• Who can host a NEXT Shabbat meal?
• How many NEXT Shabbat meals may I host?
• Do I need to do anything special at my meal?
• Does my NEXT Shabbat meal need to be Kosher?
• I've never hosted a Shabbat meal before.  How does it work?
• I am a Taglit-Birthright Israel alumnus currently studying or living abroad (Israel, Spain, Italy, France, etc.).  Does NEXT Shabbat cover meals in places outside North America?
• When will my Shabbox arrive?

• Do all of my guests need to be Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni?
• Do all of my guests need to be Jewish?
• Do my guests have to be a certain age?
• How many guests can I invite?
• Can I ask my guests to help cover the costs?

• How do I invite guests to my meal?
• How do my guests RSVP?
  
• Do I invite my own friends or does Birthright Israel NEXT send me guests?
• I need to cancel my NEXT Shabbat meal.  Is there a penalty for canceling?
• Why does Birthright Israel NEXT sometimes ask for guests' emails?  What will you do with the emails?

• How much money am I eligible to receive from Birthright Israel NEXT?
• What does Birthright Israel NEXT pay for?
• I finished my meal, how do I get paid?
• It is not my personal practice to take pictures on Shabbat.  What should I do?
• Up to $14 per person is very generous. What if I prefer not to spend that much?
• Do I need to save my receipts?
• I never got my NEXT Shabbat sign!  Do you mail it to me?
• When will I receive my payment?

• I registered to host but I can't access my Host Center.  What do I do?
• I don't remember my user name and password.  What do I do?

• Who can host a NEXT Shabbat Moishe House meal?
• How many NEXT Shabbat meals may Moishe House resident host?
• Do I need to do anything special at my meal?
• Does my NEXT Shabbat meal need to be Kosher?
• I've never hosted a Shabbat meal before.  How does it work?
• I need to cancel my NEXT Shabbat meal. Is there a penalty for cancelling?
• I never got my NEXT Shabbat sign! Do you mail it to me?

• Do all of my guests need to be Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni?
• Do all of my guests need to be Jewish?
• Do my guests have to be a certain age?
• How many guests can I invite?
• Can I ask my guests to help cover the costs?

• How do I invite guests to my meal?
• How do my guests RSVP?
  
• Do I invite my own friends or does Birthright Israel NEXT send me guests?
• I need to cancel my NEXT Shabbat meal.  Is there a penalty for canceling?
• Why does Birthright Israel NEXT sometimes ask for guests' emails?  What will you do with the emails?

• What does Birthright Israel NEXT pay for?
• I finished my meal, where do I submit my expenses?
• Do I need to save my receipts?
• It is not my personal practice to take pictures on Shabbat.  What should I do?

Q. Who can host a NEXT Shabbat meal?

A. In order to host a NEXT Shabbat meal, you must be a Taglit-Birthright Israel alumnus or former bus-staff (madrich or madricha) residing in the United States or Canada. Current employees of Taglit-Birthright Israel, Birthright Israel Foundation and Birthright Israel USA are also eligible to host NEXT Shabbat meals.

Current employees of Birthright Israel NEXT, as well as their immediate family members are not eligible to host NEXT Shabbat meals, with the exception of Birthright Israel NEXT employees working in the capacity of Local Director or Fellow.

Q. How many NEXT Shabbat meals may I host?

A. You may host one meal every 30 days.

Q. Do I need to do anything special at my meal?

A. This is Shabbat your way. We only require that you take a photo of all your guests posing with the NEXT Shabbat sign that we email you. However, we do provide resources on our website for you to use at your meal, if you so choose.

Q. Does my NEXT Shabbat meal need to be kosher?

A. We encourage you to have a kosher meal but it is not required – keep in mind, this is Shabbat your way. Please remember to be mindful of your guests' needs (vegan, kosher, allergies, etc.) and ask them in advance if they have any dietary requirements so you can plan the meal accordingly.

Q. I've never hosted a Shabbat meal before. How does it work?

A. We're excited to help you host your first Shabbat meal! Take a look at our recipes and hosting tips for some ideas, and check out our Shabbat Essentials for more information about the rituals and traditions of Shabbat.

