This conversation was hosted as part of our series, “DIY Passover with _____” in which Recustom’s partnerships manager, Jessica, interviewed different Jewish communal organizations about the many ways to personalize the Passover seder. Read on for her conversation with Spencer from OneTable about hosting a Passover Shabbat seder.
At Recustom, we provide tools to DIY Jewish rituals, including Passover Haggadahs. Our full content library is free to explore here. And, find a Shabbat dinner near you to join or become a OneTable host here.
Jessica: To begin, let’s learn a bit about who you are and your work with OneTable.
Spencer: I’m the Atlanta Field Manager at OneTable. My work is all about helping people, mainly folks in their 20’s and 30’s, to create meaningful Shabbat dinners on their own terms. I help hosts find their connection to this ancient ritual practice, that is a source of grounding, wellness, and community and to explore how to bring it into their lives with joy.
Jessica: This year, OneTable is supporting folks who’d like to host a seder on April 18th, the Friday that falls during Passover. Could you share a bit about Passover Shabbat?
Spencer: It’s a special moment for OneTable’s community. Passover Shabbat blends the weekly rhythm of Shabbat with the extra special intention of Passover. It’s an opportunity to explore how Passover themes, like liberation and tradition, fit into our own lives. And, at the same time, accessing the power of Shabbat, which for me is about rest. It’s still the moment at the end of the week, where you can just exhale. There’s a lot happening in the world, it’s an important opportunity to really breathe. It’s extra special, getting to hold both holidays together.
Jessica: As an expert host, what advice can you share for first time hosts?
Spencer: My advice to all of our new hosts is to start small. When I first started hosting, I was living in a really tiny apartment. Hosting in a small space is a challenge that many of our hosts share, but I think there’s an added benefit too. A small space tends to lend itself to coziness really well. There’s a special energy when folks fully fill a space, so you have an advantage there!
I like to think of hosting, with both Shabbat and Passover, as a practice. The first time you host is a special opportunity to try something new, and then next time it’s another opportunity to try something different. Don’t stress perfection, you can always try something else next time.
Hosting is a practice, not a performance. So, pick things that feel joyful to you. You don’t need to do every element and you don’t even need to even know every element. Think of bite-size moments you’d like to incorporate and go for it.
Jessica: Some hosts may have already attended a seder of two this year. Passover Shabbat could be an opportunity to reflect and engage with what resonated or didn’t click from those earlier experiences.
Spencer: Right, and you can always lean on your people to create the experience. Do it together.
I was just chatting with a colleague who has a Passover tradition of collectively hosting with friends. I think that’s such a beautiful way to host, especially if you feel overwhelmed. Host with a pal, don’t leave it all for yourself if you don’t want to.
Jessica: There’s such beautiful imagery of the Passover table, that reminds me of what you’re sharing about the power of community and what each person can contribute to the experience.
Still, the seder planning process can feel like a lot. How do you lean on your Shabbat practice during stressful moments, even when it’s not Friday?
Spencer: A new practice for me is setting my phone to ‘do not disturb’. It’s been challenging, I often need to be reached by a lot of different people. But, creating a healthier relationship with my phone has been so helpful. There are some Shabbats where I fully power off my phone. More often, when I’m at a Shabbat dinner, I leave my phone in a different room. Putting it fully away makes such a huge difference.
When planning your seder, you can set yourself and guests up for success by being really clear about expectations. Send an email or a group text the day before with your game plan. That helps limit those last minute questions from guests, which can really take away from the energy you’re cultivating.
And, no big lights. Twinkle lights, candles: warm lighting has such an impact. It’s an aesthetic choice, but it lends itself to accessing that sense of calm.
Jessica: I love this idea of applying the thought process behind how you might stage a hosting space, and incorporating those elements into your day to day. Turning your phone off for an hour on a Wednesday afternoon or dimming the lights to answer emails, feel like accessible but impactful ways to bring a small part of Shabbat into your day to day.
Explore OneTable's 2025 Passover Shabbat guide here and even more Passover content to DIY your seder on Recustom.com. Check out all of OneTable's Passover Resources here.