The Shabbat Project: Lighting Up the World with Shabbat

A Vision That Started in South Africa
Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, is the original visionary behind the international Shabbat Project. “We started it two years ago in South Africa, and the public connected with the idea in an incredible way,” he shared in a special interview with Hidabroot. “Last year, as you know, the project went global, with Shabbat events taking place in more than 465 cities. This year, we hope to reach over 550.”

What’s especially meaningful about this year’s initiative is its focus on Israel. “Last year, Israeli communities weren't really involved in the Shabbat Project,” Rabbi Goldstein explained. “But this year, that’s changing in a big way.”

Israel Joins the Global Celebration
In recent weeks, Rabbi Goldstein has met with local leaders across Israel to support and grow the initiative. “On Sunday, I met with the mayor of Ashkelon. They’re organizing 14 different events, including challah-baking gatherings (hafrashat challah), father-and-son learning sessions, and other programs,” he shared.

In Netanya, the mayor and the city’s chief rabbi will hold a communal Shabbat meal together. Tzfat is planning a massive Kabbalat Shabbat service and Shabbat dinner for 500 participants with the mayor and chief rabbi. Sderot is also hosting a 500-person Shabbat meal. Even the Israeli Air Force base in Ramat David is getting involved. “They’ve joined the project with great enthusiasm,” he said.

One of the events will even be livestreamed from Tel Aviv to Rabbi Goldstein’s hometown of Johannesburg. “On Thursday night, there will be a public hafrashat challah event in Tel Aviv led by Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi. We’ll be broadcasting live from a matching event in Johannesburg where 5,000 women are expected to attend.”

The Heart of the Jewish People
While the Shabbat Project has had some buzz in Israel before, Rabbi Goldstein says that this year it’s translating into widespread grassroots action. He recently met with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein to discuss the initiative and exchange ideas.

Why the increased emphasis on Israel? “The Land of Israel is the heart of the Jewish people,” he explained. “It’s home to the largest Jewish community in the world, and it’s the natural home of Shabbat. We’ve discovered a deep thirst here for connection to Shabbat and to Jewish identity. People want to feel united with all of Am Yisrael through keeping Shabbat.”

Shabbat Across the Globe
At the same time, the Shabbat Project continues to support communities worldwide, from major cities to the most remote locations. “We received an email from a woman living in Killeen, Texas. There are no Jews in her area and no Jewish community within 100 kilometers, but she’s organizing a challah-baking event in honor of the Shabbat Project.”

“There are tiny villages in India whose names I can’t even pronounce,” Rabbi Goldstein added, “and still, there’s a Jew there who’s participating. The project is also thriving in South America and Australia. We’re constantly surprised by the flood of messages we get from the most distant places. It shows just how natural the connection is between the Jewish people and Shabbat.”

Even in South Africa, where it all began, Rabbi Goldstein expects this year’s Shabbat Project to be the most impactful yet. “The project grows every year. Most of the community joined from day one, but each year the events become more numerous and the commitment more meaningful. Every year, more people choose to start keeping Shabbat regularly. Just two months ago, I was at a wedding, and the groom told me the first Shabbat he ever observed was two years ago—during the Shabbat Project. From there, he embraced full Shabbat observance."

What began as a bold idea in South Africa has blossomed into a global movement that spans continents and cultures. With a growing presence in Israel and remote corners of the globe alike, the Shabbat Project is more than a celebration. It’s a powerful reminder of our shared identity and the timeless bond between the Jewish people and the sacred gift of Shabbat.