Tenth grade students lead the Shabbat prayers as attendees gather around and join in prayer. The Shabbat prayers consist of candle lighting, blessing the wine or juice and blessing the challah. Photo by Mia Alpert.

The smells of brisket, schnitzel and fresh challah greeted guests as they walked into a backyard set with tables, chairs and heat lamps under the light of the slowly setting sun. After a long week, students and their families arrived to Shabbat dinner to celebrate and relax.

The Parents of Jewish Archer Students affinity group held a Shabbat dinner Friday, April 19, from 6- 8:30 p.m. at club members Mia and D.A. Alpert’s house. The gathering, the first of its kind PJAS has held, consisted of challah braiding, lighting Shabbat candles and a dinner of traditional Jewish foods.

Sophomore Sydney Tilles said since moving to Archer from an all-Jewish school, she missed being in a Jewish environment and felt the Shabbat dinner helped connect her to Archer’s Jewish community.

“It’s nice to have this community where we all share something,” Tilles said. “And eat challah.”

Community was a theme throughout the night. Students and families mingled with people of different ages, both Jewish and non-Jewish, as the invitation was sent to the entire school. Host Mia Alpert and her daughter Hollyn Alpert (‘28) both said they appreciated the mix of Jewish and non-Jewish families that attended. 

“It’s honestly such a nice feeling that there’s someone out there that’s just like, ‘Hey, you know, this is a Jewish event — I want to go,” Hollyn Alpert said. 

Mia Alpert said the abundance of guests — 63 adults and 53 children confirmed their attendance on the RSVP — was exactly what the PJAS had been hoping for when they planned the event.

“The Parents of Jewish Archer Students affinity group really wanted to host a community builder for the entire Archer community,” Mia Alpert said,” so we can share some of our traditions and culture both with each other and with people who may or may not be familiar with Jewish traditions and culture.” 

Students from every grade attended, as well as their parents and siblings, resulting in a kitchen and backyard that were perpetually bustling with motion. David Travers, the father of freshman Adella Travers, said he received notice of the event via the email Archer sent out and wanted to attend to support the Jewish community. 

“Just getting to talk to everyone and deepen my connections with everyone around me has been really fun,” Adella Travers said. 

Travers, along with Tilles, ate dinner at a table with students from grades eight through 11. Tilles said the bonds she formed with other attendees was her favorite aspect of the event.

“Everyone’s so welcoming, and it’s nice to see different grades intermingle, from high schoolers, to middle schoolers, to parents and kids,” Tilles said. Echoing the statements of  PJAS leaders, she added, “I genuinely hope that we do more of these in the future.”