Shabbos is trending, and not just in the Yeshiva University community. Celebrities such as Paula Abdul and Nikki Schreiber helped spread that Shabbos feeling all over the globe the weekend of October 24th. The hashtag #KeepingItTogether was prevalent throughout social media in the weeks leading up to this specific Shabbos, when Jews from around the world came together, regardless of religious observance, to keep the Sabbath.
This once-a-year spiritual event is known as the Shabbos Project. The Shabbos Project is an international Jewish movement that binds Jews together through the observance of one Shabbos together. It originated in South Africa last year, where the country’s Jewish community attempted to come together and keep Shabbos, many of whom were observing it for the first time.
This year, even more Jews were involved in the campaign. According to theshabbosproject.com, the Shabbos Project took place in 212 cities and 33 countries across the globe.
Shoshana Schechter, director of the Stern Mechina program, is very supportive of the Project. “I think Shabbos is such a crucial part of our lives as Jews and such a source of inspiration for so many people. The Shabbos Project [gave] us an opportunity to do this together as a people,” she said.
“I know from my students in the Mechina program who have experienced Shabbos for the first time at some of our Shabbatons that they’re blown away by it. At the end of Shabbos, they say it’s so beautiful and inspiring and I think that the Shabbos Project gives more people an opportunity to experience this feeling,” she said.
Yeshiva University (YU) was also specially involved in preparations for the Shabbos Project. The Wednesday before the designated weekend, Challah for Hunger, TAC & SOY, SCSCW & YSU, the Chessed Club and iGive sponsored the Challah Challenge event on the Wilf campus. Teams worked together in different challenges such as trying to braid challah while blindfolded or with one arm behind their backs.
Stern sophomore Jori Holloway really enjoyed the event. “I felt like the Challah Challenge really brought the YU community together,” she said. “We also got to give back to the community by making goodie baskets for people in hospitals.
Goodie baskets for people in hospitals were not the only thing that came out of the Challah Challenge. All the proceeds from the event went to Mazon and Yad Eliezer, Jewish non-profits that help with poverty relief in the United States and Israel. The proceeds will be used to purchase food for the homeless population.
The actual Shabbos Project at Stern was a combination of davening with the Aderet El community, student-led chaburot, and inspiring words from Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff. The Shabbaton ended with a musical havdallah.
The Shabbos Project at Stern was a particularly unique Shabbaton, and the Project as a whole brought Jews of many different backgrounds together. Hopefully that same unity will be reached after the Shabbos Project next year.