The Shabbos Project
This
past Shabbos was the Shabbos Project. Thousands of Jews from all over the world
came together to observe one Shabbos together. It was a beautiful and meaningful event and I'm in awe of those who put so much work into making it such a success. Our community and my family participated
in this event. Since we are Shabbos observant, we were encouraged to invite and
host non-Shabbos observing families to spend Shabbos with us. My understanding
is that the emphasis for this one Shabbos get-together is to focus on sharing
the spirit of Shabbos, the beauty and the meaning and not too much a focus on
the do nots of tearing toiling paper and light switch avoidance. But it's not so simple, as step into Shabbos observing home and you can't help but notice electric timers, strange heat sources and enough ripped up toilet paper to wipe the bottom of a small army. Don’t
misunderstand me. I support Shabbos observance. As our panel of rabbis so
eloquently presented to us, there is a remembrance (love, celebration) of the
Sabbath and there is also a much needed guarding (observance, restriction) of
the Shabbos. Both work together to create a special space. I’m just not sure
how to exactly allure non observing Jews to be observing if they are not eager, curious and
wanting to do so. I say this because, for one, I think it takes a certain mind
set to see the strange restrictions as the "Shabbos Fen Shui"; and two, I think
they may have a much needed role in their own communities where there are
people who need to celebrate and not observe… or they do neither. It's more of a personal issue, but I often find it difficult to put my
observance on display to those who are not comfortable
with the idea to start with.
I’m
going to give you a comparison. Many years ago I spent time observing the multisensory rooms at Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel. One of my many jobs as a physical
therapist was to gain a better understanding of the sensory room equipment we
were selling at the company where I was employed at that time. I clearly
remember the philosophy that was explained to me. They said, “Though we provide
an environment for encouraging connection through the sensory equipment, we do
not set specific goals for anyone entering the room, as we allow the individuals to interact
spontaneously with the equipment and the space.”
I
think perhaps, we need to take a step back. One of my guests gave me much to think about as she suggested, “Maybe you should focus on your own circle and
leave others to focus on theirs?” The truth is, we do that most of the time but the Shabbos Project was a time for us to reach out. Though sometimes we may sound more like Paul Revere shouting, “The Conservatives are coming! The Conservatives are coming!”, the truth is we like to share and hope that maybe others might want to experience the magic of Shabbos, the Jewish birthrite.
It's important that we all come together for Shabbos regardless of
affiliation. I think that observing Jews protect, celebrate and observe Shabbos
with a consistency that I hope is in line with G-d’s purpose in his creation of
the 7th day. Though we do not have the exclusive
rights on the Shabbos Experience, we do have that toilet paper thing down to a science, along with some great soul searching, learning, singing and of course eating. It's the consistency and the commitment that I think truly makes the difference. Yet the experience has made me more thoughtful of perhaps how sensitive we must be toward those who do not observe and how important it is to come together to share.
“There is a realm of time where the goal is not to have but to
be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to
be in accord. Life goes wrong when the control of space, the acquisition of
things of space, becomes our sole concern.”
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