Mark your calendars for a new and exciting event coming soon to our community. One Shabbat: One CommUNITY will take place the weekend of December 12-13, 2025.  This collaborative initiative is designed to unite individuals, families, and organizations throughout the greater Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien Jewish communities. 

This event will mark the culmination of a year-long planning process among a diverse, broadly represented group of community members, dubbed the “Big Idea” committee. Together, this group met frequently, responded to surveys, and brainstormed ideas to bring the entire community together. This in-depth process generated the idea for One Shabbat: One CommUNITY.  The weekend will have two components: first, celebrating Shabbat, a day  observed across the spectrum of Jewish backgrounds; and second, a Havdalah pre-Chanukah celebration and community-wide party.

For the Shabbat portion of the weekend, each participating community organization has been invited to submit a brief grant application to United Jewish Federation for funding their own inclusive Shabbat celebration. The celebration of Shabbat can occur during the 25 hours of Shabbat, such as through enhanced Shabbat services, or before Shabbat even starts, such as by funding an art project with a Shabbat theme.  In the October and November editions of the New Jewish Voice, more will be shared about each organization’s celebration, which will be open to all.

The second component of the weekend focuses on UNITY and coming together through community collaboration.  Plans are underway for the community to join together for a Saturday night celebration of Havdalah and Chanukah, which starts the following evening.  Committees are being created to plan an event that will be built by all of our wonderful community organizations.  Community members are serving on committees focusing on food, décor, entertainment and more.

“This initiative was built on feedback from the community to increase feelings of connection, spirituality, and joy in Jewish life. As Jews face challenges at home and abroad, now is the time to celebrate what unites us,” shared Rob Hoff, chair of the Big Idea committee that helped build and define this initiative.

For more information, contact Jillian Moore, Director of Engagement and Programming at Jillian@ujf.org.