Man's Shabbat

The first Friday night of every month the male members of my class get together for what they term a Man’s Shabbat. (Yeah, yeah – I can see the feminists in the room saying “isn’t every Shabbat man’s Shabbat”, and I agree, but that is not the point.)

The men of HUC get together the first Shabbat of every month and eat “manly” food, like potatoes and Chili – with meat. They drink beer (more to follow) and play cards or play guitar. (yes you read that right, they play guitar at man’s Shabbat). I’m not sure, but rumor is that they scratch themselves and belch a lot.

I have never been to a man’s Shabbat. I’ve been invited --- they wouldn’t want to exclude me, but it’s really not my style. You see,

1. My idea of hanging with the boys has nothing to do with man’s Shabbat and --- unless it involves smashing them --- has nothing to do with guitars.

2. I like spending time with women

3. I was never in a fraternity, especially a Jewish one! Which is where, I think, a lot of this male bonding over Shabbat – let’s eat tacos, talk about chicks and make off color jokes – stems from. (Not that I don’t enjoy any of those activities, in fact they are some of my favorite pastimes) but I’m not longing for my A E Pi, Z B T, Duke lacrosse days.
   
   
4. The men at HUC don’t like sports. Which to me seems like an obvious staple of any Man’s Shabbat. Sure individuals may like the Packers or the Lakers or Michigan, but I think there is one other true sports fan here.

5. Any Shabbat that ends with some 24 year old guy singing “The dreamer keeps a dreaming” really isn’t for me.

6. HUC students don’t really know how to drink. Which I think may be a problem with Jews in general. Basically, they either don’t drink or drink so that they get drunk. (this is not an indictment on either) But, it’s very hard to be the only one that wants to have a drink at dinner - “scotch on the rocks – you must be kidding me.” Also as a side note, when they do go to a bar they don’t know how to tip either – but don’t get me started.

Furthermore, when they drink sometimes they have drinks with fruit in them. Fruit in a drink – at man’s Shabbat.

I’ve promised the masses that I’d go to one. I may. If I do you I’ll keep you posted.