Message From The Rabbi

Rabbi Rachael Miller

I love when our Temple Emanu-El teens get excited about an idea. This Friday night their idea will come to life for the second time as they Share Shabbat with their friends – Jewish and non-Jewish alike.  

The concept is simple: Invite one to three of their non-Jewish friends to, you guessed it, Share Shabbat. Together, everyone will have a Shabbat dinner, attend services, and hopefully take one step closer toward building deeper connections. In doing so, the goal is that everyone involved, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will feel more connected to the community, and thus more willing to speak up when they see or hear things that are unkind toward the Jewish community. 

The concept is straightforward: Invite one to three non-Jewish friends to participate in Share Shabbat. Together, they will enjoy a Shabbat dinner, attend services, and ideally, move a step closer to fostering deeper connections. The aim is for all participants, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to build relationships that ensure we cultivate allies and friends for the future. 

But here’s the great thing about sharing Shabbat…we can all do it. Shabbat is a wonderful way to share something you love with a neighbor. Whether you invite them to your home for dinner or see if they would be interested in seeing a Shabbat service (in a non-proselytizing way, of course). Shabbat is a wonderful way to show Jewish pride and let people know that we’re not a group that will let ourselves be “othered.”  

While the dinner is just for our high school students, Shabbat services are ready to be shared. Invite a friend, or two, or three, and we will see you Friday night. 

Here’s a link for teens to register for Shabbat dinner: https://templeemanuelatlanta.shulcloud.com/event/share-shabbat1.html 

Shavua Tov, 

Rabbi Rachael