By Sara Appel-Lennon

On Thursday Nov. 10, three San Diego synagogues served as venues where more than 3,000 people convened to prepare challahs to bake at home and savor during Sabbath the following night.

At Tifereth Israel Synagogue (TI) in San Carlos, 560 men, women and children participated. Since TI’s Silverman Preschool caters to children of all faiths, many of the families who joined in the challah-making fun were not Jewish.

“For some of those people, we may be the first, the only Jewish experience they ever have. We want their Jewish experience to be a positive one,” said TI program director, Beth Klareich.

“I think actually it’s really fun. I had heard a lot about it. This is my first time doing it,” said Marisa Nowicki, age 12.

“This is so darn much fun. I know how to make challah but I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” said 81-year-old Sue Braun.

“It’s fun. We like to eat it so I thought we should come and learn how to make it,” said Candace Ginn.

Other venues hosting the challah bake included the Beth Jacob Synagogue in the College Area where 300 women and girls participated and the San Diego Jewish Academy in North County, where 2,000 people prepared challah. Participants mixed the ingredients, kneaded the dough, and formed them into strands to braid.

The program was partially funded by the Mizel Family Foundation.Other major sponsors included Leichtag Foundation, San Diego Private Bank, South African Jewish American Community, Isakow Foundation, Westfields, The Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Sunroad Automotive, Gerber Goldschmidt/Ellman Family, Northwestern Mutual, The Frank and Lee Goldberg Foundation, Klein Family and the Jewish Community Foundation. There were an additional 26 generous patrons and many more contributors.

The cost was $5 per person or $18 per family.

“[There is] no requirement of observance or knowledge to make the challah,” said Shabbat San Diego cofounder, Selwyn Isakow. “What’s amazing to me is the level of spirituality and enthusiasm created just by people coming together to perform a tradition.

“This is a time when everybody comes together. [Shabbat San Diego] is for everybody who has an interest in Judaism.”

Shabbat refers to the Jewish Sabbath from sundown Friday to Saturday night. It is a sacred day of rest to unplug from cell phones, social media and work to reconnect with relationships.

Challah is a traditional Jewish braided bread for Shabbat and special occasions. It is made from sugar, salt, water, eggs, dry yeast, oil and flour.

“Shabbat Can Do That” was this year’s theme, to encourage all Jewish people to celebrate the Sabbath by participating in Jewish community events — challah-making, Sabbath meals, prayer services and a concert.

Isakow mentioned that when Rabbi Warren Goldstein started the Shabbat program in South Africa three years ago, it drew 50,000 members of the Jewish population of 75,000.

One year later, Isakow and event cofounder, Robyn Lichter introduced the idea of a community Sabbath celebration. In eight weeks, they met and created the first Shabbat San Diego, drawing 10,000 people — one of the world’s largest events.

That same year, 350 cities joined. San Diego staff sponsored the city of Baltimore. Their attendance was 250 in 2014, but skyrocketed to 25,000 in 2015, even surpassing San Diego’s attendance of 15,000.

The Shabbat Project is celebrated in 1,150 cities and more than 90 countries, including Pakistan and Tanzania, in ten languages.

—Sara Appel-Lennon is a creative writing instructor, children’s author and a former professional clown. Her website is sara-appel-lennon.vpweb.com.