Shovelling coleslaw by the gallon into bowls wasn’t what I had planned for my day off work but yet I found myself elbow deep in a vat of coleslaw so kindly donated by Nat Jacobs in Edgware for Mill Hill/MMK/Etz Chaim’s Shabbat UK 2015 kiddush/lunch.  This year we wanted to make Shabbat UK even bigger and more accessible to everyone.  At the end of the Summer, a small group of representatives from Mill Hill shul, MMK school and Etz Chaim school sat around a table brainstorming ideas.  We wanted to create a wonderful memorable Shabbat experience for all ages and levels of religious observance.  The Shabbat morning started with an explanatory service led by Rabbi Malcom Herman from Seed held at MMK school, along with children’s activities led by dedicated and highly energetic madrichim.  This was followed by a huge bumper Kiddush/lunch held in a fabulous marquee by Tent Events in the playground of MMK.  The marquee was decorated with beautiful hand crafted challah clothes made by MMK school children. We offered the event at no cost, so that anyone in the community who wished to be inspired by this special Shabbat experience, could do so.   Over 400 people came through the school gates on this Shabbat UK morning.  The atmosphere was electric as the children enjoyed their nosh, the adults enjoyed the hot Chulent and chicken goujons from Silvermans butcher and the bar (with whisky, vodka, gin and wine donated by friends in the community) was almost drunk dry.  Shabbat is a time to disconnect from our everyday lives and enjoy our children, our husbands, wives and friends.  The Chief Rabbi Mervis asked of us to switch off to switch on – Mill Hill did just that.

Natalie Jackson