead us in prayer as well as classes. Saturdays, we congregate at our homes for luscious meals and inspiring talks. We look forward to expanding our circle of friends and raising our levels of spirituality this year.

Free Kosher Dinner:

After services we all gather in the main auditorium for Kiddush and a FREE * festive Shabbat dinner , followed by singing which usually lasts until 10.00pm...unless we really get going then maybe 11.00pm!

*Shabbat dinners are free for students.  However, we ask community members to pay $14 to help support this service to our students. Please make arrangements before Shabbat at the Hillel office.