Q. I am a Taglit-Birthright Israel alumnus currently studying or living abroad (Israel, Spain, Italy, France, etc.). Does NEXT Shabbat cover meals in places outside North America?

A. NEXT Shabbat meals may only be held in the United States and Canada.

Q. When will my Shabbox arrive?

A. Your Shabbox will arrive on Thursday or Friday before your meal. In the rare situation when your Shabbox does not arrive before your meal, do not panic and please know its on it's way! Your meal is still registered to happen and you may still host your meal.

Q. Do all my guests need to be Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni?

A. No, but we encourage you to invite your Taglit-Birthright Israel friends to your meal.

Q. Do all my guests need to be Jewish?

A. No; we believe that inviting guests from different backgrounds can help inspire a lively discussion about Shabbat and Jewish life. We do encourage you to invite your Taglit-Birthright Israel friends, and your other Jewish friends, to your meal.

Q. Do my guests have to be a certain age?

A. No, but we will only provide payment for guests who are at least 12 years old. The NEXT Shabbat program is offered to adults—we do not provide payment for guests under the adult age, as defined in the Jewish world by the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Remember that if you plan to serve alcohol, you must observe all applicable laws!

Q. How many guests can I invite?

A. You must host at least 3 guests (excluding yourself), but you are allowed to invite as many as you like. Birthright Israel NEXT will only pay for up to 16 people, including you, the host.

Q. Can I ask my guests to help cover costs?

A. No, NEXT Shabbat meals must be offered FREE of charge to guests (potluck meals are great, but are not part of NEXT Shabbat, and will not be eligible for payment). Please do not ask your guests to contribute anything to your meal, as Birthright Israel NEXT is providing the necessary means to support the cost of your meal. We do, however. encourage you to participate in our NEXT Shabbat Food Drive and have your guests bring canned food to donate.

Q. How do I invite guests to my meal?

A. You are welcome to invite guests any way you’d like!  We do provide a link to Facebook so that your meal can automatically be posted to your Facebook wall. We also provide an "invite your friends" email template.  Let us know if you would like to see other applications like this!

Q. How do my guests RSVP?

A. We understand the difficulty in getting people to commit in advance, so your guests are not required to RSVP prior to the meal. You can use any method you choose to keep track of which guests will attend your meal. NEXT Shabbat payment is based solely upon the number of people actually at your meal -- not those who say they’re going to come.

Q. Do I invite my own friends or does Birthright Israel NEXT send me guests?

A. As the host, you create your own guest list. Birthright Israel NEXT does not match guests to meals, and you will never be required to host anyone you don’t want to host.

Q. I need to cancel my NEXT Shabbat meal. Is there a penalty for cancelling?

A. No. If you need to cancel your meal, you can do so in your Host Center.

Q. Why does Birthright Israel NEXT sometimes ask for guests' emails? What will you do with the emails?

A.Birthright Israel NEXT is committed to protecting the information it receives when you use this website. All information collected from you is for purposes of internal use only. You, as a registrant for the NEXT Shabbat program, may periodically receive email from us about upcoming events and opportunities. At no time shall we send any such emails to guests whose contact information you have provided. Guest emails are collected solely for the purpose of requesting feedback about the NEXT Shabbat program following a guest’s participation. Additionally, we shall not provide or sell any collected contact information to any outside vendors or organizations. Read through the Birthright Israel NEXT Privacy Policy for additional information.

Q. How much money am I eligible to receive from Birthright Israel NEXT?

A. For your first three NEXT Shabbat meals, Birthright Israel NEXT pays up to $14 per person for a minimum of four people (including the host) and up to a maximum of 16 people (including the host): a maximum total of $240. For all subsequent meals (from your fourth meal on), Birthright Israel NEXT will pay up to $10 per person for at least four and up to sixteen people: a maximum total of $160. Hosts must pay for their meal up front. When completing your payment process after your meal you will have the option to request less money if you do not wish to receive the full amount.

If you've hosted meals prior to July 1st, 2010, please check the NEXT Shabbat Rules to see how much money you are eligible to receive.

Q. What does Birthright Israel NEXT pay for?

A. Birthright Israel NEXT's payment is intended to cover the cost of food and anything else you need to enhance your NEXT Shabbat meal. 

