By COLlive reporter
Jewish people from around the world are invited to join children, teens and adults with special needs for a virtual “Global Shabbat Party” on Thursday, June 11, at 7PM East Coast time.
Sponsored by Friendship Circle International, a project of Chabad-Lubavitch, in corporation with Friendship Circle New Jersey, Friendship Circle Michigan, Friendship Circle Columbus and Friendship Circle Cleveland.
The event will bring families together, virtually, to celebrate the joy of Shabbos in their own homes, and help them ease the isolation they feel amidst the pandemic.
The event was created to help ease the isolation families who have children with special needs feel as they remain at home due to Covid-19 even as restrictions are lifting in many places, organizers told COLlive.com.
Special Shabbos songs were written especially for the program and will be performed during the event by singer Yaakov Shwekey, Shmuly and Bentzi Marcus of the 8th Day band and others.
Master pianist Kodi Lee, who is blind and has autism, and comedian Lee Ridley, aka The Lost Voice Guy who uses a device to speak, will be featured. Both men utilize their unique abilities to shine light on their talents and bring smiles to others.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, often spoke about the beautiful unique abilities individuals with ‘special’ needs have. Similarly, there is nothing more beautiful than the light Shabbat brings into the world each week. Knowing that we could all use a little more comfort, beauty and light in our lives, what better way to celebrate Shabbat and Friendship Circle than to share our Global Shabbat Party with the world,” said Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, CEO of Friendship Circle New Jersey and LifeTown.
“Despite the challenges of doing production during a pandemic, we were able to put together a great lineup of talent and content, through comedy, music and animation,” said the program’s producer Chaim Marcus. “The celebrities we reached out to were so impressed with the program that they went above and beyond and are doing what they can to help.”
Chabad centers and Friendship Circle branches worldwide will have Shabbos kits available for members of their community who are looking to bring the joy of Shabbos into their homes.
The broadcast will stream live at www.GlobalShabbatParty.com
