My first Shabbat at Ben Yehuda 126
A completely secular guy who showed up out of respect — and left with an Ashkenazi kiddush, five new friends, and one tip that really works for breaking into a conversation with strangers.
When I first showed up at Ben Yehuda 126, I came prepared for the prayers — even though I'm completely secular. It just felt right to respect the place and the people.
I arrived around 11:00 and asked the rabbi how much longer the service would go. He said, 'Five more minutes.' Only then did I realize I'd essentially walked in at the end (ha).
After the service we moved to the kiddush — which here basically means a rich Shabbat meal: cholent (the classic slow-cooked Shabbat stew), potatoes, noodle kugel, and a full lineup of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) classics. If you know when and where to look, you can even score a schnitzel.
But let's be honest — the food was the least interesting thing there. What actually grabbed me was the human capital. There were about 70 people, and I was told that's considered a 'less crowded' week.
The crowd is mostly single men and women, all shomrei Shabbat but not shomrei negiah (in observant Jewish life, that means keeping Shabbat but not restricting casual physical contact between men and women), all showing up specifically for that human conversation with new people. It's incredibly easy to slip into a chat — and once you know one person, they're already running to introduce you to others.
Genuinely lovely, the whole crew.
Moiz (Moshe) is the one leading this community, the North Central Synagogue, and he's doing beautiful work — bringing people closer and, in his way, mending the world.
I ended up meeting about five really wonderful people there. My tip: don't look at the room as a whole — it's too much, and it starts to feel like staring into an abyss. Instead, zoom in on a small group already talking, and just join. Even if you don't say a word at first, they'll clock you and pull you into the conversation themselves. :)
I especially recommend meeting: Lea from France, Tamar (also from France), Alicia from the UK, and Doni from Maryland. Four wonderful women who are a real pleasure to talk to.
The venue itself is charming — not exactly intimate, but you can simply arrive at 11:30 and head upstairs to join the kiddush.
Warmly recommended — worth the trip.