The rule that one must contribute a dish to the potluck goes out the window at Congregation Or Chadash, a small Reform temple in Damascus, Maryland.
If you’ve had a particularly busy day and no time to run to the store, you’re still welcome at Or Chadash’s monthly Shabbat potluck dinner. Rabbi Alison Kobey prides her synagogue community for its inclusivity.
The regular Shabbat attendance usually doubles on potluck night, when anywhere between 30 and 35 congregants feast on chili, salmon, pasta salad, tofu, noodles, kugel, breads and a variety of desserts. The dishes are always dairy or vegetarian to ensure that dinner is accessible to those who keep kosher or have various dietary needs, Kobey said.
Kobey started the potluck tradition a little over a year ago to address the feelings of isolation brought on by the pandemic.
“Post-Covid, [we were] trying to bring people back into the community and [foster] connection, recognizing we have all different kinds of congregants: some who are very eager to get back in person, some who are more cautious,” Kobey said. “Potluck is a nice, casual way to bring people together.”
The atmosphere in the room on a Shabbat potluck Friday is casual and friendly, with attendees getting up from their seats to talk to others.
“It’s not at all cliquey, which is nice and heartwarming,” Kobey said. “Everyone really gets along with each other, and they go down the buffet line, but then they sit and meander and talk, and it’s very social. People are there for a while because they’re enjoying each other’s company.”
A majority of the attendees make dishes to bring, and others contribute store-bought dishes.
“It’s really great fun because people get to bring their creative recipes,” Kobey said, adding that she’s seen congregants bring different flavors of challah. “I hear all sorts of compliments one to another about, ‘Oh, I want that recipe’ or ‘This is delicious.’”
But the meal is about far more than food; the monthly potluck dinner brings the community together for Shabbat. Community and connection are key parts of synagogue life, Kobey said, adding that she’s gotten a multitude of positive feedback from
potluck regulars.
“I think different aspects of synagogue life are important to different people,” Kobey said. “Some people gravitate more toward the religious aspect, like services. Some people gravitate more to ongoing learning. Some people gravitate more to social justice and social action.
And some people want to be with other Jewish or Jewish-adjacent people. So we provide doorways into all of those aspects, trying to make sure there are entry points for everyone.”
Kobey said someone who may not be able to contribute a dish one night is welcome at the table: “We want to make sure it’s fully inclusive, that everyone can participate.”
She noted that “lots of congregants” pitch in to help with setup and cleanup, adding that the Or Chadash community is very hands-on and generous.
“We are a very welcoming synagogue,” Kobey said. “We want to make sure that everyone feels fully part of it, that it’s our collective sacred family, and in the same way as in a family, sometimes people are able to help in different ways and sometimes people just show up. That’s how we want our synagogue.
“It’s super-important for us that whether or not you brought food that month, you know you’re part of this congregation; we want you to stay. There’s always plenty of food and
no worries.”
