Although I identify as he/him, my favorite pronouns are not he/him or they/them, or she/her, and definitely not I/me, but rather we/us. We are a community and the Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced how we are dependent on each other. Rabbi Dean wrote, “A simple, life saving technology is being refused by millions of our fellow citizens who are putting their own lives at risk, and ours, when they don’t have to.” The bad choices of others are prolonging the pandemic and allowing variants of the virus to fill hospital ICU’s and to kill additional thousands. When we prioritize I/me over we/us bad things happen.
We are all tired of this pandemic. We don’t know when it will be safe to pray and sing together indoors and we don’t anticipate that the day we can throw out our masks and engage socially as we did before the pandemic will be anytime soon. It is easy to be frustrated and anxious. It is easy to become pessimistic, but as a community we must refuse to.
We will continue to pray together and learn together whether it is online, in person, or a combination of the two. We will, through our dedication and creativity, find ways to strengthen our community.
We are a community that cares for each other during difficult moments through our Caring Community which has been led by Marilyn Hertzberg for decades. Although words matter, so do actions — perhaps even more than words. Marilyn is due many words of gratitude, but perhaps the best thanks would be for one of us to chair the Caring Community and continue to support each other. Please contact Marilyn for more information or email president@tbhrichmond.org if you are interested.
From the President – Oct. 8, 2021
October 8, 2021 by tbhrich • president
Although I identify as he/him, my favorite pronouns are not he/him or they/them, or she/her, and definitely not I/me, but rather we/us. We are a community and the Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced how we are dependent on each other. Rabbi Dean wrote, “A simple, life saving technology is being refused by millions of our fellow citizens who are putting their own lives at risk, and ours, when they don’t have to.” The bad choices of others are prolonging the pandemic and allowing variants of the virus to fill hospital ICU’s and to kill additional thousands. When we prioritize I/me over we/us bad things happen.
We are all tired of this pandemic. We don’t know when it will be safe to pray and sing together indoors and we don’t anticipate that the day we can throw out our masks and engage socially as we did before the pandemic will be anytime soon. It is easy to be frustrated and anxious. It is easy to become pessimistic, but as a community we must refuse to.
We will continue to pray together and learn together whether it is online, in person, or a combination of the two. We will, through our dedication and creativity, find ways to strengthen our community.
We are a community that cares for each other during difficult moments through our Caring Community which has been led by Marilyn Hertzberg for decades. Although words matter, so do actions — perhaps even more than words. Marilyn is due many words of gratitude, but perhaps the best thanks would be for one of us to chair the Caring Community and continue to support each other. Please contact Marilyn for more information or email president@tbhrichmond.org if you are interested.
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