Jews having Christians for a Shabbat meal? In Israel?

​

Grateful to be on a live chat with Israel365’s Rabbi Tuly Weisz and Rabbi Rami Goldberg from Israel. Also grateful our President Trump has called for a national Shabbat.

Steve Martin, Love For His People

They talked about Jews in Israel inviting Christians into their homes for a Shabbat meal. So I sent this email to them.

May 14, 2026 2:45 pm Thursday (Jerusalem Day in Israel)

Thanks Rami and Tuly. Good seeing you both again.

I am glad you mentioned Jews inviting Christians for a Shabbat meal. In my 30 trips to Israel, the last being for 3 months from Sept. 2025-Jan. 2026, I have only been invited one time to a Jewish home for Shabbat.

That was in 2005 when a Ben Yehuda shopowner, Avraham Saiden, invited me to his north Jerusalem home after I helped him make a phone call to the USA. We have now been friends 21 years and also with his sons David, Dan, and Dhalia who now own the shops.

Maybe someone will invite me when I am back for my 31st time between Sept. 16-Oct. 21 when I again volunteer with Christian Friends of Israel?

Shalom my friends.

Be blessed,

Steve Martin

Charlotte, NC

As a side note: Thinking back I have been invited to several Shabbat meals, and went delightfully, with Messianic Jews. I was thinking about Orthodox Jews when I wrote above. Maybe that will change in my 31st trip back to Jerusalem in September 2026.