Diary of a Shabbat Project addict
FOR some, the Shabbat Project weekend is a weekend to look forward to as they keep Shabbat already and there is an extra element of excitement and activities to do. For others it is just another weekend and for most hopefully it is a time to get involved in our community no matter your level of observance.
MICHELLE FALK
FOR some, the Shabbat Project weekend is a weekend to look forward to as they keep Shabbat already and there is an extra element of excitement and activities to do. For others it is just another weekend and for most hopefully it is a time to get involved in our community no matter your level of observance. For an addict like myself it is a weekend filled with excitement plus a pinch of Jewish anxiety.
There were so many events to choose from. How do I walk to them all? Will I be hungry (not super relevant but I feel like it’s every Jew’s fear at a social event). How will my phone cope without me? How will my TV cope without my kids watching it? How will my local coffee shop cope without my daily visit? Would Westfield sales decline without my leisurely shop? Would Telstra cut my internet because they have never witnessed no downloads? Will I be too hot or too cold (also standard Jewish concern)?
Last year I have to admit I went to five Shabbat project events #SPAddict. I know what you are thinking … I would have been so fit afterwards from walking everywhere. Wrong – the incredible food and schmooze slowed me down. The streets were packed with buzzwords like bulkas, chopped herring and who did your keratin?
This is how the Shabbat Project played out for me last year with each event having a level of (Jewish) anxiety and excitement.
Event 1: Kids’ Challah Bake with PJ Library & OBK; Anxiety: if one child’s hot dog is slightly bigger than the other child’s will they have a meltdown in front of the whole community? Excitement: hundreds of kids combining different schools and ages were there together engaged in the most creative activities.
Event 2: Adults’ Challah Bake; Anxiety: will I talk too much and miss the instructions? Excitement: I don’t think you can explain the effervescent energy in the room of a challah bake, it always ends in a hora!
Event 3: Kabbalat Shabbat on Bondi Beach. Anxiety: will dancing to horas in the sand exfoliate my fake tan too much off my feet? Excitement: Incredibly moving having so many Jewish people out in the open all bringing in Shabbat together – something I will always remember.
Event 4: Central Synagogue Dinner. Anxiety: Will the sashimi salad run out at the buffet before I get there? I think everyone shared this same stress #keepingittogether Excitement: Not having to prepare a Shabbat meal or deal with the washing up and also realising there are so many families who live nearby with similar age kids.
Event 5: Bellevue Hill street lunch. Anxiety: will I be able to fit in my kids pram as I was concerned I had eaten too much to walk home after all the delicious food catered by Millee’s including an ice cream stall. Excitement: meeting new people with no technological distractions and having a whole street closed just for a Shabbat lunch.
Following the Shabbat Project this year I decided to set up a support group for those who have Shabbat Project (and catered food) withdrawals like myself. The meetings will be held every Friday night where participants can choose to invite family, old or new friends, or neighbours to create that Shabbat Project feeling every Shabbat.
Michelle Falk is the social media manager for the Shabbat Project, which kicks off on Friday night (October 27-28). Visit www.shabbatproject.org.au.
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