Shabbat
is observed around the world in many ways, traditional and untraditional. For
the past seven years, about 1,000 people have gathered on the beach in Tel Aviv
at sunset each Friday evening in the summer months for a joyous Kabbalat
Shabbat (welcoming of the Sabbath) celebration with music and song.
As
Tzofia Hirschfeld wrote in Ynet News, the online website of the newspaper
Yediot Aharonot,
"It
started out as a small event of several people seeking to welcome Shabbat in
the nature, facing the sea," says Iris Bertz, marketing and development
director and a member of the port's executive committee.
They
asked us for permission to welcome Shabbat with song and interpretations for
the children, and hold the ceremony at the port. It soon became very clear that
people were starting to gather round.
"And then the
mats were replaced with chairs, songbooks were printed – and the number of
participants today reaches 1,000. Beit Tefilah is responsible for the content,
and we're in charge of the logistic side. The result is a peaceful ceremony,
accompanied by melodies."
As almost everyone
loves Shabbat, the crowd is very diverse. "It's the type of event that
almost everyone can relate to," explains Bertz. "And because it takes
place in the summer, when there are many tourists around, they usually join in
and often add their own version of the prayers."
Does
this reflect a social change?
"No. I think
that many of us believe in a secular way. I believe that this need always
existed, and we just found a place for it. People want this gathering, and our
Shabbat welcoming ceremony is an event one can easily identify with and connect
to.
"Apart from
people who observe Shabbat, this event relates to any other level between
secularity and Reform Judaism, and to those who simply enjoy the Shabbat rest,
which is most of us.
"Just
like on Yom Kippur many people who are not religious fast, on Shabbat people
want something different to happen to them once a week, which will take them to
a more festive and emotional place.
"We
take Shabbat and the prayer, bring them closer to people and let them enjoy it
as it is. We are just allowing it to happen, and in front of the sunset and sea
– it's the perfect place."
Whichever
way you welcome Shabbat, we wish you a Shabbat shalom. Enjoy!
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