by Jennifer Thomas
While many families had the chance to come together for the Thanksgiving and Hanukkah holidays, the Jewish Community Center of Dallas (The J) has created a unique opportunity for families to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season and spend time together.
On Friday, December 13, The J will distribute 500 complimentary “Shabbat in a Bag” to families of all faiths from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their location at 7900 Northaven Rd. in Dallas. Each bag contains Challah bread, a braided loaf that is part of the Shabbat meal, grape juice (representing wine), candles and a special card with all the blessings recited as Shabbat begins. Bags will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Shabbat is a special time for Jewish families to tune out the busy work week and truly come together,” said Artie Allen, The J’s executive director. “As a Dallas friend and neighbor of people of all faiths, we at The J wanted to share the ‘Shabbat in a Bag’ experience with anyone who can appreciate the importance of bringing friends and loved ones together for conversation and a shared meal.”
In Judaism, Shabbat, which is celebrated weekly beginning at sundown on Friday through Sundown on Saturday, is considered a time to stop working, spend time with family and to contemplate the spiritual aspects of life. Shabbat dinners typically include a special braided bread called Challah, wine or grape juice, a lighting of candles and different blessings for each at the beginning of the meal. It’s considered a good deed to invite people into one’s home to break bread and to share Shabbat dinner.
