Having a Thousand Over for Dinner? Try 1,500!

Binghamton, NY — Shabbat dinner for 1,000 students? That’s so last year.

At Binghamton University, at least, the idea is even 12 years old. And for the 13th anniversary of Shabbat 1000 on the very campus that gave the program its birth, organizers are aiming for 50 percent more.

“Shabbat 1000 is an enormous rush of Jewish excitement. It generates an unparalleled sense of Jewish community and pride,” said Rivkah Slonim, who with her husband Rabbi Aaron Slonim co-directs the Chabad House at Binghamton and in 1994 envisioned the first campus-wide Shabbat dinner for a thousand guests. “If so many people are gathered for Shabbat, it must be cool!”

Despite its name, that first dinner –– drew 400 students. But attendance grew with the entrance of each successive class to last year’s turnout of close to 1,300.

Such growth helps explain renaming the dinner to Shabbat 1500.

“Beyond the impact of the actual program, we have found, over the years, that Shabbat 1000 has served as a portal into Jewish involvement for many students who were previously at the periphery of Jewish life on campus,” said Slonim.

Rabbi Moshe C. Dubrowski, director of operations for the Chabad on Campus International Foundation – which coordinates the activities of more than 100 campus Chabad Houses across the globe – praised the Shabbat 1000 model as an incredible opportunity for students to have a good meal and celebrate Shabbat in a tremendous way.

Since its inception, the event has been duplicated by more than 15 campus Chabad Houses and other organizations, including several campus Hillels. Dubrowski pointed out that as with the program’s first campus location, those other universities have experienced tremendous growth with their own Shabbat 1000 dinners. In January, for instance, the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Chabad House serving Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh held its Shabbat 1000 for its second year, and fed more than 1,050, including the city’s mayor.

“In many respects, this is the largest Jewish event of the year for universities,” said Dubrowski from his New York office. “And this is something that the students get really excited about. Not only do they turn out in droves, but they’re the ones setting the tables and passing out the chicken.”

Bennett Schwarz, a Binghamton undergraduate and one of the student leaders who will not only be setting up, but helping to cook in advance as well, echoed Dubrowski’s sentiments.

“This is a tremendous effort that is only made possible by the dozens of dedicated volunteers who freely and generously give of their time,” said Schwartz, who is heading up the catering effort for the dinner. “Preparation involves hundreds of man hours in planning, organization, and advertising.

“All told, this amazing Friday night experience involves three weeks of planning, six vehicles, 100 volunteers, 125 tables, 400 pounds of beef, 800 pounds of chicken and most importantly, 1500 enthusiastic Jews looking for a place to get together and celebrate their religion in a spirit of unity and good cheer.”

Some organizers, such as undergraduate David Shmookler, are already looking to next year. Said the Philadelphia native: “When we reach our goal, we’ll start working on Shabbat 2000.”

Binghamton’s Shabbat 1500 dinner is scheduled for March 23. Sponsored by the Chabad House Jewish Student Center, the event is co-sponsored by Hillel-JSU, the Jewish Heritage Program and the Elaine Heumann Memorial Foundation.