The Shabbos Project Is Spreading Salvation for the New Year

Our hearts are filled with both hope and trepidation in these days preceding the great yom hadin. As we reflect on the last year, the potential severity of our upcoming judgment is all too clear. The tragic events of October 7, 2023/Simchas Torah 5784 and the ensuing calamitous war are a stark reminder of just how much is at stake on the awesome days that are almost upon us.

In the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah last year, everyone was discussing the fact that the yom hadin would fall on Shabbos, which meant we wouldn’t be zocheh to the great mitzvah of tekias shofar. It is well-known that the Minchas Ani, Rav Yaakov Ettlinger, noted that on a year that we do not have tekias shofar, there can be a tremendous kitrug on Klal Yisrael, and our only hope is to tap into the tremendous power of shmiras Shabbos, which would serve as a great defender against the Sitra Achra.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have to wait long to see those prophetic words come to fruition; just a few Shabbosim into the new year, our nation was dealt the heaviest physical blow since the Holocaust. Many of our gedolim connected the dots: shmiras Shabbos played a major role. Numerous stories of communities that were shomer Shabbos being spared from the avalanche of terrorists filled the papers. We were all heartbroken—and many of us accepted upon ourselves new levels of sanctifying Shabbos Kodesh.

Seizing the momentum

As this gigantic wave of shmiras Shabbos swept through our nation, the population of struggling youth in the Lakewood community took this trend to heart in a very serious way. Large numbers of these heilige neshamos accepted upon themselves to keep the first Shabbos after Yom Tov, Shabbos Parshas Bereishis, as a zechus for their fellow Yidden suffering in Eretz Yisrael who were either mourning loved ones, fighting on the battlefield, or languishing in captivity in the terror tunnels below Gaza.

The Lakewood Shabbos Project seized the momentum and launched a new program: all teens who were willing to keep Shabbos for six weeks would be flown to Orlando, Florida, for a grand Shabbaton. Over 20 boys made it to the finish line and enjoyed a heartwarming Shabbos in Orlando with their friends and rebbe’im.

In the weeks and months following this groundbreaking program, the Lakewood Shabbos Project saw unprecedented growth in shmiras Shabbos among our struggling youth. Many boys who never dreamed of being shomer Shabbos were making serious moves in that direction. Some kept full Shabbosim while others took small steps in the right direction, but the overall mood shift was unanimous: Shabbos was now on the map for all these boys. It was once again on their radar. It became something the boys wanted to be a part of.

One of the participants in the programs shared, “Last year, two thirds of my friends were not keeping Shabbos, but now, post the October 7 tide shift and subsequent Shabbatons, that number has flipped: two thirds of my friends are now shomer Shabbos.”

Throughout the winter months, the Lakewood Shabbos Project kept up a steady flow of enjoyable and uplifting Shabbatons. The numbers of boys visiting the Lakewood Shabbos House on a weekly basis skyrocketed, and many boys started regularly spending Shabbos with the dedicated rebbe’im of Mesivta of Eatontown.

Finally, shortly before Shavuos, the Lakewood Shabbos Project held a grand celebratory trip to Eretz Yisrael honoring the boys who had made a full return to shmiras Shabbos. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, including trips to various gedolim and mekomos hakedoshim, recharging the boys’ spiritual batteries for years to come. The boys came back from the trip inspired to spread the light of shmiras Shabbos among their peers.

Ripple effects

At a summertime parlor meeting graced by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, one of the participants spoke publicly about his experiences. He told of his struggles, openly admitting that he hadn’t kept Shabbos for years. But now, through the help of the Lakewood Shabbos Project, this boy and his friends had made a complete turnaround and even began hosting Shabbatons of their own to help share the light of Shabbos Kodesh. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Beyond Shabbos

Throughout the last year, the Lakewood Shabbos Project has been increasingly active, not only on Shabbosim, but also on all of the Yamim Tovim. In every period of the year, whether it’s midwinter break or the weeks of summer vacation, the Lakewood Shabbos House never shuts down; the project continues with its forward march. Even during weekdays, the dedicated staff members provide copious amounts of chizuk to the boys whenever they need it.

