Shabbat candles. Photo: Olaf.herfurth via Wikimedia Commons.
The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in New York City is hoping to set the Guinness World Record for the largest Shabbat dinner in history by inviting thousands of people to join a Shabbat meal set for November.
The temple, in partnership with the UJA Federation of New York, announced on Monday that its goal is to gather 3,000 people of all ages for a Shabbat dinner on Nov. 21 at the North Javits center in Manhattan. The event is aptly being called “The BIG Shabbat.” Tickets go on sale Aug. 11, and all ticket holders will automatically be entered into a lottery to win two roundtrip flights and stays in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The winner of the lottery will also have the honor of placing a note in Jerusalem’s Western Wall on behalf of everyone attending “The BIG Shabbat” celebration.
Attendees must check into the event by 6:30 pm and remain physically present at the dinner and participate – including children – until 8:30 pm in order to be counted toward the Guinness World Record, according to the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center. A Guinness World Record judge will attend the event with a team to verify the number of attendees who remain seated at the dinner for one hour.
In 2014, Tel Aviv’s “White City Shabbat” set the Guinness World Record for the largest Shabbat dinner in history with 2,226 guests. The following year, Berlin set a new record by hosting a Shabbat dinner with 2,322 attendees. The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center and the UJA Federation New York want to break that record in New York City, which is the second largest Jewish city in the world.
The event is open to members of the Jewish community as well as individuals who are not Jewish. “Whether you’re cultural, spiritual, (un)affiliated, or just curious, join us for a historic night in New York City,” reads a description of the event on its website. “Break bread, break the record, and come together as one proud community.”
“The BIG Shabbat” in New York City will start with appetizers, live music, and entertainment before guests take their seat for a certified kosher vegetarian dairy dinner, served family-style and prepared by a team of 10 chefs, 45 chef assistants, and 156 servers. The menu is curated by Jewish chefs and cookbook authors Jake Cohen, Beejhy Barhany, Joan Nathan, and Adeena Sussman. There will also be live music after dessert and the event will officially end at 10 pm. There will be activities for children and kid-friendly menu options.
The nearby Hudson Yards Synagogue, formerly known as West Side Jewish Center, is hosting a Shabbat prayer service that people can attend before the Shabbat dinner. After the service, a group will walk together from the synagogue to North Javits for the Shabbat meal.
The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center said it is working closely with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the security team at the North Javits center to ensure the safety of all attendees. There will also be a “thorough screening process” at the entrance of the event and security personnel will be stationed throughout the venue.
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Author: Shiryn Ghermezian
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