About
Chai Society
Making friends in your 20s is hard. Making Jewish friends in your 20s? Even harder.
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We don’t have sleepaway camp anymore. No youth group. No confirmation class. And suddenly you’re an adult who wants community - but has no idea where to find it without it feeling awkward, forced, or way too formal.
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That’s why Chai Society exists.
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Chai Society is a modern Shabbat dinner club for all Jews in their 20s (21+) who want real connection, cute outfits, and a reason to actually sit down and talk to new people. It’s not Hebrew school. It’s not services. It’s a table, good food, and the kind of conversations that happen when everyone actually wants to be there.
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Each dinner has 18 seats, a nod to chai, meaning life, big enough to feel exciting and close enough to feel connected. We start with Havdalah to set the vibe, then it’s straight into dinner, laughter, and conversations that somehow turn strangers into friends by dessert.
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Chai Society is about celebrating our heritage in a way that feels natural, social, and fun. No sermons. No stiff services. Just meaningful moments, shared traditions, and the excitement of connecting with other Jewish twenty-somethings who are also looking for community.
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In a world that’s increasingly online, curated, and powered by AI, coming together in person matters more than ever. Sitting around a table, breaking bread (or challah), and actually talking to one another is still one of the best ways to build real friendships. You don’t need to know all the prayers. You don’t need to celebrate every holiday. There’s no “right” level of Jewishness here. If you’re curious, open, and excited to connect, you belong at the table.
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Come dressed up. Come curious. Come ready for a really good night!
Leave with new Jewish friends, full hearts, and plans to do it again!
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Meet Our Founder,
Jacoba!
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Hi! I am Jacoba! I’m a proud Jew, born and raised in DC, and the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor - something that has deeply shaped how I think about community, tradition, and showing up Jewishly in the world today.
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I grew up going to youth group, celebrating holidays, getting bat mitzvahed, and even confirmed. Jewish community was built into my life back then - and then suddenly, I was a young adult and it wasn’t. Like so many people in their 20s, I found myself craving that sense of connection again, but wishing there were more ways for young Jews to gather that felt social, modern, and elevated - without the stereotypes or stiffness.
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I wanted to celebrate my faith without attending a formal service. I wanted to get dressed up, sit at a beautiful table, and spend time with exciting, curious, warm people who also value tradition and connection. I wanted Judaism to feel joyful, stylish, and alive - not something you just are, but something you actively experience.
That’s why I created Chai Society. It’s the kind of Shabbat dinner I always wished existed: rooted in heritage, centered on community, and designed for people who genuinely want to be there. For me, it’s about honoring where we come from while creating something meaningful for where we are now.
If you love good food, great conversation, and celebrating Jewish life in a way that feels intentional, social, and very now - you’re exactly who this was made for 💙
