Friday 10 of 10

public briefing

Come closer

Parashat Vayigashויגש

Ask for a seat on Dec 18 Open the presentation
Date
Friday, December 18, 2026
Candle-lighting
4:29 pm
Havdalah, Saturday
5:29 pm
Where
Santa Monica

The ten Fridays

  1. Friday 1 Oct 16 Noach נח Candles 6:00 pm
  2. Friday 2 Oct 23 Lech-Lecha לך־לך Candles 5:52 pm
  3. Friday 3 Oct 30 Vayera וירא Candles 5:44 pm
  4. Friday 4 Nov 6 Chayei Sara חיי שרה Candles 4:38 pm
  5. Friday 5 Nov 13 Toldot תולדות Candles 4:33 pm
  6. Friday 6 Nov 20 Vayetzei ויצא Candles 4:29 pm
  7. Friday 7 Nov 27 Vayishlach וישלח Candles 4:27 pm
  8. Friday 8 Dec 4 Vayeshev וישב Chanukah, night 1 Candles 4:26 pm
  9. Friday 9 Dec 11 Miketz מקץ Chanukah, night 8 Candles 4:27 pm
  10. Friday 10 Dec 18 Vayigash ויגש Candles 4:29 pm

Fridays, October 16 to December 18.

The story

Joseph asked his brothers to come close. On the tenth Friday, the guests of all nine tables sit at one.

Vayigash opens with Judah stepping forward. He offers to stay a slave in Egypt so his youngest brother can go home. Joseph, who has hidden who he is through two visits, cannot hold it in any longer. He sends everyone else out of the room and tells his brothers his name. Then he says: come close to me, please.

December 18 is the tenth and last Friday of the season. Everyone who said yes to one of the first nine is invited back to one table of 24, with two seats held for each earlier Friday. People who sat at different tables this fall, and never met, sit at the same one.

Your place card has your name on the front and the Friday you first came on the back. After the first course we turn them over and you find someone from a Friday you missed. Candles are lit at 4:29 pm, before most people leave work, so come when you can. Dinner ends at 7:29 pm.

This Friday's theme

Vayigash, drawing near: the brothers find each other again, and every Friday of the season comes back to one table

All nine tables, back at one.

The tenth Friday is for the people who came to the first nine. Here is what we will do, with times, so you can check.

  • Every guest with an RSVP yes for Fridays 1 to 9 gets an invitation on Tuesday, December 8, at 10 am.
  • Two of the 24 seats are held for each of the nine earlier Fridays until RSVPs close on Tuesday, December 15.
  • Candles are lit at 4:29 pm, on time, whether or not everyone has arrived. If you come after, a greeter seats you.
  • Confirmed guests get the address by email on Wednesday, December 16, at 10 am.
  • Dinner ends at 7:29 pm, 3 hours after candle-lighting.
  • The season totals are posted on Sunday, December 20: how many came, how many were new, how many partners took part.

What to count on

  • Candles are at 4:29 pm.

    Hebcal for Santa Monica lists candle-lighting at 4:29 pm on December 18, 2026, 18 minutes before sunset, and havdalah at 5:29 pm on Saturday. Checked on October 9, 2026.

  • Every earlier guest is invited back.

    The guest list for this Friday starts from the RSVP-yes lists of Fridays 1 to 9. Invitations go out December 8 at 10 am.

  • Each earlier Friday has two seats waiting.

    18 of the 24 seats are held, two per earlier Friday, until December 15. Seats not claimed go to the waitlist on December 16.

  • We post the numbers after every Friday.

    By December 18 there will be nine dinners behind us. Each is counted the week after it happens, and the season totals are posted December 20.

  • The partners shown are examples.

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

Press

Awaiting approval

Fridays ends its first season with a reunion dinner on Dec. 18

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2026

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

Friday 10 of 10

Come to Friday 10, Dec 18.

Candles at 4:29 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 Dec 18 Or partner this Friday