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INTRODUCTION 
Symphony of Candles is a project that will document first-hand the weekly Jewish observance of Shabbat in communities around the world. Through photographs and essays, as well as Internet-hosted audio and video, Symphony of Candles will present a two-year study of the Sabbath and the people who keep it close to their hearts.
"The seventh day is like a palace in time, with a kingdom for all. It is not a date, but an atmosphere." - Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Too often in modern American life, Friday night stands simply as the doorway to the weekend. Energy is often directed toward the pursuit of diversion instead of spiritual reflection and appreciation of family and community. The vitality of Shabbat in the United States has been diluted over the years, allowing the moment to pass all too easily. This de-emphasis can be seen in other aspects of Judaism as well: inter-marriages are up, while synagogue attendance is down. The underlying reality of these symptoms is simple -- the concept of Jewish community in this country is slowly fading. As any Jewish renaissance must begin within the home, fostered by families, Symphony of Candles will take its audience inside many homes around the world, showing how people devoted to their religion -- and Shabbat in particular -- arrange their lives around their beliefs. Unlike most other Jewish holidays, which occur mainly in synagogues, Shabbat is welcomed into one’s own haven. This leads to myriad interpretations of its observance, and leaves countless forms of piety in its wake. The power of Symphony of Candles lies in the simple illustration that people across the globe are lighting Shabbat candles at roughly the same time each week -- an overwhelming act of unification within the Jewish community.
"(Shabbat) gives us a completely different perspective on all of life's difficulties. It allows us to heal, to reflect, to give thanks and to face whatever lies ahead with a renewed sense of calm." - Rabbi Naomi Levy
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Visualize children in schools across the country getting online to participate in a Jewish adventure; with the click of a button, they will be able to sweep the globe, pinpoint a country and instantly be transported into Jewish life there. Web pages will tell individual tales of disparate family lives; how Elana in Bombay assists her grandmother with the children's weekly baths before the candles are lit; how Raia in Bukhara must exchange vegetables from her family garden for fresh cuts of meat from the Kosher butcher on the outskirts of town; how Amir sings in the choir for the Sabbath ceremony at his synagogue in Mexico City. Photographs, as well as audio and video clips, illustrate stories of the hardship and splendor in these diverse communities, capturing moments of family tenderness and deep spirituality. Through each article a picture is painted, not only of how these families celebrate their Judaism, but how they celebrate their lives. According to Nora Contini, associate publisher of Jewish Community Online, approximately 10-percent of all people online are Jewish, with half of the Jews in America wired to the Internet. Working with Rabbi Glen Koransky and Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito, California, Symphony of Candles will be available free of charge to educational organizations so that entire schools may follow along online as travels are completed. As students follow the Web site, they will learn not only about Sabbath traditions, but about a wide array of global Jewish cultures. Instilling a connection between Western youth and Jewry throughout the world will shorten the distance between Jewish children and their heritage. As the candles are lit, interest will be sparked for the next generation to continue the Sabbath tradition. Symphony of Candles seeks to represent a variety of Jewish belief systems, and will not incorporate a specific religious agenda. Through a variety of lesson plans, the target audience for this project is students in fourth grade through high school. Symphony of Candles is also aimed at families and others who want to enrich their own Shabbats through the knowledge of Shabbats around the world. There are numerous objectives connected to this project:
"My guiding principal in bringing Shabbat more closely into our family life has been to look for what is peaceful, restful, enjoyable and special." - Susan Tamar Joanis
COLLABORATIONS
These organizations are working with Symphony of Candles:
"Create one day a week when children can taste the world as a place perfected." - Rabbi Daniel Gordis
EVALUATION
Upon the completion of the primary leg (five months covering North America and the Caribbean), Symphony of Candles will meet with its advisory committee to review work already completed and to identify potential areas of improvement in the areas of :
The project outline will be adapted to meet the findings of the committee. The results of these meetings will be made available to all funders. The Symphony of Candles advisory committee at this time consists of Lee Shulman, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning; Judy Shulman, director of WestEd’s Institute for Case Development; Tehiya Day School’s head of school Steven Tabak; Neill Brownstein; and Linda Brownstein.
"For my (husband) and me, Shabbat symbolizes the covenant we have made with each other to build a Jewish home together." - Rabbi Debra Cantor
KEY STAFF
Photographer Laura Turbow is an award-winning photojournalist. She holds a B.A. in English and Photography from Tulane University. Her background includes a staff position at the Des Moines Register in Iowa. She is a recipient of a monetary grant from the Guild at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center, involving photographic portraits and transcribed oral histories of the Center’s residents. The exhibit of this work is on permanent display at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center. Writer Jason Turbow has eight years' experience as a journalist, with work appearing in publications such as Mountain Sport & Fitness, Investors Business Daily, Blue Magazine, the Oakland Tribune and the Santa Cruz Sentinel. His work regularly appears in the Northern California Jewish Bulletin. He acquired extensive experience in Internet journalism as a producer at Snap Online, and holds a B.A. in Journalism and Fine Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"If you will it, it is no dream." - Theodore Herzel
SPONSORING AGENCY: THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE GREATER EAST BAY
The JFGEB is the central organizing body dedicated to building Jewish community, to nurturing the quality of Jewish life, and to securing a Jewish future in the East Bay, in Israel, and around the world. In fulfilling its purposes and programs, Federation embodies a primary commitment:
The Federation strives for the creative transmission of Jewish learning and culture, and of those values, practices and traditions which enrich Jewish life and Jewish identity, and which sustain Judaism and the Jewish people.
"Throughout Jewish history, the observance of Shabbat has served as a manifestation of human dignity." - Machar Online
TIME LINE AND METHODS
The research for Symphony of Candles will take two years, covering over 100 cities worldwide. The goal of documenting one Shabbat each week will offer five days for travel, regional exploration, background research for each story, the establishment of contacts and the confirmation of guides and translators. Various communities along the route have already been contacted, all of which have been enthusiastic in their support of the project. Communities of all sizes will be visited, including those which may not feel in touch with the rest of the worldwide Jewish population. It is understood that many communities will be opposed to photography during the Sabbath celebration. Several options will be available under these circumstances: photographing the Sabbath preparation, as well as ancillary services such as Havdallah, can be as valuable as photographing the service itself, in that the goal of illustrating global Jewish diversity will be met. These instances will serve to round out the complete Sabbath experience.
"What was created on the seventh day? Tranquillity, serenity, peace and repose." - Genesis rabba
RESOURCES AND FUNDING
Symphony of Candles is currently submitting proposals to foundations and corporations across the country. For more information, contact: donations@symphonyofcandles.com The project is also seeking corporate sponsorship and donations from numerous resources whose interests coincide with our own.
"Lecha dodi likrat kala, p'nei shabbat n'kablah." (Come, my love, to greet the Shabbat Queen.) - Shabbat song
BUDGET
As much of this budget as possible will be underwritten by corporate donations. Companies presently targeted include American Airlines, El Al, Canon Camera, AT&T, Federal Express and IBM.
*Items sought for specific corporate donations, totaling $95,050. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||