Posted on Thu, Mar. 06, 2003

Bay Area Jews Joining National Shabbat Services
SONGS, PRAYERS AND DINNER ARE INCLUDED; FOCUS ON THOSE SERVING IN U.S. MILITARY
By Lisa Fernandez

As fear of terror abounds and talk of war increases, Jewish institutions throughout the country, including 10 in the Bay Area, are participating in a service Friday underscoring the importance of faith in God.

More than 600 synagogues, Jewish centers and university Hillels nationwide have joined the New York-based Shabbat Across America program, inviting unaffiliated Jews to participate in Friday night services with songs, prayers and a traditional Shabbat dinner of chicken and matzo ball soup. Any Jew or synagogue can celebrate on their own, even if they haven't signed up with the program.

In the Bay Area, participating places of worship include Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos, Chabad Lubavitch houses in San Francisco and Berkeley, and Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City.

Of about 5.5 million Jews in the United States, program organizers say, only 1 million observe Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, each Saturday. Shabbat means no work, no shopping, no cooking, no cleaning -- essentially staying away from the daily grind in order to simply rest.

``We're so busy running, running, running, hooked up to our cell phones and pagers and e-mails,'' said Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, program director of the event sponsor, National Jewish Outreach Program. ``We don't get to take a step back and get a perspective on life.''

Rosenbaum admits that this is an effort to entice non-observant Jews into the fold.

``Maybe if they get a taste, they'll want to come back for more,'' he said.

The focus of this year's event is on the role the U.S. military may have in Iraq.

An emphasis will be placed on the Jewish men and women in the military -- estimates are that they comprise 1 percent -- who may be called to fight Saddam Hussein.

Rabbi Kalman Dubov is hosting a Friday night service at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska (55th Wing) where he is stationed, counseling the 15 to 25 Jewish families who are there.

Dubov says war should never be taken lightly.

``I would hope there's a degree of recognition that the world community is facing serious considerations since 9/11,'' Dubov said in an interview from his base. ``The United States has been exposed to terrorism, and now the question is how to respond both ethically and morally. The reality is that people may be dying, bodies may be being shipped home in bags. This isn't going to be a picnic. We need to know what is our moral responsibility. Who are we as Jews?''