This Weekend: A Global Grassroots Shabbat Celebrating Unity and Diversity

Following the senseless violence and tragedy that transpired in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, OneTable and Repair the World are coordinating with a diverse array of national and local partners and networks to mobilize a grassroots movement of Shabbat meals across the country (and around world) this coming weekend (August 18-20), celebrating unity and diversity in the face of division and hate.

OneTable has created a landing page on its website where people can pledge to host a Shabbat (or other faith/values-focused) meal. Repair the World is creating relevant content to guide conversations. Organizations are invited to sign on as partners in promoting this initiative to their constituents and networks, and to share content that hosts can use at their meals.

This initiative is called #TogetherattheTable and intentionally using language that welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds to join the movement. There are two calls to action for this campaign:

• Individual – Pledge to host a Shabbat meal;
• Organization – Sign on as a partner in promoting to your networks

*****

A statement of unity and diversity in the face of fear and division

It is hard to put into words how many of us feel following a weekend in which we witnessed white supremacists and neo-nazis marching openly in America, leaving violence and tragedy in their wake.

Regardless of where we each stand politically, we can ALL agree: hatred, bigotry and violence cannot be tolerated in our communities. When our civic and faith values are threatened in this way, we raise our voices and rise up – not just in opposition but in unity.

In this spirit, we will come together at the table this weekend to mobilize a grassroots movement of Shabbat meals across the country.

We will dedicate these meals to celebrating diversity, equality and inclusion in the face of fear, division and hate. To engaging in constructive dialogue with diverse perspectives. To addressing deep, painful divides in our communities. To considering the role we can play in strengthening civil discourse and society.