Last Shabbos, the Lakewood Shabbos Project started off the new school year with a bang, hosting an exquisite Shabbaton in upstate New York, attended by 20 boys. The boys delighted in the beauty of Shabbos and got to spend time with their rebbi as well as fresh mentors, who were themselves reintroduced to Shabbos through the program just a short time ago. These new mentors mesmerized the younger boys with their stories of triumph and teshuvah against all odds and expectations.

We have great hopes for this year and are anticipating another grand trip to Orlando in the coming months for the new members who are successful at keeping kabbalos in the realm of shmiras Shabbos. We also hope to replicate our major trip to Eretz Yisrael at the end of the coming year. We are eternally thankful to the Ribono Shel Olam and the Shabbos Project’s supporters throughout the community and beyond who have aided us in altering the lives of so many neshamos and putting them back on the path of a life of yiras Shamayim, success, and fulfillment.

The reports coming in from around town have been heartening. Neighborhoods that were once plagued by almost weekly disturbing incidents of chillul Shabbos have seen these occurrences mostly disappear. Law enforcement have reported that they are seeing far less mischief on the streets of Lakewood on Friday nights. It’s clear that the Lakewood Shabbos Project is one of the vital resources of our community.

Girls’ house

This summer, after years of hard work, the Lakewood Shabbos Project reached new heights by opening the first Shabbos House exclusively for girls, located in Jackson. The girls’ house hosts Shabbatons and focuses on sharing the wave of inspiration of the last 12 months with the struggling teen girls. Although this project is still in its infancy, the results are already heartwarming. We hope to duplicate the success of the boys’ program with the girls’.

A community that cares

It goes without saying that the costs of a project of this scope are astronomical. A trip to Orlando carries a price tag of $25,000. A small Shabbaton in upstate New York can cost $5,000. Just the upkeep of the two weekly Shabbos Houses runs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The Lakewood Shabbos Project relies heavily on the outpouring of support from the unbelievable Lakewood community, who truly understand the immeasurable value of shmiras Shabbos in our midst. The sense of arvus our community members feel for each struggling teen can thaw the coldest heart.

Spreading salvation

Rav Dovid Schustal and the Skulener Rebbe have invested countless hours into the Lakewood Shabbos Project over the last few years. Many Lakewood residents are familiar with the program launched last year, in which the Rosh Yeshivah and the Rebbe davened on behalf of those who donated modest sums to the Lakewood Shabbos Project. Hundreds of families availed themselves of this unique opportunity, and many were zocheh to yeshuos in shidduchim and many other areas.

This year, we have reached out to Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Yisroel Neuman, and Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, and they have all agreed to also contribute hours of tefillah on behalf of the supporters of the Lakewood Shabbos Project. These unparalleled masmidim have deemed it necessary to take precious time out of their jam-packed schedules to contribute to the project. The roshei yeshivah will daven weekly and on the Yamim Nora’im, reciting the names of those who contribute $5 per week.

During these auspicious days, we each need all our tefillos to reach the highest places. Let’s maximize these elevated days and partner with those who are spreading shmiras Shabbos, thereby arming our tefillos with the greatest superpower—Shabbos Kodesh.

Grab this rare opportunity of having our gedolim daven for your hatzlachah and yeshuah for the coming year during the special days of Yamim Nora’im and every week all year round. In the zechus of Shabbos, may you and your family be gebentched with a truly sweet and happy new year.

Please keep an eye out for the envelope and card that are enclosed with this week’s Voice, where you will be able to send your names and those of your loved ones to the roshei yeshivah and the Rebbe. You can also donate and submit names for tefillah by calling 908-SHABBOS or by emailing lakewoodshabbosproject@gmail.com.

Donations can also be given via a secure link at Shabbos.us. Tax-deductible donations can be written out to “Shabbos” and mailed to Rav Dovid Schustal, 641 6th St. #2, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Donors Fund EIN is 271.414.525 Cong. Torah Vachesed. Please write “Shabbos” in the memo.