By Aaron Elias
Who says Friday nights in Irvine have to be a drag? Chabad of Irvine provides a Shabbat dinner every Friday night at the house of its more-than-hospitable Rabbi Zevi and Miriam Tenenbaum. Speaking as a student who frequents their dinners most Friday nights, I can attest to the delectability of Mrs. Tenenbaum’s cooking. And in true Jewish fashion, there is always way too much food for everyone to finish. Chicken, green beans, matzoh ball soup, cholent… Mrs. Tenenbaum has yet to repeat herself in her menu.
The guest pool at these dinners is always large and diverse. More religious students attend Chabad Shabbat dinner to keep in touch with their Judaism. Many brothers from UC Irvine’s Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, have a habit of stopping in after their weekly football game. Grad students from all over Orange County are also frequent guests, as are UCI students who are “just Jewish.” On some nights, a bottle or two of vodka will even find its way to the table. Whether you’re looking for a religious scene, a Jewish scene, or simply a social scene, Chabad dinners never disappoint for a Friday night.