Q. I finished my meal, how do I get paid?

A. After your meal you will receive an email prompting you to log into your Host Center.  At the Host Center you will being the payment process, which includes submiting a Feedback Form and photo(s) of your guests posing with the NEXT Shabbat sign. This photo must include ALL GUESTS for whom you wish to receive payment! In the payment process, you will also have the option to request less money, if you do not wish to receive the full amount.  The payment process, including the Feedback Form and photo(s) must be submitted within two weeks of your meal in order to qualify for payment. If it is not your practice to take pictures on Shabbat, please see the following question.

Q. It is not my personal practice to take pictures on Shabbat. What do I do?!

A. We require that you send us a photo of your meal preparations before Shabbat begins. Be creative—show off your delicious food, your decorated dinner table, or surprise us with something creative! You will also need to provide the names and email addresses or phone numbers of each guest for whom you wish to receive payment.  In the payment process, there is a designated place for you to submit this information, so make sure to have it ready!  We will not provide payment for names without emails or phone numbers.

Q. Up to $14 per is very generous. What if I prefer not to spend that much?

A. Our generous donors want you to eat a great meal on Shabbat, so go all out! However, if you do not spend the full amount, there is an option in the payment process to request less money.

Q. Do I need to save my receipts?

A. Yes, please save your receipts. While we do not require receipts to be submitted as part of your payment process, Birthright Israel NEXT reserves the right to request and review your receipts before sending payment, and to pay based on those actual expenses. You will not be required to submit your receipts unless asked to do so.  Failure to comply with the NEXT Shabbat Rules and Guidelines may result in denial of payment and disqualification from future participation in the NEXT Shabbat Program.

Q. I never got my NEXT Shabbat sign! Do you mail it to me?

A. You will receive your NEXT Shabbat sign as an attachment to your registration confirmation e-mail as soon as you complete registration in your NEXT Shabbat Host Center. Your NEXT Shabbat sign will NOT come in your Shabbox.  You can also download your sign from your Host Center at any time after your meal is registered.

Q. When will I receive my payment?

A. You can expect to receive a check via mail within six weeks from when you complete the payment process in your Host Center. A confirmation e-mail will be sent via e-mail when you have successfully completed your payment process.  If your confirmation e-mail does not arrive within a few hours of attempting to complete your payment process, please check your spam box, and if an e-mail has not arrived, log back in to your Host Center to verify that your payment process was correctly submitted.

Q. I registered to host but I can't access my Host Center. What do I do?

Go to www.birthrightisrael.com/shabbat, click on “Register Now.”  You can only access your Host Center if you are logged in with your username and password (see below for instructions).

Q. I don't remember my username/password. What do I do?

A. Click here to recover your username and password. If your email address changed since you went on the Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, create a new username and password here with your new email address. Your information will then be updated in the Birthright Israel NEXT database.

Q. Who can host a NEXT Shabbat Moishe House meal?

A. Any resident of a United States Moishe House.

Q. How many NEXT Shabbat meals may Moishe House resident host?

A. Each Moishe House can host one NEXT Shabbat meal per Shabbat/week. Only one resident per Moishe House can register his/her house for a NEXT Shabbat meal per Shabbat/week.

Q. Do I need to do anything special at my meal?

A. This is Shabbat your way. We only require that you take a photo of all your guests posing with the NEXT Shabbat sign that we email you. However, we do provide resources on our website for you to use at your meal, if you so choose.

Q. Does my NEXT Shabbat meal need to be kosher?

A.We encourage you to have a kosher meal but it is not required – keep in mind, this is Shabbat your way. Please remember to be mindful of your guests' needs (vegan, kosher, allergies, etc.) and ask them in advance if they have any dietary requirements so you can plan the meal accordingly.

Q. I've never hosted a Shabbat meal before. How does it work?

A. We're excited to help you host your first Shabbat meal! Take a look at our recipes and hosting tips for some ideas, and check out our Shabbat Essentials for more information about the rituals and traditions of Shabbat.

Q. I need to cancel my NEXT Shabbat meal. Is there a penalty for cancelling?

A. No. If you need to cancel your meal, you can do so in your Host Center.

Q. I never got my NEXT Shabbat sign! Do you mail it to me?

A. You will receive your NEXT Shabbat sign as a downloadable PDF attachment in your confirmation e-mail when you complete registration on our Web site. Your sign can also be downloaded from your Host Center at any time.

