One People, One Heart. These are words that rippled across the Movement over the past month. Every December a very special event occurs in our sacred Movement that unites millions of Jewish teens from within our Order and beyond- Global Shabbat. 

Global Shabbat is an annual event that occurs on the second Shabbat of December. Global Shabbat is when every BBYO community worldwide comes together as one and celebrates Shabbat in ways that are meaningful to their communities. Despite being separated by distance, teens from across the Order came together to engage in Shabbat together as one people. Global Shabbat is so meaningful to the over 60,000 teens within the movement, because not only does it bring communities together, but it creates lasting change that stands long past a single Shabbos meal together. That was the case in the Wisconsin region this year.

For decades, Global Shabbat has occurred within the safety of WRC, Wisconsin region’s Winter Regional Convention. For years, Global Shabbat was just a traditional havdalah evening to conclude a weekend of fun and adventure at convention with a special speech from the regional board discussing what Global Shabbat is and how the theme connected to teens. This year was different, for the first time in years Wisconsin put on a Fall-Con, a Fall Regional Convention. This left a question in the air, what would become of this year's Global Shabbat activities.  

This year a ground breaking event occurred that truly united the local Jewish community as, One People, with One Heart. 

For the first time a cross collaborative event took place between Wisconsin region BBYO, CTeen MKE, and Friendship Circle. This event was incredible. The event consisted of a candle lighting ceremony to welcome in the Sabbath bride, a home cooked Shabbos meal, the delivering of D’vars, singing, dancing, and my personal favorite, Rabbi’s Tisch. 

A beautiful Rabbi’s Tisch took place with insight from CTeen Rabbi, Rabbi Avremi Schapiro, and Sarah Yonas, Wisconsin’s Regional Director. Together these two communities came together as one to indulge in meaning conversation with one another. Teens were presented the opportunity to ask questions and learn how two sects of Judaism view their topics of interest.

At the end of the evening, all teens were able to ask personal questions regarding stereotypes of different Jewish communities, what their Jewish identity meant to them, and more all from within the safety of a familiar Jewish community. 

As the candles burned lower and the room filled with conversation, it became clear that this Global Shabbat was about far more than a single evening. It was a powerful reminder of what can happen when we choose connection over division. I am proud to have seen two Jewish communities that are so often separated by differences in practice were brought together and inspired teens to welcome all. Through learning from one another, asking meaningful questions, and celebrating Shabbat side by side teens experienced what true Jewish unity can look like.

This Global Shabbat embodied the movement’s message of One People, One Heart in its truest form. It showed teens that despite differing traditions or viewpoints, our shared commitment to Jewish life binds us together. The collaboration between Wisconsin BBYO, C-Teen MKE, and Friendship Circle created more than just a memorable program, it created a vision for what our broader Jewish community can be. Long after the conversations ended and Shabbat concluded, the impact of that night remained. A reminder that when we open our doors and our hearts to one another we strengthen not only our communities, but the future of the Jewish people as a whole.