TORONTO – Tens of thousands of Jews gathered for Shabbat dinners at more than 700 locations across North America earlier this month as part of the National Jewish Outreach Program’s (NJOP’s) 12th Annual Shabbat Across America initiative.

Yet this time, people didn’t just meet in-person. Many also connected virtually through the NJOP’s newly created social networking web site, SAA 2.0 (www.shabbatacrossamerica20.org).

Taking a new spin on popular networking sites such as Facebook, SAA 2.0 aims to bring Shabbat to Jews, particularly the younger generation, wherever they are around the world.

“SAA 2.0 democratizes Shabbat, making it accessible to all Jews, allowing each to make it his or her own,” said Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, founder of the NJOP, a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to reaching Jews worldwide through educational courses and experiential programs. “You don’t need to know all the rituals or even the people at your table.

“This site is...designed for members of today’s generation, who live their days increasingly online. According to the Pew Research Center, two thirds of young adults use social networking sites, and we believe SAA 2.0 is just the Shabbat dinner invitation they have been waiting for.”

According to results from a 2001 survey released by the Council of Jewish Federations, of the 5.2 million North American Jews, 2.4 million no longer identify themselves as Jews, 1 million are unaffiliated with any Jewish organizations, and 1.2 million are marginally affiliated, meaning they rarely attend synagogue and have little to do with Jewish life.

“Lots of rabbis are now looking for more ways to reach Jews,” added Susanne Goldstone, coordinator for SAA 2.0 and the NJOP’s regional program coordinator. “This program promotes unity among Jews of all denominations and provides a way for a lot of younger people that are not necessarily comfortable going to a synagogue by themselves or actually making the effort to drive down and go somewhere for an event or class to still be part of the Shabbat experience.”

The site’s users are invited to “sit down and Shabbat up” and join tables for real or virtual Shabbat dinners they can create or get invited to by others from various locations. Tables can revolve around various themes such as book lovers, knitting enthusiasts, or fans of popular television shows.”

Users can invite their friends, or “chosen people” as the site calls them, to share in the experience. They can even invite famous historic or fictional Jewish virtual friends such as scientist Albert Einstein or Tevye the dairyman from Fiddler on the Roof.

Clicking on people’s names reveals more about them, including their religious affiliation, relationship status, likes and dislikes, and even inspirational or funny ‘Shabbat Mottos.’ For example, Tevye the dairyman’s motto states, “If I were a rich man, I’d get my family the chocolate chip challah.” 

Once invited, guests can choose to ‘bring’ different items to the table referred to as ‘things to do’ to make the Shabbat more special. A wide variety of activities can be included: ‘Good Deeds’ (reading a book to a child, helping a friend clean her house); ‘Tribal Rituals’ (making Kiddush over the wine, lighting the Shabbat candles); acts for ‘Self Improvement’ (meditation, learning a new language); taking time to ‘Chill-Out’ (hanging out with friends, not checking e-mail); and bringing ‘Food and Drink’ (chicken soup, challah, wine).

A message board for each table and e-mail features are also available so users can interact more directly.

While it may seem contradictory that a web site is used to encourage more Jews to celebrate the holy day of Shabbat, which typically requires people to take a day of rest and avoid using electricity or perform ‘work’-related activities, the main idea behind the initiative is to reach even the most secular Jews and help them see “how Shabbat could fit into their lives if it never did previously,” explained Ilya Welfeld, the NJOP’s public relations counsel.

Rachel Wormeli, an Orthodox mother of two in her late 20s in Montreal, joined SAA 2.0 after hearing about it from a friend.

“I use the Internet a lot for my work and to keep in touch with friends and family,” said Wormeli. “The web site has given me the opportunity to reach out to others and inform them about the program.

“I decided to participate in the program, because I think there is much potential to an open, unintimidating Shabbat invitation. Having gone through the process of becoming more religious, I like to help others who have questions [about Judaism] or are contemplating a similar path in life.” 

To date, the NJOP has reached more than 990,000 Jews with its innovative programs held in 3,665 locations, including synagogues, community centres, military bases and college campuses in 37 countries.

For more on the NJOP visit www.njop.org.