I had the opportunity to sit down and break bread (well, tear challah was actually what happened), with Andrew Cohen the founder of Elevate Shabbat.
Elevate Shabbat is a monthly haven where Friday nights become a sanctuary for the soul. Andrew brings Shabbat to unique and vibrant settings. I never thought I would hear Jonathan Stone beatbox the HaMotzi at the famed nightclub Gospel. It was so beautiful and moving; refreshing and respectful.
Andrew and his team have crafted something special. They weave Jewish tradition in a modern setting and make it seamless. Everything transitions gracefully from prayer to wine to a delicious meal.
The food is just as seamless as the rest of the gathering. It is nourishing, intentional, and plentiful. When I was at a Jewish grandma’s house for Shabbat I was offered food within a few minutes of arriving and it was fantastic. The dinner was just as impressive with an array of offerings including the traditional Shabbat salmon. Followed by a decadent chocolate mousse.
The maven behind all of the creations is Chef Sarah Eve Cardell. All of Sarah’s food is truly made with love. She wants each dish to heal the heart. She entwines her top-notch culinary skills with passion and intention. In addition to being an amazing chef, Sarah has studied under the late shaman Ipupiara, a Makunaiman of the Ure-e-wau-wau tribe as well as Sri Dharma Mittra.
We ended the night dancing to an amazing DJ set by DJ Tomer. It felt spacious and dreamy. As I looked around the crowd it was a sea of smiles. The guests were friendly and approachable; I met so many amazing people in this easygoing and intentional atmosphere.
Andrew along with Chef Cardell are well known in the Burning Man community for hosting a 700-person Shabbat on the Playa! Together they created this magic on such a massive scale, and in an impossible terrain speaks to the passion that the Elevate Shabbat team possesses. The team has continued to recreate this many times at many Burning Mans bringing the food and tradition of Shabbat as their offering to the community.
As we sat at Gospel I could see his face light up and he told me about his Shabbats, past, present, and future. Elevate Shabbat is rooted in New York and has expanded to LA and Miami with cameos in other cities. Andrew and his team plan to continuously expand the visibility and accessibility of the Shabbat tradition. Expect more magic from this amazing team.
You can find out more about Elevate Shabbat on their website & Instagram.
The next Elevate Shabbat is tonight at Gospel! Tickets are sold out, but keep an eye on them to find out where they will be next.
Shabbat Shalom!
Photo Credit: by Nano Leon.
