Hospitality

The Hospitality Committee is committed to fulfilling the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) by providing meals and/or lodging to Beth Shalom visitors. We can most easily accommodate your needs if you call or email to make arrangements with us in advance. We also make every effort to welcome guests to our shul during Shabbat services and invite them for Shabbat dinner. Hospitality Committee volunteers will be at the "Visitor's Table" during the Kiddush at the table with the blue tablecloth and after services to coordinate hospitality. If they don’t find you, please ask an usher, or a congregant for an introduction!

This year’s Committee Chair is Howard Shalinsky. If you are planning to visit Beth Shalom, please email him at hospitality-AT-bethshalomseattle.org. (Sorry for the crude anti-spam method - You'll need to modify the address inside your email program once you click this link, replacing -AT- with @)

If you have e-mailed but have not been contacted yet, please call the office at (206) 524-0075 and the office staff will forward your message to our Hospitality Committee.
 

What we do:

• Maintain a list of households which are willing to host guests for Shabbat and Festival meals and/or for overnight stays on Shabbat or Yom Tov
• Match visitors with host families for meals and/or overnight accommodations.
• Greet visitors during and after services to welcome them to Beth Shalom

• Choose a date that fits with your family’s schedule
• invite friends to share a meal on that date, and save room for guests (let the Hospitality Committee know how many extra seats you have). Some guests will be assigned in advance, and some will be invited at Shabbat services
• Come to Kabbalat Shabbat services the evening that you are hosting and meet your guests, if they choose to attend KS.
• While at KS services, be prepared to take home a person or 2, if anyone is looking for last minute hospitality.
• Share a kosher or vegetarian Shabbat meal with your friends and the assigned guests.

• Choose a Shabbat morning that works with your schedule
• Attend Shabbat services on that date
• Greet visitors at the "Hospitality Table" during Kiddush. The Gabbaim and Committee chairs will help you identify newcomers or others needing hospitality
• Introduce yourself to newcomers and determine if they need future hospitality
• Give them a "Hospitality Card" to facilitate future matchups
  
  To volunteer or get more information, please email hospitality-AT-bethshalomseattle.org. (Sorry for the crude anti-spam method - You'll need to modify the address inside your email program once you click this link, replacing -AT- with @)