WELCOME TO OUR
WEBSITE
WELCOME TO OUR
WEBSITE
Welcome to the Campaign for Shabbat web site. Our slogan is, "Shabbat — A Day for the Rest of Your Life", and this is what we hope you are looking for. By reaching this page you have already made a statement: Shabbat is of special interest to you. We are here to help you transfer that statement into action, encouraging you to take another step in your personal journey. As you look through this site, you will find different types of materials to assist you personally, and materials to assist congregations participating in the Campaign for Shabbat.
This site is not just for beginners. It is also directed towards those who know "how to" celebrate Shabbat. We encourage you to look for new ways to enjoy Shabbat, regarding it as a unique and special time of your week. Expand your current view of Shabbat to include the preparation time before candle-lighting to saying "Shavua tov" after havdalah.
The Campaign for Shabbat was created by the Joint Rabbinical Assembly - United Synagogue Committee on Commitment and Observance to help underscore the importance of commitment to shmirat mitzvot – the observance of God’s commandments. The committee’s stated mission is "...to promote, within the lives of individual Conservative Jews, shmirat mitzvot that enhances our spiritual lives and makes us partners with God in the task of tikkun olam, improving an imperfect world."
The Campaign for Shabbat is the first step in the committee’s venture. In its second year, the campaign is working with synagogues who wish to challenge their congregants to learn about Shabbat and take on new Shabbat mitzvot. It uses synagogue-wide programming, individualized supportive activities and ongoing support to help participants grow. Participating congregations receive a 103-page manual, describing how to implement the campaign within the synagogue. We have created an e-mail listserv so participating synagogues can share successes, challenges and questions. We are continually creating camera-ready supportive materials for individual use. We continue to offer and share ideas with our participating congregations, maintaining an on-going discussion of how we can best reach, stimulate and teach our congregants about Shabbat. The Campaign seeks to get their attention, engage members in a Jewish journey, and support individuals each step of the way.
We now invite you to join us by making "Shabbat — A Day for the Rest of Your Life." Use the materials offered here and take that "next step" in Shabbat observance. If you have any suggestions for making this site more valuable for you, please contact Joseph Mendelsohn, our Campaign for Shabbat coordinator, at ShabbatCoordinator@uscj.org.
Shabbat Shalom
