Shabbat by the Sea
The Most Memorable Experiences Are the Ones We Don't Expect
By Josh Lewis | August 8, 2026
Image by Josh Lewis
Last night I attended my first Shabbat. Not because I'm Jewish, but because friends invited us.
Our friends and neighbors, Robin and Luanne, invited us to join a Shabbat by the sea hosted by comedian Judy Gold. Judy spoke about her hope of creating a chain of community here, a place for Torah, the High Holidays, reflection, and connection.
We aren’t Jewish, and this was a completely new experience for us. So we simply came with open minds and embraced every ounce of it.
As the sun began to set over the water, we sat surrounded by neighbors and new friends, listening to stories, prayers, reflections, laughter, and introductions. There were hugs between people who knew each other and hugs between people who had only just met.
Every faith has its own ways of creating space to stop, reflect, give thanks, remember those we’ve lost, and feel connected to something larger than ourselves. There was something incredibly beautiful about being welcomed into someone else’s tradition and realizing how familiar those feelings can be.
And then, because apparently even spiritual moments need comic relief, a gentleman began telling a touching story about his mother, who had passed away, and how he had recently been seeing cardinals that made him feel she was still near.
I was completely drawn into the story.
And at that exact moment, a bird shit on me.
I said nothing. I quietly leaned over and asked our friends for some napkins.
Maybe it was God’s funny way of reminding me He was there. Or perhaps Neil’s mother was giving the goy at Shabbat a little smack to make sure I was paying attention.
Either way, I’ll remember it.
The homemade challah was warm, the sunset was beautiful, and the welcome was even warmer.
We came as guests to a tradition that wasn’t ours, and left grateful that someone had invited us into it.
As someone who studies experiences for a living, I realized something.
The evening wasn't memorable because it was perfectly planned.
It was memorable because people made room for strangers.
They shared stories instead of performances.
They invited us into a tradition without expecting us to already understand it.
Whether it's a faith community, a museum, a winery, a neighborhood gathering, or a business, people rarely remember the logistics.
They remember how welcomed they felt.
That's what creates belonging.
That's what brings people back.
Thank you, Robin and Luanne, for bringing us along, and thank you, Judy, for creating a space where community could grow, one introduction, one story, one laugh, one hug, and apparently one very well timed bird at a time. ❤️
About Josh Lewis:
Josh Lewis is a brand strategist and creative director helping consumer brands grow through branding, retail experiences, merchandising, and customer experience.
