Hundreds of Orlando college students, faculty, staff and community members will gather together for a celebration of Jewish unity at the fourth annual Mega Shabbat on the UCF campus.

The traditional Shabbat Dinner will be held in the Pegasus Ballroom in the Student Union on April 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers. Women will light the Shabbat candles at 7:15 p.m., and the Shabbat dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.

Shabbat 1000 is a project developed by the Chabad on Campus National Foundation. Leaders of Chabad on Campus observed that while many U.S. campuses have active Jewish student organizations, the majority of Jewish college students do not participate in Jewish life on their respective campuses. The goal of the Shabbat 1000 program is to create an annual event that is able to attract the interest of the entire Jewish student body. The program was first held at SUNY Binghamton, and has since been held at Harvard, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, Tulane and many other universities.

"The event has really caught the imagination of the student population here in Orlando," said Rabbi Chaim Lipskier, director of Chabad at UCF. "We have over 50 students working on making this program a success. I really hope that the faculty, alumni and greater Orlando Jewish Community will be able to participate as well, helping to create a greater sense of Jewish community."

"To see hundreds of Jewish students from all walks of life come to spend Shabbat together is very inspiring and renews your faith in the future of the Jewish people! The only way to experience Shabbat 1000 is to be there," said Rivkie Lipskier, program director of Chabad at UCF

"Each year Chabad at UCF hosts an incredible mega Shabbat for the entire campus community! With this year's theme of unity, it is going to the biggest and most exciting one yet," said Avi Yashar, president of the Chabad Jewish Student Group

Ari Hadar, chair of Shabbat 1000 said, "Shabbat 1000 is Chabad at UCF's biggest event of the year, the one that students look forward too. Shabbat 1000 brings the UCF Jewish Community together epitomizing Chabad at UCF's effort in creating one big family."

Shabbat 770, which took place in this month, with Dr. Pizam, dean of the Rosen School of Hospitality, addressing the crowd.

Shabbat 1000 is co-sponsored by Student Government Association, Judaic Studies, UCF Hillel, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Knight-Thon, Knights for Israel and CAMERA.

This event is open to the entire UCF community. For more information or to reserve a seat, please rsvp at http://www.jewishucf.com/shabbat1000

For more information please contact Rabbi Chaim Lipskier at rabbi@jewishucf.com, or 407-310-8876.