My Backyard

Participants Join Over 75,000 North American Jews in
Major Effort To Revitalize Sabbath Observance

      Attleboro, MA February 9, 2010 – On Friday night, March 5, 2010 members of the area Jewish community will gather at Congregation Agudas Achim in an unparalleled display of Jewish revitalization and Jewish unity. Conceived and organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) in 1997, Shabbat Across America represents a united effort by the entire Jewish community to renew interest in the fourth of the Ten Commandments – observing a weekly day of rest (Shabbat in Hebrew).

     Agudas Achim will be one of approximately 700 synagogues across the continent that will simultaneously open its doors to practicing and non-practicing Jews alike, so they may join together to experience and rejoice in a traditional Shabbat service and festive meal. Over 600,000 people have participated in Shabbat Across America/Canada in the past. Led by Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, attendees will experience an interactive Friday night Service and a Shabbat dinner with all the rituals explained. The event will begin at 5:45 pm with a Candle lighting and Family Service geared to families with young children, followed by a catered Community Dinner at 6:30 pm and a Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm.  Reservations are required for the dinner portion of the evening and should be made through the synagogue office by calling 508-222-2243.  Cost for dinner is $15 per adult and $5 for children ages 5-12.  There is a $35 family cap.

     Located at 901 North Main Street in Attleboro, Congregation Agudas Achim has over 115 family members from the Southeastern Massachusetts and North Rhode Island Jewish community. Since 1911, Agudas Achim has been an innovator in Jewish programming and education. This is their 13^th year participating in the Shabbat Across America/Canada program.