Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
It was wonderful to be together last week for Erev Shabbat services. For the first time since March of 2020, we were able to pray together in our synagogue. We were all masked, vaccinated, and boosted and there was no oneg, but we were together both in person and online. The technology needed to share our service with those who joined online is new to us and we have much to learn, but I hope we were able to make our observance meaningful for all. Thank you Rabbi Dean and Cantor Shayndel and a special thank you to Lucinda Casson who shared her expertise and knowledge so we could establish the protocols to help us gather safely and to Louise Snitz, who has been maintaining our vaccine registry.
However, as I have written many times during this pandemic, “Man plans and God laughs.” Just as we thought it was ending, along came Omicron. Once again we have difficult decisions to make. We must stay as safe as possible, but we also need each other in this rather stressful time.
As of now, we are planning to continue our hybrid Shabbat services and we are even planning a Covid safer Purim get together, but nothing is certain. We will continue to plan out of optimism, hope, and faith, but we must be flexible and adapt to constantly changing circumstances and maintain the health and safety of all of us as our top priority. I am confident that with dedication, creativity, patience, and faith we can get through this.
From the President – Dec. 23, 2021
December 23, 2021 by tbhrich • president
Hineh mah tov umah na’im shevet achim gam yachad!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
It was wonderful to be together last week for Erev Shabbat services. For the first time since March of 2020, we were able to pray together in our synagogue. We were all masked, vaccinated, and boosted and there was no oneg, but we were together both in person and online. The technology needed to share our service with those who joined online is new to us and we have much to learn, but I hope we were able to make our observance meaningful for all. Thank you Rabbi Dean and Cantor Shayndel and a special thank you to Lucinda Casson who shared her expertise and knowledge so we could establish the protocols to help us gather safely and to Louise Snitz, who has been maintaining our vaccine registry.
However, as I have written many times during this pandemic, “Man plans and God laughs.” Just as we thought it was ending, along came Omicron. Once again we have difficult decisions to make. We must stay as safe as possible, but we also need each other in this rather stressful time.
As of now, we are planning to continue our hybrid Shabbat services and we are even planning a Covid safer Purim get together, but nothing is certain. We will continue to plan out of optimism, hope, and faith, but we must be flexible and adapt to constantly changing circumstances and maintain the health and safety of all of us as our top priority. I am confident that with dedication, creativity, patience, and faith we can get through this.
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