The Shabbos Project, an effort to get the world’s Jews to celebrate one Shabbat together which was introduced in South Africa in 2013 went Global in 2014 and begins this year at sundown on Friday, Oct. 23.

The beauty of the Shabbos Project is that it has the potential to unite Jews on an unprecedented scale. It transcends all differences in ideology, outlook and affiliation, and brings all manner of Jews together in a deeply meaningful way. The Great Big Challah Bake element of the project is a great example of this.

In the Chicago area, The Great Big Chicago Challah Bake (a women-only event) will take place on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 pm) at the Holiday Inn North Shore in Skokie. While last year saw several successful Challah bake events, this year everyone agreed to join together for an evening of unity, inspiration, and fun.

Congregations and organizations throughout Chicagoland have events planned for the entire Shabbat, culminating with Saturday evening Havdalah events. Of course home hospitality can be easily arranged for anyone wishing to spend Shabbat with a family as part of the group or community event.

Other cities are organizing events ranging from cholent cook-offs to havdalah concerts.The Project’s website includes a guide to celebrating Shabbat and a “coaching” system for those wanting to learn and teach about Shabbat.

Well-known participants this year will include Paula Adbul, Sen. Joe Lieberman, and Neshama Carlebach. In 2014, some 1 million Jews in more than 460 cities in 65 countries worldwide participated in The Shabbos Project- across North, Central, and South America, Europe, and Australia and in China, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola and, of course, Israel; one concert in Argentina boasted 13,000 attendees.

Early registration is suggested as space is limited.For more information, to sponsor, to volunteer and to register for The Great Big Chicago Challah Bake and other Chicago Shabbos Project events, visit www.ShabbosprojectCHI.com, email [email protected] or call (224) 735-0015. For Shabbat hosting throughout Chicagoland, contact [email protected].

For general Shabbos Project information, visit the Shabbos project’s general website theshabbosproject.org.