More than 7,000 people are expected to take part in mass challah-making sessions in 26 locations around the UK as a prelude to Shabbat UK, the national Sabbath celebration launched by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis this weekend.
The sell-out 3,000 attendance at the Allianz Park, home of Saracens Rugby Club, tonight is all set to be confirmed as a Guinness World Record for the largest challah bake.
Around 100 communities are planning special events from Friday evening to Saturday night to mark the occasion, with an estimated 3,000 volunteers involved in preparations.
It is part of an international effort to promote Sabbath observance across the world inspired by South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldsmith’s Shabbos Project.
Appearing on BBC1 on Sunday, Rabbi Mirvis said that Shabbat had universal elements which other communities could learn from – “family togetherness, personal growth and development, community cohesion, being masters over our environment rather than enabling our fast-moving, sophisticated world and electronic equipment to dominate us.”
A Times leader supported the Chief Rabbi’s call for people not to be slaves to technology by learning to switch off their mobile phones for a while.
Political leaders joined in praise of the initiative with Prime Minister David Cameron saying that "Shabbat is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and share in traditions that date back thousands of years. Shabbat UK highlights how Jewish communal life continues to thrive in Britain today. I wish everyone taking part Shabbat Shalom."
Deputy PM Nick Clegg said, "Whether you're taking part in one of the mass challah-making sessions happening across the country, attending an event organised by your local synagogue, lighting Friday night candles or inviting others to celebrate in your home, the experience will bring families, friends and communities together."
The event “allows Jewish communities across the country, from Plymouth to Aberdeen, to come together and share Shabbat,” said Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Barnet Synagogue’s Rabbi Barry Lerer exceeded his target of persuading 100 congregants to accept the “ultimate challenge” – keeping Shabbat strictly from sunset to sundown according to Jewish law.
“What is really amazing is that the 100th person to sign up was Mala Tribich, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor,” Rabbi Lerer said. “It is so fitting that she has been the one who has helped us reached this incredible milestone. We are now on 104. But Mala is an inspiration to us all.”
Rabbi Ephraim Levine, of Watford Synagogue – which is holding communal meals throughout Shabbat meals from Friday night to Saturday afternoon – said he was “very happy” with the response.
“There are people who would not come on a regular Shabbat or to other events we run who have decided to take part next week,” he said.
Several Watford families had also pledged to try to keep Shabbat strictly for 25 hours, Rabbi Levine said, committing themselves “not to go to work, not to use the phone and even to arrange for neighbours to push prams because we don’t have an eruv here.”
Even in communities to the right of the United Synagogue, where strict Shabbat observance is the norm, there was enthusiasm for the event with special Shabbat-related study sessions held in several synagogues.
The Chief Rabbi was due to talk at one arranged by the Start Your Day The Torah Way group. The founder of its London branch, Duddy Iczkovits, said, “I believe however frum you are, you can always do more to respect Shabbos. We may not get there 100 per cent but we can do our best to try.”
Apart from social media, supporters have promoted the event in different ways. Some posted Shabbat UK logos on estate agent boards outside their homes, while Shabbat UK taxi donated by Asher Moses and driven by Sacha Wingard took the message on the road.
For details of what’s near you, go to www.shabbatuk.org