Thanksgiving Shabbat

The table was set, the food was cooked, and students were arriving for Friday night services. But this was not your ordinary Shabbat. While the tables are set every Friday night, this night Friday night was different. In addition to the usual challah and grape juice, there were silver silverware, gold plates, festive napkins and cranberries galore. The food was not usual either. This week, Becky, with help from our usual chef Marisa, cooked a delicious Thanksgiving feast, complete with butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potato pie, sweet and sour meatballs, corn bread, pumpkin pie, oreo pie, pumpkin muffins and homemade apple cider! On top of that, we had our second Alternative Shabbat, a discussion based service. This week's topic was the difference between being an American Jew and a Jewish American, with the conversation discussing the meaning of these two terms, if they apply, and under what conditions they apply. Overall, it was a very special Shabbat, our last service before the Thanksgiving break. So from all of us at Penn State Hillel, have a relaxing and joyous break!