What the Shabbat dinner is
Shabbat begins on Friday at sundown: the weekly day of rest. Friday dinner is the most shared moment in Jewish life: candles, wine (kiddush), two braided loaves (challah) and a long meal with conversation afterwards.
There are dinners of every kind: from very formal to chaotic, with kids running around the table. All of them count.
What to bring
The classics: flowers (bring them before sundown), a kosher wine or something sweet with certification. If the household is observant, avoid gifts that would require cooking or switching on electricity at that moment; when in doubt, ask beforehand — nobody minds the question, quite the opposite.
During the dinner
There will be short blessings before eating (over the wine and the bread). You don’t have to know them or repeat them: being present for the moment is enough. If you are a man you may be offered a kippah; wearing it is a gesture of respect, like taking off a hat in other settings.
In observant homes phones are not used at the table and lights are not switched on or off during Shabbat. Follow your hosts’ lead and you’re fine.
The one tip that matters
Genuine questions are welcome. "Why is this done?" is probably the sentence that draws the most smiles at a Shabbat table.
Where to get it in Buenos Aires
See more on the map
Buy challah and wine
Bakeries, grocery stores and kosher supermarkets so you don’t arrive empty-handed.
Buy challah and wineEditorial approach
This guide summarizes practices that can vary across communities, families, and movements. We compare institutional references from different traditions and avoid presenting one custom as universal.