Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is inviting thousands of people across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast to help set a community record on Friday, November 6, by participating in Shabbat Across the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast, an unprecedented effort to create the community’s largest shared Shabbat experience.
Shabbat Across invites individuals, families, synagogues, organizations, and anyone interested to host a gathering, attend a community experience, or simply celebrate the Sabbath in a way that feels meaningful to them on the same Friday night.
Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest and celebration, is traditionally observed from Friday evening through Saturday evening as a time to pause and enjoy Jewish traditions including prayer, lighting candles, and enjoying braided bread called challah.
The initiative is part of Federation’s broader movement to activate Jewish life across the Palm Beaches by creating more ways for people to connect with Jewish traditions, community, and one another. Federation encourages participants to register their plans so that every Shabbat connection can be counted as part of the community-wide effort.
“Imagine thousands of people across Jewish Palm Beach pausing on the same Friday night to celebrate the beauty of the Sabbath, each in their own way, while knowing they are part of something much larger,” said Michael Hoffman, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
“This is an opportunity to bring our community together and demonstrate the extraordinary strength, connection, vibrancy, and inclusivity of Jewish life here.”
Participating synagogues and Jewish organizations throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast will offer dinners, services, informal gatherings, and other Shabbat experiences on November 6, with additional opportunities planned in the weeks leading up to Shabbat Across. Programs will be updated at jewishpb.org/shabbatacross as the date nears.
Community members can participate in three ways:
Host: Set an intimate table for two or a large celebration by inviting family, friends, neighbors, or someone new. From a traditional dinner to pizza by the pool, hosts are encouraged to create an experience that feels meaningful to them.
Attend: Join another person’s dinner or a program hosted by a synagogue or Jewish organization.
Shabbat Your Way: Light candles with family, share challah or wine with friends, have pizza on the beach, attend services, or create a quiet moment at home. If it’s Shabbat to you, it counts.
Registered hosts can also receive a special Shabbat Across host gift, while supplies last, including a challah cover and candles created in Federation’s partnership region in Israel.
Families with young children who gather with at least two other Jewish families may be eligible for a $100 PJ Library Get Together Grant, while OneTable offers young adult hosts inspiration, resources, and reimbursement for eligible Shabbat meal expenses.
The Shabbat Across web page offers resources to make participating easy for people at every stage of Jewish life, including those celebrating Shabbat for the first time.
To be counted as part of Shabbat Across, community members are encouraged to register their participation at jewishpb.org/shabbatacross. The website also includes a map of community Shabbat experiences, participating organizations, hosting resources, and additional details.
