Last year, 300 women baked challah together in anticipation of Shabbos; over 150 people shared a communal Shabbos lunch at Congregation Keter Torah; an uplifting Havdalah was experienced in Teaneck; a gala concert was played at the Teaneck Jewish Center upon the conclusion of Shabbos.
These gatherings transpired over the weekend of October 24-25, 2014. But that was just the local experience. Nearly one million Jews globally—from 64 countries and 460 cities—devoted 24 hours to a communal day of rest as part of the Shabbos Project.
The Shabbos Project concept was born in South Africa, conceived of by Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein. In 2013, he imagined a single Shabbos that the South African Jewish community—across every denomination—would observe together. “We saw the possibility,” said Rabbi Goldstein, “of transcending all the barriers and differences that seem to separate us. Over the course of just one Shabbat, all of that melted away.”
A low-pressure community-wide undertaking “engaged the broader community,” said Daniel Rothner, founding director of Areyvut, the local organization that took part in the 2014 Bergen County participation in the Shabbos Project. Areyvut, a non-profit that runs programs aimed at attracting Jewish youth, was the fulcrum for matching hosts with guests for Shabbos meals, but it was predominantly individuals of their own accord who extended invitations to Jewish coworkers and acquaintances.
Bergenfield resident Nina Glick invited the proprietor of a local liquor store, and his family, to join her at her Shabbos table. “I approached him and told him that there was going to be a special Shabbat in the community and it would be my pleasure if he and his wife would come to us for Shabbos. He was stunned but extremely grateful.” Speaking to the success of the 2014 Project locally, Benjy Rosenbluth, president of the Teaneck shul Arzei Darom, said, “We are very proud of the fact that at least one regular shul attendee at Arzei first began coming just about a year ago in conjunction with the Shabbos Project.”
“Everyone knows someone,” said Rothner of the ability of each community member to invite a Shabbos guest and participate in the Project. He was, however, wary of alienating guests by insisting on an absolute observance of a 24-hour Shabbos. Rothner stressed the importance of treating guests with respect and “accepting them for where they are at.”
Local shuls planned their own events to mark the Shabbos. Bergenfield’s Congregation Beth Abraham hosted a Carlebach-style minyan to inspire those already keeping Shabbos to enhance its meaning; explanatory minyanim were held at Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn, as well as Arzei Darom and Keter Torah in Teaneck.
Rabbi David Pietruszka, Director of the Jewish Learning Experience (JLE) of Bergen County, said that some of the JLE constituents who participated in the 2014 Shabbos Project in Bergen County were “enthused with the unity that was created on Shabbos” and he himself felt the “connectedness” of the moment. It was only natural for Pietruszka to get involved, as JLE services Jews who are seeking a greater understanding of and commitment to Jewish observance, and arranges for them to be hosted at Shabbos and holiday meals throughout the year.
The subtitle of the project, “Keeping it together,” has two-fold meaning to Rabbi Goldstein. The more obvious theme is the unity that was inspired by Jews—from the observant, to the Jew who has never before experienced a Shabbos at all—coming together to keep Shabbos at the same table. “We proclaim ceaselessly the need for Jewish unity, for coalescing around a shared goal,” notes Rabbi James Kennard of Melbourne, Australia. “The Shabbat Project offered an activity, open to all, that actually turned this sentiment into reality.”
But to Rabbi Goldstein, “Keeping it together” has another significance. According to him “we’ve forgotten how to live.” The digital era has buried our minds and heads—quite literally—in devices that stifle our thoughts and strip us of social skills. Current research shows that our memory, concentration levels, physical health and our ability to emote are being impaired by the gadgets that command our attention. The logical remedy, argues Rabbi Goldstein, is a day of rest: a Shabbos. A time to interact with one another, slow the pace of our day, escape the pressures of our day-to-day grind, enjoy family meals, shut off our devices. A goal is to see Shabbos as something beautiful. “‘Keeping it together’ means keeping our lives together,” Rabbi Goldstein puts forth. Invigorating our thoughts and emotions with spiritual inspiration is food for the oft-neglected soul.
The 2013 success that Rabbi Goldstein had achieved ballooned into something much greater. By 2014, the concept had grown from South Africa to the world stage. The project inspired Jews across the globe to engage in Erev Shabbos challah bakes, Friday-night and Shabbos-day meals, and communal Havdalah services and concerts. “One Shabbat celebrated… across the Jewish world, by the entire Jewish people at the same time.”
The Project, the first of its kind, will grow in 2015. This year, Rabbi Goldstein is pushing greater celebrity exposure and has unveiled a user-friendly website that will give hosts and guests, challah bakers and local rebbeim, resources to plan Shabbos programming.
In our own communities, preparations are underway. The Bergen Great Big Challah Bake is scheduled to take place at the Rockleigh Country Club on Thursday night, October 22, Erev Shabbos Parshat Lech Lecha. The ambitious hope is to attract 1,000 women. Among other generous donating organizations, Main Event will be providing the ingredients for the dough.
Esther Friedman, who was instrumental in last year’s bake, said she is working with “an amazing crew of volunteers from all over Bergen County with different religious backgrounds” to publicize the event through social media. The funds raised from the minimal charge will be used to build a shelter for battered women in Israel, with the help of Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO). Additional sponsors are welcome, said Friedman, and will be recognized at the Bake.
New this year, the Rockleigh Jewish Home has become a partner for the event. While including its residents, organizers are also encouraging triptych participants of grandmother-mother-daughter, said Friedman.
In Englewood, the East Hill Synagogue will be hosting an explanatory minyan and communal Friday night meal. Congregation Ahavath Torah will be pulling out all the stops for the week of Parshat Lech Lecha. A pre-Shabbos cholent cook-off, communal meals, a Friday night tisch, an afternoon shiur and a musical Havdalah are all planned. Shaare Tefillah of Teaneck is hosting a Friday night oneg for women and Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield will offer an explanatory service. At Teaneck’s Arzei Darom, in addition to a planned women’s shaleshudes, members already met for a kiruv training seminar to become more at ease with inviting less affiliated guests, hopefully encouraging more people to extend invitations.
Just two years ago Rabbi Goldstein could not have imagined the enormity of what he was about to do. “The global scope of the initiative is hugely ambitious, but this is something that really seems to speak to people’s hearts,” said Rabbi Moshe Kahn, leader of the Jewish community in Melbourne, Australia. “If there is one thing all Jews around the world can get behind, it’s Shabbos.”
By Rachel Wertentheil
