Religious Accommodations 

The annual conference is a context for grappling with the substance of religious faith, and the substance of religious faith includes communal practices and observances. As such, the conference organizers aspire to create conditions that make it possible for observant Jews, Christians, and Muslims to continue their religious practices while participating in the conference. Toward that end the following accommodations are made:

Jewish Observance

We are grateful to Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, Anna B. Schachter, and Alan Astrow for helping with the following accommodations.

  • The Charles Sumner Room is available for Jewish prayers throughout the conference. Prayer books and incandescent lights are available in the room for those who would like to observe candle lighting individually.
  • Glatt kosher food (from Catering by Andrew) will be available for breakfasts, Saturday lunch, and the Saturday dinner (complimentary), as well as for Friday Shabbat dinner as well as for Friday dinner if indicated at registration.
  • Around midday on Saturday, in the Charles Sumner Room, there will be time for Shabbat morning Kiddush, and then Shabbat lunch boxes will be provided for those who requested one during registration.
  • The hotel will designate one floor of guest rooms for those observing Shabbat regulations (please email medrelig@uchicago.edu if you would like this accommodation). An elevator will be designated which will stop on that floor and the meeting room floors throughout Shabbat. In addition, hotel personnel will be available to open guest rooms as needed.

For those who would like to participate in Friday evening and/or Saturday morning services, we have provided a list of nearby options. All distances provided are from the Hyatt Regency Cambridge: 575 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 02139. 

Orthodox
Harvard Hillel
6 minute drive or 35 min (1.7 mi) walk
52 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge
617-495-4695
http://hillel.harvard.edu/
Friday evening services start around sunset (~ 5:20pm)
Saturday morning services at 9:00am

Harvard Chabad
5 min. drive or 30 min (1.6 mi) walk
38 Banks Street Cambridge 
617-547-6124
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/chabad/
Saturday morning services start at 10:00am

Young Israel Brookline
8 min. drive or 30 min (1.5 mi) walk
62 Green St, Brookline
617-734-0276
http://yibrookline.org/wp/
Friday evening services start around sunset (~ 5:20pm)
Saturday morning services start at 7:00am and 8:45am

Conservative
Kehillath Israel
8 min. drive or 35 min. (1.8 mi) walk
384 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA
617-277-9155
http://congki.org/
Friday evening services: see above website for schedule
Saturday morning services start at 8:45am

Reform
Temple of Israel
7 min. drive or 35 min (1.5 mi) walk  
477 Longwood Avenue, Boston
617-566-3960
http://www.tisrael.org/
Friday evening services start at 6:00pm
Saturday morning services start at 9:00am

Central Reform Temple
7 min. drive or 45 min. (2.2 mi) walk
15 Newbury Street, Boston
617-262-1202
http://www.centralreformtemple.org/
Friday evening services start at 6:30pm

Temple Ohabei Shalom
6 min. drive or 30 min. (1.3 mi) walk
1187 Beacon Street, Brookline
617-277-6610
http://www.ohabei.org/
Friday evening services start at 6:00pm
Saturday morning services start at 10:00am

Temple Sinai of Brookline
8 min. drive or 35 min. (1.6 mi) walk  
50 Sewall Avenue, Brookline
617-277-5888  
http://www.sinaibrookline.org/
Friday evening services held at either 6:00pm or 7:30pm, check website for details
Saturday morning services held at 9:30am or 10:30am, check website for details

 
Shabbat Dinner
From 6:30 – 8:30 pm on Friday, conference participants are invited to join a Shabbat dinner at the hotel. All are welcome. Please indicate on your registration if you will participate (dinner cost is $30, payable at registration). The Shabbat dinner ritual will include*:

  • Welcoming the Shabbat angels (“Shalom Aleichem”)
  • A Woman of Valor “Eshet Chail”, Book of Proverbs 31:10-31)
  • Shabbat evening Kiddush
  • Washing hands and ritual blessing
  • Blessing over bread ("Ha-Motzi") 
  • Shabbat Meal. Certified glatt kosher food will be served (via Catering by Andrew, at least one meat option and one vegetarian option) along with both Kosher wine and Kosher grape juice (non-alcoholic)
  • Shabbat singing, “Divrei Torah” and spiritual thoughts           
  • Blessing after the meal

Around midday on Saturday, there will be time for Shabbat morning Kiddush, and then a Shabbat lunch will be provided for all who requested it on their registration form.

*Subject to change

Muslim Observance

  • Throughout the conference Garrison Room will be available all day for Muslim prayers.
  • A student from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will be available to take conference attendees to the MIT Prayer Room for Jummah Prayer. Please meet at the registration desk at 12:45am and RSVP below if you plan on attending. 
  • Vegetarian options will be available at all meals including the Saturday dinner.
  • No alcohol will be served at the Saturday dinner reception.

Christian Observance

  • Protestant prayer will be held at the hotel on Saturday morning and Sunday morning
  • Catholic mass will be offered at the hotel on Saturday morning and Sunday morning