Jul 7, 2026 · 25 min · 11 segments
Today we're back in conversation with Dr. Adam Cohen, social psychologist and psychologist of religion at Arizona State University, who shares another research project that explores the way religious…
Arielle LevitesGuest
Tavia GilbertHost
Aliza KlineGuest
Adam CohenGuest
Dr. Cohen sets the stage by explaining his somewhat unusual attraction to the scientific study of spiritual faith.
I've long been interested in how religion might promote good life outcomes for people.
Things like physical health, mental health, good community support and integration.
And over the course of multiple studies investigating how world religions affect communal well-being, he has come to understand the science of spiritual faith more deeply.
And one of his core beliefs is not exclusive to followers of any specific religion.
Shabbat dinner almost certainly does have a good effect on people's social connection and maybe other indicators of well-being.
And Dr. Cohen's colleagues, including Dr. Ariel Levitas, had the same idea, that perhaps Shabbat was a practice with measurable impact.
We share that hypothesis that the components altogether, Friday night, food, shared intention, that we'll see perhaps some interaction effects that where we see some of the strongest social connection and belonging outcomes there.
Dr. Levitas, managing director of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education and a research assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University, also thought that Shabbat dinner might provide a template for enhancing social connection not only for Jews, but for anyone.
We see a lot of initiatives that if you want to build community or you want to bring people in who have been sort of peripheral, let's say, to the Jewish community, the way that you do that is that you have a Shabbat dinner.
Dr. Cohen sets the stage by explaining his somewhat unusual attraction to the scientific study of spiritual faith.
I've long been interested in how religion might promote good life outcomes for people.
Things like physical health, mental health, good community support and integration.
And over the course of multiple studies investigating how world religions affect communal well-being, he has come to understand the science of spiritual faith more deeply.
And one of his core beliefs is not exclusive to followers of any specific religion.
Shabbat dinner almost certainly does have a good effect on people's social connection and maybe other indicators of well-being.
And Dr. Cohen's colleagues, including Dr. Ariel Levitas, had the same idea, that perhaps Shabbat was a practice with measurable impact.
We share that hypothesis that the components altogether, Friday night, food, shared intention, that we'll see perhaps some interaction effects that where we see some of the strongest social connection and belonging outcomes there.
Dr. Levitas, managing director of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education and a research assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University, also thought that Shabbat dinner might provide a template for enhancing social connection not only for Jews, but for anyone.
We see a lot of initiatives that if you want to build community or you want to bring people in who have been sort of peripheral, let's say, to the Jewish community, the way that you do that is that you have a Shabbat dinner.
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