The Shabbos Project takes on the world

First South Africa. Now the world!

If that sounds slightly ominous, even a bit threatening, it shouldn’t. Last year, Warren Goldstein had an idea which he called “audacious, bold, never tried before, so powerful yet so simple.”

Warren Goldstein is South Africa’s chief rabbi and his idea was to encourage all Jews living in that country to experience what it is like to “keep one Shabbos together, from sundown on Friday to stars out on Saturday night.”

It worked. Well, perhaps not every South African Jew kept Shabbat. But many more than usual did found the time and willpower to shut down their iPhones and show up in shul.

A few days later, Rabbi Goldstein reflected on that Shabbat. “Messages are pouring in about people, young and old – some even in their 80s – keeping Shabbos for the first time in their lives. It has had a deep emotional effect on people and has left people uplifted and inspired. There is a wave of excitement that has swept right across the country, affecting people from all walks of life. In Port Elizabeth there were well over 100 people who came to sleep at the shul. They had mattresses put out so that people could sleep there in order to keep Shabbos properly.”

After that success, the project is about to go global. For 25 hours starting on the evening of Friday, Oct. 24, the Shabbat Project will attempt to unite Jews around the world in observing our day of rest.

And where would any respectable worldwide movement be without its own manifesto, including these points:

• On this day we will own our precious heritage, wearing it as a badge of pride and honour.

• Its rhythm will unite us with each other, with Jews around the world and throughout the ages.

• Together we embark on this great adventure to rediscover our God-given gift of Shabbat.

To get the message across, they have created an impressive website along with some slick social media tools including a Twitter feed @ShabbosProject_, an international Facebook site, with local pages devoted to activities around the world, including Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, all united by the hashtag #KeepingItTogether.

Their Youtube channel greets you with a professionally produced video featuring diverse personalities like Joe and Hadassah Lieberman, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Natan Sharansky, Jerusalem Post editor Steve Linde and retired basketball player Tamir Goodman. But most of the clips are with very enthusiastic young people from around the world.

Plus a video with a celebrity or two. “Hi, I’m Paula Abdul. I’m an entertainer who lives in Los Angeles and I am committing to keeping the Shabbos Project… I know when Shabbos comes, I can be me. No paparazzi. No invasion of my privacy. I can always look forward to the end of the week and say, ‘Thank God I have Shabbos.’”

The website is chock full of user-friendly aids which don’t presume a great deal of prior Shabbat knowledge. The 72-page downloadable Toolkit presents a step-by-step how-to with prayers like Kiddush, Eshet Chayil and Birkat Hamazon as well as reflections and stories. The writing is friendly and breezy but the material doesn’t pull its punches. The site does delve into the nitty-gritty of traditional Shabbat observance which may be an eye opener for those unfamiliar with it.

(In a true nod to Jewish unity, I noticed that some of the project sites refer to the Jewish Sabbath as “Shabbat” while others use “Shabbos.” It seems everyone is welcome regardless of pronunciation.)

What does it take to carry off an endeavour like this? A great deal of planning and dedicated volunteers. This summer, The Canadian Jewish News spoke to Toronto committee member Rabbi Jarrod Grover, spiritual leader at the Conservative Beth Tikvah Congregation, who encouraged colleagues at Conservative and Reform synagogues to take part in the project. “All our communities, no matter our affiliations, rest on the foundation of Shabbat,” he wrote.

In September, Mishpacha Magazine looked at preparations by communities in Hong Kong, Montivideo, London and in Toronto where organizers are hoping to gather 4,000 women to the local challah bakeoff – and in turn set a new Guinness record. Organizer Dena Bensalmon explains that since many participants may never have baked challah before, experts will be needed. “We call them challah doctors, and we are going to need one per table of 10,” points out Bensalmon. “That’s 400 volunteers needed just to help out with the challah bake.”

First South Africa. This month the world. What next for the Shabbos Project?

The Talmud tells us (Shabbat 118b) that if the Jews were to properly observe two Sabbaths in a row, the ultimate Redemption would ensue immediately with the coming of the Mashiach [Messiah].

Now, wouldn’t that be a great encore! 

[email protected]