Re: Shabbos Project (Oct. 10)

After reading testimonies from people all over the world regarding their participation in the Shabbos Project, allow me to submit mine.

I am a Narragansett, 63-year-young wife, mother, grandmother and retired teacher.

Always searching to develop my Jewish connection and identity, I have been honored that 20 local people ages 7 months to 69, including my daughter and granddaughters, will be sharing a “KEEPING IT TOGETHER” Shabbos. When we talked about sharing a Shabbos together, their “YES, YES” response was without hesitation. They are all bringing a favorite food item and their own enthusiasm to share.

My husband and I will “skip the gym” next week, and move furniture out of our living room to set a cozy, heimish table for 20.

I have been using the Shabbos Project sites, thanks to Providence Kollel Rabbi Raphie Schochet’s constant communications. For further guidance, I joined a terrific Shabbos Project Touro Synagogue committee with Rabbi Mandel in Newport. I used the Shabbos Project website and a compilation of a user friendly guide that a committee person kindly put together with a plethora of copy and pasted Hebrew/Transliterated/English prayers, suggested traditions to follow, inspirational stories, ice breakers, Noach Torah study discussion text with questions, and songs to sing. Some of us are attending a Great Rhode Island Challah Bake in Providence on Oct. 23.

I once learned that a big part of Shabbos is the joyous anticipation and earnest preparation for the next Shabbos, and I am certainly experiencing this wonderful phenomenon as we get closer to Oct. 24.

Gramma Shelley Parness

Narragansett, R.I.