Rabbi Dean reminds us that “our name challenges us to make the right choice, the hard choice, the choice of character.” Our TBH leadership strives to meet that challenge, but sometimes we find it a struggle. It is not always easy to determine the right thing to do. The choices we make are not always the best choices or even the right choices, but with the guidance of Rabbi Dean, we do our best to make our choices in accordance with our Jewish values.
The Covid 19 pandemic has created and still creates unprecedented challenges. Now that vaccines are available to anyone over 5 years old, and booster shots are available for our most vulnerable, can we meet together in person? How long will we need to require masks? When can we resume our onegs? Will we be able to eat together for our community seder? What about Purim? We really don’t know. We, our Executive Board and our Reopening Committee along with Rabbi Dean, plan to resume in-person Shabbat services combined with Zoom access on December 3, the 6th night of Hanukkah. Will we meet this goal? I like to think so. We know that we will need to require proof of vaccination and masks, but we also know that Man plans and God laughs. After the pandemic shutdown that was supposed to last 2 weeks or at most 2 months and has lasted almost 2 years, I look forward to coming together in person and on Zoom to celebrate the miracle of the oil that was supposed to last 1 day and lasted 8 days. Federal, state, and county guidelines along with the judgment of our Reopening Committee and Board will determine how we move forward from here. I pray that we make the right choices.
From the President – Nov. 19, 2021
November 19, 2021 by tbhrich • president
Rabbi Dean reminds us that “our name challenges us to make the right choice, the hard choice, the choice of character.” Our TBH leadership strives to meet that challenge, but sometimes we find it a struggle. It is not always easy to determine the right thing to do. The choices we make are not always the best choices or even the right choices, but with the guidance of Rabbi Dean, we do our best to make our choices in accordance with our Jewish values.
The Covid 19 pandemic has created and still creates unprecedented challenges. Now that vaccines are available to anyone over 5 years old, and booster shots are available for our most vulnerable, can we meet together in person? How long will we need to require masks? When can we resume our onegs? Will we be able to eat together for our community seder? What about Purim? We really don’t know. We, our Executive Board and our Reopening Committee along with Rabbi Dean, plan to resume in-person Shabbat services combined with Zoom access on December 3, the 6th night of Hanukkah. Will we meet this goal? I like to think so. We know that we will need to require proof of vaccination and masks, but we also know that Man plans and God laughs. After the pandemic shutdown that was supposed to last 2 weeks or at most 2 months and has lasted almost 2 years, I look forward to coming together in person and on Zoom to celebrate the miracle of the oil that was supposed to last 1 day and lasted 8 days. Federal, state, and county guidelines along with the judgment of our Reopening Committee and Board will determine how we move forward from here. I pray that we make the right choices.
We are Temple Beth Hillel.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Michael R Cohen, President, Temple Beth Hillel