Q. Do all my guests need to be Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni?

A. No, but we encourage you to invite your Taglit-Birthright Israel friends to your meal.

Q. Do all my guests need to be Jewish?

A. No; we believe that inviting guests from different backgrounds can help inspire a lively discussion about Shabbat and Jewish life. We do encourage you to invite your Taglit-Birthright Israel friends, and your other Jewish friends, to your meal.

Q. Do my guests have to be a certain age?

A. No, but we will only provide payment for guests who are at least 12 years old. The NEXT Shabbat program is offered to adults—we do not provide payment for guests under the adult age, as defined in the Jewish world by the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Remember that if you plan to serve alcohol, you must observe all applicable laws!

Q. How many guests can I invite?

A. You must host at least 3 guests (excluding yourself), but you are allowed to invite as many as you like. Birthright Israel NEXT will only pay for up to 16 people, including you, the host.

Q. Can I ask my guests to help cover costs?

A. NEXT Shabbat meals at Moishe Houses may be potluck meals. However, meals must be offered FREE of charge to guests.

Q. How do I invite guests to my meal?

A. You are welcome to invite guests any way you’d like!  We do provide a link to Facebook so that your meal can automatically be posted to your Facebook wall. We also provide an "invite your friends" email template.  Let us know if you would like to see other applications like this!

Q. How do my guests RSVP?

A. We understand the difficulty in getting people to commit in advance, so your guests are not required to RSVP prior to the meal. You can use any method you choose to keep track of which guests will attend your meal. NEXT Shabbat payment is based solely upon the number of people actually at your meal -- not those who say they’re going to come.

Q. Do I invite my own friends or does Birthright Israel NEXT send me guests?

A. As the host, you create your own guest list. However, as a part of the Birthright Israel NEXT and Moishe House partnership, Birthright Israel NEXT may post information about meals to allow community members to attend.

Q. Why does Birthright Israel NEXT sometimes ask for guests' emails? What will you do with the emails?

A. Birthright Israel NEXT is committed to protecting the information it receives when you use this website. All information collected from you is for purposes of internal-use only. You, as a registrant for the NEXT Shabbat program, may periodically receive email from us about upcoming events and opportunities. At no time shall we send such emails to any guest whose contact information you have provided. Guest emails are collected solely for the purpose of requesting feedback about the NEXT Shabbat program following a guest's participation. Additionally, we shall not provide or sell any collected contact information to any outside vendors or organizations. Read through the Birthright Israel NEXT Privacy Policy for additional information.

Q. What does Birthright Israel NEXT pay for?

A. Birthright Israel NEXT payment's is intended to cover the cost of food and anything else you need to enhance your NEXT Shabbat meal. Birthright Israel NEXT will provide up to $14 per person, for a minimum of 4 people (including the host), and up to a maximum of 16 people (including the host): a total of $224. Hosts must pay for their meal up front.

Q. I finished my meal, where do I submit my expenses?

A. After your meal you will receive an email prompting you to log into your Host Center. At the Host Center, you will begin the payment process, which includes submitting a Feedback Form and photo(s) of your guests posing with the NEXT Shabbat sign. This photo must include ALL GUESTS for whom you wish to receive payment (see below if it is your practice not to take pictures on Shabbat)! The payment process, including the Feedback Form and photo(s) must be submitted within two weeks of your meal in order to qualify for payment. Be sure to save your receipts as you are required to submit them to Moishe House in order to receive payment. Please note: there is no direct reimbursement to individual houses provided by Birthright Israel NEXT. All reimbursements will be provided through Moishe House.

Q. Do I need to save my receipts?

A. Yes, please save your receipts. You will be required to submit them to Moishe House by using the provided link at the end of your payment process.

Q. It is not my personal practice to take pictures on Shabbat. What do I do?!

A. We require that you send us a photo of your meal preparations before Shabbat begins. Be creative—show off your delicious food, your decorated dinner table, or surprise us with something creative! You will also need to provide the names and email addresses or phone numbers of each guest for whom you wish to receive payment.  In the payment process, there is a designated place for you to submit this information, so make sure to have it ready!  We will not provide payment for names without emails or phone numbers.

Register Now