GREENWICH — In an effort to lift spirits during these challenging times, Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich is encouraging the Jewish community to celebrate Shabbat through a new campaign called #Shabbat500.
Shabbat, which takes place from Friday night, until Saturday night each week, is Judaism’s time of rest. It includes refraining from work-related activities and engaging in restful activities to honor the day.
The #Shabbat500 initiative encourages families in the Jewish community to sign up at www.chabadgreenwich.org/shabbat500 to receive a Shabbat gift bag, which will be delivered to their home.
Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich sends out spirit-lifting Shabbat to-go bags
By David Fierro Updated 7:00 pm EDT, Thursday, May 7, 2020
Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of 8
Volunteer Levi Deren packs a Shabbat gift bag that is being offered by Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich to its community. The Shabbat gift bags are being delivered to 500 people/families in the Jewish community, … more
GREENWICH — In an effort to lift spirits during these challenging times, Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich is encouraging the Jewish community to celebrate Shabbat through a new campaign called #Shabbat500.
Shabbat, which takes place from Friday night, until Saturday night each week, is Judaism’s time of rest. It includes refraining from work-related activities and engaging in restful activities to honor the day.
The #Shabbat500 initiative encourages families in the Jewish community to sign up at www.chabadgreenwich.org/shabbat500 to receive a Shabbat gift bag, which will be delivered to their home.
Last week, Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich sent Shabbat bags to 60 families and would like to see that number grow to at least 500 families this week.
Schneur Deren, a Rabbinic Intern at Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich, said their center hatched the idea two weeks ago.
“We all know that COVID has had an impact on everyone’s life, it’s a very dark time for all of us,” said Deren, whose parents Rabbi Yossi and Maryashie Deren are the directors of Chabad Lubavitch in town. “But during this time, there are no distractions, we have time to spend with each other and our family.
“During Shabbat, we go away from the world. We turn off all our phones and computers and we spend time with family — it is a time to rest from a busy week. God gave us the gift of Shabbat, so we came up with this idea, of putting together Shabbat to-go bags.”
Volunteers wearing gloves and masks delivered bags to 60 families in the community last week, with many more Shabbat gift bags ready to go.
“We received an email from a donor to our organization, saying that the bag he received really lifted up his spirits and he loved his bag so much, that he wants to sponsor for each member of our community to get bags,” Schneur Deren said. “Already this morning (Thursday), we sent out a whole bunch of bags.”
The Shabbat Shalom bag includes two loaves of Challah bread, a Kiddush cup, a bottle of grape juice, two Shabbat candles, a scroll providing inspiring information for the week, a Shabbat dinner guide, a charity box and treats for the kids.
Deren said the candles are especially significant — and female family members usually light the candles at Shabbat.
“A candle can shine very far, they light up our homes and can light up the world,” Deren said. “Women and girls have a great influence about what goes on in the home and family, so we encourage the women and girls to light them.”
The candle lighting begins at 7:41 p.m. Friday and Shabbat concludes at 8:47 p.m. Saturday. Those who sign up can participate in a pre-Shabbat Zoom event with the Greenwich community and share their Shabbat table on social media with #Shabbat500.
“This is a way for us to give back to our community and pick up each other’s spirits,” Deren said. [email protected]
