It's about a group of Jewish senior citizens in Palm Desert, California who celebrate the weekly Shabbat at the local Wendy’s fast food restaurant with Hebrew blessings over burgers and fries.
The friends usher in the Sabbath by candlelight, with challah bread and grape juice (no wine at Wendy's) to complement their chicken nuggets and fries. Shabbat is typically observed at home with family, but here these seniors share in the celebration of their religion at Wendy’s. The Wendy’s staff, somewhat tickled and honored to be the site of such ritual, arrange the restaurant tables into a long row and prepare milkshakes for each attendee.
This is a story of rediscovering the joys of community again in older age, and in the longing for ritual, however unorthodox and non-kosher it may be. There are themes of love, of ritual and of community -- all within the context of an adorable scene at Wendy’s.
The film will be shown at nine Jewish film festivals in 2018.
Enjoy and Shabbat shalom.
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Celebrating Shabbat by eating treif.And under the guidance of a "rabbi" How sad.
ReplyDeleteRitual without the Torah is supposed to be heartwarming?????These are Neshomas yearning for Yiddishkeit and settling for continuing on the path of anti-Torah
Ouch, that's mean. These wonderful folks are maintaining ritual and celebrating Shabbat, despite old age and infirmities. Cut them some slack.
DeleteThe rabbi (Zeldin) founded one of the largest Reform congregations in the country, one of which I am a proud (convert) member. Many older adults face isolation from friends and family. This space provided for community and celebration, and should be lauded, not criticized. Rabbi Zeldin recently passed away, and I hope that someone can fill his place.
DeleteOnce upon a time I would have seen it from your eyes, defending tradition, Jewish Law etc, and thought this was dreadful. But I discovered over the years that kosher is not any more humane than any other way of getting animal food, and life will go on, kosher or not. Although I have to say...the addition of milkshakes to the meal...now that just isn't right LOL...but having worked with older people 25+ years, and becoming older myself, bless them all for doing this and keeping themselves healthy and alive. LIghten up. One day you may be among them...
DeleteSo nice, to have traditions, prayers, and belonging and togetherness as we age. We appreciate friends more, as families are so busy with after school activities, that traditions are given up for sports events, etc.
ReplyDeleteHorrible. Eating treif foods for a Jewish holiday. Truly disgusts me. Shame on the website for showing this
ReplyDeleteJust as simple as googling kosher places in town. Being a Jew is a full time committment, not a pick and choose thing. Hmmm. I think I will be a good American, but rob a bank when I need money but hey!! I can be good again tomorrow.
Of course it’s not how to celebrate Shabbat. But instead of criticizing the participants, it’s an indictment of the Jewish community that they don’t provide a kosher alternative. With all the Chabads and JFSs and synagogues of all denominations, how can they let a group of elderly and infirm Jews with a spark of Yiddishkeit feel that the only way they can experience the joys of Shabbat is to celebrate Shabbat at Wendy’s?
DeleteShame on the Jewish community. I hope that this film will be a wake-up call and that one of the organizations who shout “social justice” for non-Jews will create a meaningful, kosher, and fulfilling way for these old Jewish folks to have a weekly wholesome Shabbat experience.
Wonderful that these people DO remember what Shabbat is all about. But it is so sad tha there
ReplyDeleteIs no Jewish organization that can help them to do it in the true traditional way.
They are doing the best they can' Their minds are alert which is a big plus at their ages!!
ReplyDeleteEveryone embraces and celebrates their version of religion(s) as they see fit. This is not many peoples cup of tea...so be it...and they are enjoying themselves...maybe that is just how they want to do it and even if a Jewish organization stepped up, they would still refuse it...Many homeless prefer the street to a shelter...and for all we know, maybe they can order what they want...even vegetarian!
ReplyDelete