From the President – Nov. 26, 2021

We are slowly and carefully emerging from the pandemic. We successfully held outdoor and Zoom hybrid High Holy Days services, our religious school is back to in person learning, and we are preparing to safely gather in person and on Zoom to observe Shabbat and to celebrate Hanukkah together on December 3. We have been challenged and continue to be challenged by Covid 19, but we have also learned and continue to learn about ourselves and how to adapt to changing and challenging conditions.
We have learned how to use Zoom. We have learned about air quality both indoors and out, and we now know more about air purifiers and HEPA filters than we ever thought we would. We learned about social distancing and PPE. Now it’s the good guys who wear masks. And perhaps most importantly, we have learned to appreciate our community and the support we give to each other.
Covid 19 has not been eradicated and most likely never will be. We don’t know how long we will have to wear masks and social distance, but we are confident that with our vaccination registry and the other protocols developed by our reopening committee, we can safely gather for services. I hope to see you next week. I can’t think of a better way to start to emerge from the darkness of the pandemic than to light our Hanukkah candles together.

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