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I’ve told you this before. I love Shabbat. I think it is one of the most brilliant of commandments in Jewish observance. It is time to pause the busyness of life and just stop. What a thing to be commanded! I couldn’t think of something more valuable than being asked to stop working and just reconnect-with people, with tradition, with God. Around 3 pm on Fridays, the tenor of the office changes. Yes, we are busy getting ready for services. But no matter in what direction the week has taken all of us, we all have one common destination on Friday afternoon and that is Shabbat. It brings us joy as we prepare to welcome you for kabbalat panim, to exhale and know that our “family” will soon be together to welcome the best part of the week. 

But it’s so hard to turn on a dime and shut off the noise that builds up Sunday through Friday. We need some sort of appetizer, an amuse bouche to excite our spirit and lure it out from its weekday hiding place. A few people have asked me lately to share one of the things I do each week in preparation for Shabbat. Ever since the Live Broadcast feature appeared on FaceBook, I have been using it to reach out to people who also want to have some type of Shabbat touchpoint whether or not they are able to come to services. So, just about every Friday afternoon, some time between 3:30 pm and  5pm, I broadcast live on my FaceBook page something that has come to be known as the Shabbat Schmooze. Friday morning I post on my page what time I’ll be going live. And then at the prescribed time for about 20 minutes, I sing, I talk about Shabbat or the week leading up to it live on my FaceBook page. Sometimes there’s a little Torah, or a special blessing. I’ve been doing it now for 2 years-my weekly regulars, the Schmoozerz, not only check in with me, but also with each other through real-time commenting. We have created a virtual Shabbat community that you are absolutely welcome and encouraged to join. Just friend me on Facebook and watch for my Friday morning posts. Even if you can’t make it live, the video can always be accessed later, whenever Shabbat happens for you. 

I just want to share my Shabbat joy with you in any way possible. So, if you can’t make it to Sinai for services, will you come schmooze with me? I would really love it.

https://www.facebook.com/bethschafermusic

Shabbat Shalom my friends,

Beth