The Shabbos Project began in 2013 with one country: South Africa. A video about the project featuring the chief rabbi and rebbetzin of South Africa, which aimed to enable unaffiliated Jews to observe one Shabbat completely, went viral, and in 2014 the Shabbos Project was observed in 465 countries. The Shabbos Project website had 17.8 million hits. Their YouTube video had 467,617 views. It is estimated that one million Jews around the world kept Shabbat in some way that weekend.
This year’s Shabbos Project will take place October 23 and 24, Parshat Lech Lecha.
The essence of the Shabbos Project is about sharing the gift of Shabbat. The observant world has something so special; a time to rejuvenate physically, emotionally and spiritually and to connect to our families, fellow Jews and to G-d. The non-observant world is yearning for this and most don’t even know that they can access this. Many times their perceived ideas are often false. The power of inviting a fellow Jew into one’s home to actually see and get a taste of Shabbat is so incredibly powerful. Friday night dinner is a perfect opportunity for this. Shabbat speaks for itself. It has the power to touch, move and inspire.
The Shabbos Project Bergen County encourages every family to take the opportunity and share the gift of Shabbat with friends, colleagues and family by inviting them for at least the Friday night meal October 23, 2015. Speak to your rabbi for particular halachic issues regarding invitations.
There will be a variety of different events taking place all over the county. Several shuls are putting together programs for families and their guests. For example, there will be an explanatory minyan on Friday night at East Hill Synagogue and Beth Abraham. Beth Abraham will also have an oneg following the Friday night meal for guests and the families hosting them. Ahavas Torah in Englewood will host special speakers, and Shaarei Tefilla in Teaneck will be having a ladies’ Friday night oneg.
This year, the Shabbos Project will make its splash in Bergen County beginning on Thursday night, October 22, with the Bergen County Great Big Challah Bake. It is expected that 1,000 women from the entire county will be attending the bake, which will take place at the Rockleigh Country Club (26 Paris Ave, Rockleigh, NJ). Every participant will receive an apron and bowl and will make two challahs. Doors will be opening at 6:30pm and pre-registration is available at www.wizousa.org/GreatBigChallahBake.
The Challah Bake has a wonderful array of sponsors, and the unity of Jewish women will surely be felt. From Hadassah to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, from the Lubavitch on the Palisades to Sharsheret, from the NCJW to the Kaplen JCC, different denominations of Jewish women will be coming together to have an inspirational and empowering evening.
For more info or to get involved contact [email protected].
