Shabbat with Hadar

Shabbat is a taste of the world to come. Here’s how you can expect to spend this special time with Hadar.

Soulful Prayer

Services at the Shabbaton will be songful, spiritual, moving, and meditative, giving every attendee an opportunity to connect to the Divine.

Inspiring Learning

Dive into Jewish texts alongside our faculty and members of the Hadar community, taking on crucial questions about Judaism and contemporary times.

Rooted Community

Over the course of the Shabbaton, you will forge deep connections with fellow Hadar community members, rooted in substance and commitment to shared values.

What to Expect Over Shabbat

Whether you have spent Shabbat at a Yeshivat Hadar Alumni Conference or a previous National Shabbaton, or if this is your first Shabbat experience with Hadar, we are so grateful that you will create this special Shabbat atmosphere with us.

The Shabbaton is a one-of-a-kind gathering where our vision for vibrant, egalitarian Jewish life comes to life. Over the course of this weekend, you’ll experience what it feels like when our most deeply-held values strike deep roots in Jewish texts and traditional observance.

We strive to create a relaxed and sacred atmosphere with everything that makes Shabbat special: energetic tefilah, nourishing Torah learning, great company, and delicious food. It’s a Shabbaton of intellectual growth, soul-stirring music, and most of all, fun!

Hadar adheres to traditional Shabbat observance, which means that over Shabbat, our space will be free of musical instruments and any electronic devices.

Our Approach to Gathering

Hadar’s approach to in-person gathering is based on medical expertise. Our Covid Safety Committee of Hadar staff consults regularly with our medical advisor, an immunologist who has advised schools and other institutions throughout the pandemic. We aim to be responsive to and make decisions based on current conditions, with an understanding of the ever-changing nature of Covid.

Based on our assessment of current conditions, masks will be optional at the National Shabbaton. We respect individuals’ decisions to attend an in-person event and manage their own risk. At the same time, we are requiring participants to submit proof of vaccination and test negative on a rapid test before joining the Shabbaton. See below for more details.

We know and we care for people who want to participate in the National Shabbaton while taking a more cautious approach. That’s why the Shabbaton will include some designated spaces where masks and/or distancing are required. See below for more details.

At Hadar, we are committed to offering more programming that is accessible across a diversity of needs and modalities. Over the last few years, Hadar has offered thousands of hours of online and hybrid learning, singing, and community-building opportunities. These programs are core parts of Hadar’s vision, and through these approaches, we have expanded the number of people who can connect to our work in ways previously unimagined.

In this context, we feel it is important to offer a range of gathering opportunities, including an in-person convening like the National Shabbaton. Still, for those who won’t be joining us in person, a selection of the learning sessions on Sunday will be recorded and posted online. In addition, we are planning “Highlights of the Hadar National Shabbaton,” a day of online learning – featuring teachers and sessions from the Shabbaton – that will be held later in the Winter.

We recognize that, as a result of these choices, the National Shabbaton still won’t be the right gathering for everyone. If you need to cancel your registration for any reason, a 100% refund is available up until Friday, October 14, 2022. Refunds of 50% are available until October 28, 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].

Covid-19 Policies

Masking

  • Masks are optional at the National Shabbaton.
  • During all scheduled time slots for breakout sessions, there will be one session where masks are required.
  • If there is sufficient interest, we will organize minyanim where masks are required. If you are interested in this option, please indicate so on this form when you submit proof of vaccination.

Mealsv

  • All meals at the National Shabbaton will be served buffet-style in a large communal dining room.
  • Takeaway containers will be available for anyone who prefers to take their food to designated areas for distanced eating or their own rooms.

Prior to Arrival

  • Full vaccination is required for all participants who are eligible to be vaccinated. Please submit your vaccination record by filling out this form. We recommend, but at this time do not require, the bivalent booster.
  • All participants must take an at-home rapid antigen test before arriving at the National Shabbaton. If you test positive, you will need to stay home. 
  • If you are feeling unwell, please stay home.

Let's Celebrate Shabbat Together!