'Reclaiming Shabbat' grants awarded to Valley synagogues, agencies

The Reclaiming Shabbat program supports projects that encourage families with young children to better understand the significance and joy of the Sabbath and are designed to increase participation in observing the Sabbath. The commission allocated $35,000 for Reclaiming Shabbat, which includes $2,000 for promotions and $3,000 for each project, with two exceptions: Temple Chai requested only $2,000 for publicity funding; and Temple Emanuel of Tempe, Temple Beth Shalom of Mesa and the Tri-City Jewish Community Center will receive $7,000 for a cooperative East Valley program.

The 10 projects are:

1. Temple Kol Ami's Shabbaton, budget $5,167, an afternoon program designed to bring together families with limited Jewish skills and commitment, grouping people according to age, for different projects that touch on aspects of Jewish ritual or ceremony.

2. The Bureau of Jewish Education's Lights Home Celebration Program, budget $19,737, coordinated in cooperation with Jewish preschools, religious schools, outreach programs and the Russian resettlement program, in which participating families will receive a 12-month lights checklist and a step-by-step guide and registration packet.

3. Temple Solel's Shabbat at Home Kits, budget $8,500, which will provide families with tools for home use and a workshop to guide them and offer suggestions.

4. Solomon Schechter Day School's Shabbat Enrichment Program, budget $19,625, for families with children in first through third grade, with first-graders exploring the Sabbath through song, second-graders through the theme of Havdalah (the service ending the Sabbath), and third-graders with a mini-retreat themed around family traditions.

5. Temple Chai's Creating Jewish Identity With and For Children, budget $6,500, a brunch and workshop focusing on a variety of Jewish topics and family life, including intermarried families, with Shabbat explored as a significant source of Jewish identity.

6. Temple Beth Israel's Outreach Shabbaton, a day-long event exploring the beauty, history, spirituality and mechanics of Shabbat observance.

7. Tri-City JCC, Temple Beth Shalom and Temple Emanuel's Model Shabbat Dinner and Service, budget $8,750, targeted to young Jewish families in the East Valley, including explanation of the various traditions and rituals, singing songs and the distribution of packets including prayers and candles.

8. Beth El Congregation's Hands on Shabbat, budget $7,800, designed to acquaint parents with the rituals, customs and flow of a Friday evening Sabbath dinner, including songs, chants, hand washing, prayers, food and a packet of materials containing a guide book and cassette tape of blessings and songs.

9. Har Zion Congregation's Celebrate the Shabbat Seder With Us, budget $3,000, which will an expand the existing intergenerational Shabbat program with a monthly seder from March through June, including stories, singing and games for children and the distribution of "The Art of Jewish Living: The Shabbat Seder".

10. Beth Joseph Congregation's Shabbat: The Way We Were, The Way We Are, budget $6,500, pairing unaffiliated participants with host families for Sabbath dinner.