The Shabbos Project

“Everyone who comes into your life is either a blessing or a lesson.”…or maybe both.

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.”

Comments

SDK said…
If it's any help, I think those who remember but don't guard are missing out on the full experience that shabbat offers. For many, many years, I was a moderately observant Jew. I had Friday night dinner, went to shul on shabbat morning and I set aside the day and did not schedule anything. But I also did not observe any restrictions such as cooking, handling money, driving etc. It was only when I moved to a new community where I could walk to shul that shabbat finally came together in a way that seemed deserving of all of the focus and praise contained in our prayers, etc. Of course, there is something beautiful about lighting candles, having dinner with your family, singing songs, making blessings, going to shul, etc. But without the restrictions on productive activity, the day is not profoundly different. It is different in the sense that Sunday is different from Monday because you do different things. It is not profoundly different, such that you feel inspired to write a seven paragraph medieval song about it. The good thing for beginners, I think, is that even observing one prohibition of something you usually do allows you to get a glimpse of the difference it makes. So if people want to see how it feels, they can start with one or two things and get an understanding that saying no to things, even things you enjoy, is also a form of freedom.

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