Bless me too

Parashat Toldotתולדות

Ask for a seat on Nov 13 Open the presentation

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Candle-lighting: 4:33 pm
Havdalah, Saturday: 5:30 pm
Where: Santa Monica

The ten Fridays

Fridays, October 16 to December 18.

The story

Red lentil stew for everyone who comes in hungry from work, and a blessing with each guest's name in it.

In Toldot, Rebecca gives birth to twins who are nothing alike. Esau comes in from the field so hungry that he trades his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew. Years later their father, Isaac, blesses Jacob. Esau arrives too late and says the line this dinner is named for: bless me too.

On November 13 the sun sets at 4:51 pm, so candles are lit at 4:33 pm, before most workdays end. Many of you will come in the way Esau did, tired and hungry, from the office or off the train at Fourth and Colorado. The candles will already be lit and the stew will already be hot. Come straight in.

Before dessert we go around the table and say blessings out loud: one plain sentence for the person on your left, with their name in it. Anyone can pass. In the story Esau asks his father whether he has only one blessing to give. At this table there is one for everyone.

This Friday's theme

Toldot: twins, a bowl of red lentil stew, and blessings said out loud

Every guest hears a blessing with their name in it.

Candles come before most workdays end this Friday, so the evening is built around people arriving late. You can check each line below on the night.

Candles are lit at 4:33 pm with whoever is in the room. Arriving after that is not late.
The door is staffed until 5:15 pm for guests coming from work, and kiddush waits until then.
Red lentil stew is on the table by 5:30 pm. It is vegan and served from one pot.
Each blessing is explained in one sentence before it is said.
Before dessert, every guest who wants one hears a blessing said out loud, by name.
Goodnight is at 7:33 pm, three hours after candles.

What to count on

Candles are at 4:33 pm.

Hebcal for Santa Monica lists candle-lighting at 4:33 pm on November 13, 2026, 18 minutes before the 4:51 pm sunset, and havdalah at 5:30 pm on Saturday. Checked on October 9, 2026.
24 seats are held.

The invitation caps this Friday at 24. RSVPs are due Tuesday, November 10.
The stew is scaled for 24.

The recipe uses 2 kilograms of dry red lentils, about 80 grams a guest. A full-size test pot is cooked on November 8 to time it.
Late arrivals are part of the plan.

Candles come before most people finish work. The agenda keeps a greeter at the door until 5:15 pm and holds kiddush until then.
We post the numbers after every Friday.

This page was written on October 9, 2026, before the first dinner, so it shows no attendance figures. The thank-you on November 15 will report how many came, how many were new and how many heard a blessing by name.
The partners shown are examples.

No business is named until it applies and is approved. Until then each partner in the guest and partner briefings is labeled illustrative.

Press

Awaiting approval

Fifth dinner of Fridays serves red lentil stew and a blessing for each guest

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 6, 2026

The full release opens once it is approved and the embargo has passed.

Friday 5 of 10

Come to Friday 5, Nov 13.

Candles at 4:33 pm. Ask for a seat and you hear back within 2 days; the address goes to confirmed guests 48 hours before.

Ask for a seat on Nov 13 Or partner this Friday