'Wendy's Shabbat' is the modern Jewish tradition
Ring in the Sabbath with french fries and a frosty
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MOVIES Documentary
For Jewish people around the world, bringing in the Sabbath with a special Friday night dinner is a staple tradition. In Sun City, CA, a group of retirees traded the typical wine and challah for a frosty and french fries at their weekly fast-food Shabbat service. Filmmaker Rachel Myers follows her 88-year-old grandmother, Roberta Mahler's, habitual practice in her hit documentary, 'Wendy's Shabbat.'
The film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York, and the crowd was utterly kvelling. As a modern take on what it means to be Jewish, 'Wendy's Shabbat' shows a cultural bond that is deeper than the deep-fried food. Led by Isaiah Zeldin, perhaps the oldest practicing rabbi in the country, this feast proves it doesn't matter where you are or what you are eating, all that matters is how you practice.
Loved This >> Octogenarians do Shabbat at Wendys, led by a 97-year-old rabbi. https://t.co/TM5wkBkzl8
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) April 22, 2018
“Am I religious? No, I’m traditional,” Mahler said in the film. It's a sentiment that has become commonplace in many Jewish homes around the country. The practice is the root of the religion, and Shabbat is about surrounding yourself with loved ones and paying homage to the history. “Living by yourself and having a group going to Wendy’s, it gives you a feeling of belonging,” Mahler said.