Rabbi Dean wrote above about tradition, change, and adaptation. Although our change fails to compare with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, COVID-19 has forced us to adapt in ways we couldn’t imagine a few years ago. How many of you were familiar with Zoom in early 2019? I know I wasn’t. Yet, we did adapt and I dare say thrive while holding our community together in challenging times.
As we, God willing, slowly and cautiously emerge from the pandemic we realize that many things will not return to the way they were. We must adapt to what has been called a “new normal” and not all of it is bad.
For example, we will continue to hold multi access services. The technology we adopted during the pandemic will allow those who are sick, who cannot drive or drive at night, or are just tired from the work week to participate in our observances from home or even while traveling. Masks have long been standard practice in many places for those who are sick and do not want to infect others. Now that we are accustomed to wearing masks, perhaps that would be a good practice even when the immediate threat has diminished.
I don’t know exactly what the coming weeks will bring, but I do know that with dedication, persistence, and creativity we will adapt, adjust, and thrive.
I hope to see you tonight either in person or online. Shabbat Shalom.
From the President – March 4, 2022
March 4, 2022 by tbhrich • president
Rabbi Dean wrote above about tradition, change, and adaptation. Although our change fails to compare with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, COVID-19 has forced us to adapt in ways we couldn’t imagine a few years ago. How many of you were familiar with Zoom in early 2019? I know I wasn’t. Yet, we did adapt and I dare say thrive while holding our community together in challenging times.
As we, God willing, slowly and cautiously emerge from the pandemic we realize that many things will not return to the way they were. We must adapt to what has been called a “new normal” and not all of it is bad.
For example, we will continue to hold multi access services. The technology we adopted during the pandemic will allow those who are sick, who cannot drive or drive at night, or are just tired from the work week to participate in our observances from home or even while traveling. Masks have long been standard practice in many places for those who are sick and do not want to infect others. Now that we are accustomed to wearing masks, perhaps that would be a good practice even when the immediate threat has diminished.
I don’t know exactly what the coming weeks will bring, but I do know that with dedication, persistence, and creativity we will adapt, adjust, and thrive.
I hope to see you tonight either in person or online. Shabbat Shalom.
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