The Jewish community on campus is trying to make history and beat the odds by recruiting 1,000 people to attend the "Shabbat 1,000" Dec. 6, making it the largest single Jewish service held in North America.

Shabbat is where those of the Jewish faith gather together on Fridays to welcome in the Sabbath, said Emily Mallin, president of the Student Coordination Committee at the Hillel Foundation, which is organizing the event.

Shabbat 1,000 was attempted at the State University of New York in Binghamton last year - where there is a 50 percent Jewish population - but the attempt failed to meet the goal by about 300 people, she said.

Mallin said the University of Arizona has a 10 percent Jewish population according to admission records.

"That is all the more reason to try and accomplish this historic event," she said.

Elizabeth Millunchick, communications junior, who is selling tickets to the event said, "The Shabbat 1,000 is a fantastic opportunity for people to find out about the cultural and religious aspects of the Jewish faith."

The goal is to sell 1,000 tickets to the Shabbat service that will be followed by a traditional Shabbat dinner in the Memorial Student Union's Arizona Ballroom, Mallin said.

"This is definitely going to be work," she said. "But I really think we're going to meet our goal."

A core group of 200 students began selling tickets three weeks ago and have each pledged to bring at least two other people to the event.

"We tentatively have 600 students attending the event," said Rabbi Yossie Scentov of the Jewish organization of Chabad, who presented the idea to the Hillel Foundation.

He said when he first heard the idea of bringing 1,000 students together for Shabbat services, he did not think this was something that could be done at the UA.

Binghamton's Shabbat "has ten times more students than I have, which made it the perfect reason not to try," he said. "But soon that became the very reason for trying."

Anywhere from 10 to 15 students attend Shabbat services every Friday at the Hillel Foundation, Mallin said.

Kate Speizer, marketing junior, who said she carries five tickets to the event with her at all times, said she got involved because "I wanted to be part of a historical event and I wanted to see the event be successful."

"The event has many pluses to it," she said. "It is a nice time to be with friends and it is a good introduction into the Jewish faith for non-Judaic persons."

Millunchick said the event "will bring more people back to Judaism and back to religion."

Everyone is invited to attend the dinner and religious service, which will cost students $10 and non-students $18, Mallin said. All Aboard cards are also being accepted.

For more information, interested persons can contact the Hillel Foundation at 624-6561.

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