Plenty and everything

Parashat Vayishlachוישלח

Ask for a seat on Nov 27 Open the presentation

Date: Friday, November 27, 2026
Candle-lighting: 4:27 pm
Havdalah, Saturday: 5:25 pm
Where: Santa Monica

The ten Fridays

Fridays, October 16 to December 18.

The story

Esau says, I have plenty. Jacob says, I have everything. The day after Thanksgiving, candles at 4:27 pm and one sentence each about what you have.

Vayishlach means "and he sent." Jacob is on his way home after twenty years away, and he sends messengers and gifts ahead to his brother Esau. The night before they meet, he is alone by a river and wrestles a stranger until dawn. He walks away limping, with a new name, Israel. In the morning Esau runs to meet him, and the brothers hold each other and cry.

Then they talk about the gifts. Esau says, I have plenty. Jacob says, I have everything, and asks him to take them anyway. This Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Most of us spent Thursday at a family table. Some of those tables were easy and some were not, and some of us are driving home today or coming from work.

So this dinner is the morning after. There is no turkey. There is a brisket braised on Wednesday, two pies on one plate, and one round where each of us says, in a sentence, something we have plenty of. Every blessing is explained before it is said. Nobody has to speak.

This Friday's theme

Vayishlach the day after Thanksgiving: a night of wrestling, a brother who runs to meet you, and saying out loud what you have enough of

Candles at 4:27 pm. Your seat waits. Leftovers go home with you.

The day after Thanksgiving, some guests come from work and some from a long drive home. Here is what this Friday holds to, whatever time you walk in.

Candles are lit at 4:27 pm, on time, whether or not everyone has arrived.
If you come after candles, a greeter is at the door and your plate is held until 6:00 pm.
Every blessing is explained in plain English before it is said.
Nobody is asked to speak. The gratitude round is one sentence, and passing is fine.
Take-home containers are by the door for whatever is left on the table.
Dinner ends at 7:27 pm, three hours after candles.

What to count on

Candles are lit at 4:27 pm.

Hebcal for Santa Monica lists candle-lighting at 4:27 pm on November 27, 2026, 18 minutes before sunset, and havdalah at 5:25 pm on Saturday. Checked on October 9, 2026.
24 seats at one long table.

Capacity set in the plan for this Friday. Invitations stop at 24 confirmed guests and the rest go on a waitlist.
We post the numbers after every Friday.

There are no past seasons to point to. Five Fridays will have happened by the time this invitation arrives, and each one's count of guests, new guests and partners is posted after it.
The address arrives 48 hours before.

The reminder with the address is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25 at 10:00 am, to guests who RSVPed yes and nobody else.
Nothing is sent on Shabbat.

The scheduler holds every message from 4:27 pm Friday to 5:25 pm Saturday. The thank-you is set for Sunday, November 29 at 10:00 am.
The partners named for this Friday are examples.

The bakery, wine shop, room and community group in the guest and partner briefings are labeled illustrative until real partners apply and are approved.

Press

Awaiting approval

Fridays sets a Shabbat table for the day after Thanksgiving

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2026

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

Friday 7 of 10

Come to Friday 7, Nov 27.

Candles at 4:27 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 27 Or partner this Friday