- Congregation Kol Ami celebrated Shabbat at Rabbi Sam Spector's home.
- The event included Hebrew and English services, Kosher hot dogs and patriotic themes.
- Attendees embraced community spirit, blending Jewish traditions with American Independence Day celebrations.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Fourth of July has arrived, bringing with it barbecue, family reunions, patriotism and the chance to watch fireworks while celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America.
For Jewish Americans, an additional celebration began Friday night: the start of Shabbat, their weekly Sabbath or day of rest.
Rather than gathering in the synagogue in Salt Lake City, members of the Congregation Kol Ami gathered at the home of Rabbi Sam Spector to welcome in Shabbat.
"It's something that our community has been doing for at least eight years," said Jill Spector, wife of Rabbi Sam Spector. "It tends to build community."
Congregation Kol Ami is a synagogue that serves members of both the Reform and Conservative movements. Their Friday evening services are affiliated with Reform Judaism, while their Saturday services are associated with Conservative Judaism.
The evening was filled with calls of "Shabbat Shalom" as members of the congregation gathered and reconnected with friends and family.
"Shalom is peace, which actually in Hebrew also means hello and goodbye," Jill Spector explained. "It literally just means a peaceful Sabbath or a peaceful Shabbat."
Members of all ages gathered around the Spectors' front yard, with children darting back and forth between the congregation as older members spoke together in friendship.
For the rest of the summer, their Friday evening services will rotate among members of the congregation, giving different people the chance to host the Shabbat service.
"That's one of the amazing things about being in Utah," said Danny Burman, executive director of Congregation Kol Ami. "We get out and experience the beauty, we go to different people's homes, and everyone has a different view of the mountains and the trees and the sunset.
Sunset on Friday evening marks the beginning of Shabbat, though in the summertime it can stretch late into the day. Congregation Kol Ami hosts its Friday services earlier in the evening to allow families the chance to interact and eat while the sun is still up.
At sundown, families gather to light candles, signaling that their observance of Shabbat has officially begun.
The Friday evening service was held in both Hebrew and English, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Books were laid out across folding and lawn chairs, ready for a member to pick up and begin singing or praying.
"There's always a chance for renewal, there's always a chance for a fresh start," said Bret Rigby, a member of the Congregation Kol Ami.
Nearly 70 people attended the Friday service, though Burman said they often see as few as 30 weekly attendees as the summer progresses. While the holiday may have brought more members out, Burman credited the location, Rabbi Sam Spector's home, as the main draw for attendees.
While the service focused on welcoming Shabbat, the teachings also referenced the Fourth of July. American flags lined the garden where the congregation met, the topic of freedom was addressed and the final song was sung to the tune of America the Beautiful.
"I think (for) opportunities like the Fourth of July, if we try to focus on what we're celebrating rather than just celebrating, I think that can help us reexamine and reorient," Rigby said.
Rather than a traditional Friday evening meal at the conclusion of the event, members of the congregation roasted Kosher hot dogs and veggie dogs to go along with large trays of coleslaw, potato salad and watermelon slices.
"We're proud to be Jewish and proud to be American," Burman said. "We have decided to continue our ancient tradition here in this land that has been so good to us."
