BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker
When members of Barnet Synagogue in north London went to shul over Rosh Hashanah, they found pledge cards on their seats.
But this was not an appeal for money. Their rabbi, Barry Lerer, was asking what they were willing to do for Shabbat UK, the celebration set by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis for October 24- 25.
"The card had a list of nine different things," said Rabbi Lerer, "from putting on special clothes for to going all the way to the ultimate challenge - keeping Shabbat strictly for 25 hours. It seems to have generated quite a buzz."
So far more than 60 congregants have signed up for the "ultimate challenge".
Rabbi Lerer said: "Some people have asked what do they do about lights. I said for 25 hours, leave them on - and I'll pay the extra electricity."
Pledging to be shomer Shabbat for the day is one of the goals of The Shabbos Project, launched in South Africa last year by its Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and which has now gone global.
UK participants will be offered discounts on Shabbat hotplates and kettles or kosher wine thanks to support from local retailers.
At Cardiff Synagogue, there will be a communal Friday-night dinner, Shabbat lunch, plus tea with a quiz.
At Manchester's Yeshurun Synagogue, the YMCA - that's the Yeshurun Men's Cholent Association - is taking an active role. Its members will be peeling potatos and carrots for the Shabbat stew on the Thursday before, while enjoying a whisky-tasting session.
Bournemouth's Orthodox synagogue will host a klezmer melaveh malka with Sephardi, Reform, Masorti and Liberal groups.
For details see www.shabbatuk.org