More than 1 million Jews celebrated Shabbat recently during “Keeping it Together,” a project involving approximately 65 countries and at least 350 cities around the world.
In Israel alone, hundreds of events were held throughout the country.
The train-station complex Mitcham Hatachana Tel Aviv — typically one of the liveliest entertainment areas in the city and open 24/7 — drew a capacity crowd of 1,000 women for a giant challah bake on Oct. 22 in preparation for Shabbat the following evening. Giant screens displayed challah events held being concurrently across the globe, with thousands of women at each one — including an estimated 6,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the project originated two years ago.
Last year the Shabbos Project went global, with events now held in the Bay Area as well.
South African Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein originated the idea in 2013.
Tanya Greenberg, producer of the project in Israel, said, “women from around the world arrived for the [Tel Aviv] event, including 400 women who were on a tour in Israel. It was wonderful to see the combination of Israeli and non-Israeli women coming together; it was a magical evening.” — ynetnews.com