All set for a splendid Shabbat
THOUSANDS of Jews are expected to come together this week to mark the return of the biggest global Jewish event of the year, with a host of Shabbat Project events taking place around the country.
THOUSANDS of Australian Jews are expected to come together this week to mark the return of the biggest global Jewish event of the year, with a host of Shabbat Project events taking place around the country.
The celebrations in Sydney kicked off earlier this week and will continue today (Thursday), with hundreds attending challah bakes across the community. The Shabbat will conclude with a communal havdalah ceremony in the north shore, south-east and eastern suburbs. These events will bookend activities throughout shuls, community centres, parks, streets and homes alike.
Three international guests will also feature in some of the activities, with Crown Heights businessman Dudi Farkash appearing at Dover Heights Shule; renowned Jewish educator Esther Wein appearing at South Head Synagogue and in the Shabbat Afternoon Shmooze: Speaker Circuit; and French singing sensation Mendel Hababou performing at Chabad Double Bay and Central Synagogue’s grand havdalah concert and fireworks show at Barracluff Park, North Bondi, on Saturday night.
“Let’s come together to allow Shabbat to keep us as a people once more, as we utilise the light of this beautiful day to illuminate our entire community,” Shabbat Project Sydney leader Rabbi Benji Levy told The AJN.
“No-one else can play your part for you – each little thing that each of us does adds ripples to the wave of positivity that we can create by ‘keeping it together’.”
Rabbi Levy added that it is important to remember what brings us together at this time – “not the negative threat but our positive intention, not our enemies, but our friends”.
“This will be a unity not forced upon us, but chosen by us, not led from without, but created from within, not pushed from the top down, but sprouting from the grassroots up – by the people, for the people, empowering individuals to make the moments and inspiring nearly 100 events around the community that invite engagement in this vibrant initiative,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jewish pride was on display at Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre on Sunday for the Kids Challah Bake, an event that attracted 1500 children in preparation for the Shabbat Project.
Held on the centre’s busiest shopping day, guests commented on the positive energy of the event and the interest shown by onlookers who were fascinated by the concept of Shabbat.
The bake transformed into a multicultural affair, with Shabbat Project Melbourne co-chair Rabbi Moshe Kahn enthusing that he saw a Chassidic child assisting a Muslim girl in braiding a challah, which he described as “inspiring”.
“Jewish culture and tradition was brought to the wider community, we had people from all different backgrounds getting involved,” Rabbi Kahn told The AJN. “It was a really beautiful day of celebration, unity and Jewish pride … Celebrating Jewish life in Chadstone in today’s day and age was really beautiful.”
The bake was one of almost 100 events happening around Melbourne for the project.
In preparation, tonight (Thursday) thousands of women are expected to attend the Glick’s Great Challah Bake, with similar numbers expected at the community havdalah ceremony and concert on Saturday night at Caulfield Park.
Encouraging participation, Rabbi Kahn promised that the weekend will have a “tremendous buzz and energy” as it unites world Jewry for a magical Shabbat experience.
Discussing the theme of this year’s event, which encourages people to “pull up a chair”, Rabbi Kahn said the principle behind it ensures every Jew experiences Shabbat and feels the rejuvenation of family, community and Jewish pride. “It means that there shouldn’t be a person who’s home alone, it’s about not having Shabbat by yourself,” Rabbi Kahn said.
For more information, visit www.shabbatprojectsydney.com.au and www.theshabbosproject.org/en/melbourne.
EVAN ZLATKIS AND ZOE KRON
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