Dear colleagues,

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, Barry Kinzbrunner, and Alan Astrow for helping with the following accommodations.

  • Throughout the conference a private room will be available for Jewish prayers.
  • Glatt kosher food will be available for breakfasts and the Saturday evening reception (complimentary), as well as for Friday dinner and Saturday lunch (please indicate during registration if you would like the latter).
  • The hotel will designate one floor of guest rooms for those observing Shabbat regulations (please indicate on your registration 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.

At 5:15 pm on Friday, March 7, the afternoon plenary session will end in time for the lighting of Shabbat candles at 5:29 pm (a conference room will be set aside for this).

For those would like to participate in Friday evening and/or Saturday morning services, two local synagogues are within walking distance. For both, Friday evening services start at sunset; Saturday morning services start at 9:00 am.


[In addition, the Lubavitch Chabad center (http://www.centerforjewishlife.com) is 1.1 miles from the Hyatt (1236 N Dearborn St) and offers Saturday morning services at 10:15 am.]

Shabbat Dinner
From 7:00 – 9:00 pm on Friday, everybody is invited to join a Shabbat dinner at the hotel. All are welcome, whether or not you are Jewish. So that we may plan for food, please indicate on your registration whether you would like to participate ($25, 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 caterer, 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.

Muslim Observance

We are grateful to Sarosh Anwar for helping with the following accommodations.
  • Throughout the conference a private room will be available for Muslim prayers.
  • We will be providing transportation to the Downtown Islamic Center at 12pm for those conference participants who would like to attend Friday prayer. Please RSVP below.
  • On Friday night, there will be a Shabbat dinner from 7-9pm at the hotel; all are welcome. Non-alcoholic drink options will be readily available. 
  • Vegetarian options will be available at both breakfast and the Saturday night reception.
  • No alcohol will be served at the Saturday night reception

Christian Observance

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