From a Local Dream to a Global Undertaking: How One Idea is Changing Jews Worldwide

As the Shabbat Project approaches, a global initiative uniting millions of Jews across 350 cities, Israeli businessman Rami Levy, owner of the "Rami Levy" supermarket chain, has decided to offer challah for just one shekel. His goal: to make it easier for families across Israel to participate in Shabbat observance.

Over the past year, millions around the world have learned about the Shabbat Project, initiated by South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein and his wife. The idea began as a modest spiritual initiative for the 75,000 Jews living in South Africa, most of whom had never kept a full Shabbat in their lives. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Goldstein set out to change that by inviting every Jew in South Africa to keep one unified Shabbat together. They launched educational campaigns explaining the beauty and meaning of Shabbat and how to observe it according to halachah (Jewish law).

The response was beyond anything they imagined: nearly 70% of South African Jews participated. That overwhelming success led the Goldsteins to realize that this initiative could go far beyond their local community. Within just seven months, the concept of the “Shabbat Project” was born.

In a special interview with Hidabroot, Rabbi Goldstein reflects on the project’s unexpected reach. “Honestly, I never dreamed it would reach these dimensions,” he says. “I didn’t set out to create a global movement. Shabbat on that scale seemed far too complicated, something I wasn’t sure I could even take on. All I wanted was to bring a little bit of Shabbat into the lives of South African Jews.”

He continues: “We started out with a completely local goal of introducing as many Jews in our community as possible to the beauty of Shabbat. We hoped for a warm response, but we were completely surprised by the magnitude of it. If you’d asked me seven months ago whether this would go global, I probably would’ve said no, or wouldn’t have even been able to imagine it.”

Conclusion
What began as a grassroots initiative for one community has evolved into a global phenomenon touching hearts and homes from Johannesburg to Jerusalem. As more Jews take their first steps into Shabbat, and public figures like Rami Levy lend their support, it’s clear: the simple act of lighting candles, setting a table, and turning off a phone is becoming a unifying force for Jews around the world.