So, what’s next? Although the deployment of the vaccines seems agonizingly slow at times, it gives us reason to hope that we may return to more normal lives in 2021. However, although life will be more normal, I don’t believe our post-pandemic lives will be the same as our pre-pandemic lives – and that may just be a good thing in some ways. I believe the lessons we have learned through necessity will strengthen us.
The time has come for us to start imagining how we can use our hard earned new knowledge. For example, I know I have become more tech savvy and I think many of you have as well. We know how to do virtual Shabbat services, High Holy Day observances, Religious School classes, board meetings, and more. Even though we long to be together in person, we have discovered that through computer platforms we can reach beyond the walls of our synagogue to engage people who find it difficult to join us physically. I imagine a hybrid of simultaneous in person and distance/virtual events that extend our reach. I don’t know what they might look like, but if we combine the inventiveness and dedication that we applied to our virtual events with our new knowledge, I am confident that we can create meaningful events that are accessible to our entire community.
Our board, in collaboration with Rabbi Dean and Cantor Shayndel, is dedicated to emerging from this pandemic stronger, closer, and more appreciative of each other than we were a year ago. We are also dedicated to doing all this safely. We will continue to hold the health and safety of all of us above everything else.
From the President – January 29, 2020
January 28, 2021 by tbhrich • president
So, what’s next? Although the deployment of the vaccines seems agonizingly slow at times, it gives us reason to hope that we may return to more normal lives in 2021. However, although life will be more normal, I don’t believe our post-pandemic lives will be the same as our pre-pandemic lives – and that may just be a good thing in some ways. I believe the lessons we have learned through necessity will strengthen us.
The time has come for us to start imagining how we can use our hard earned new knowledge. For example, I know I have become more tech savvy and I think many of you have as well. We know how to do virtual Shabbat services, High Holy Day observances, Religious School classes, board meetings, and more. Even though we long to be together in person, we have discovered that through computer platforms we can reach beyond the walls of our synagogue to engage people who find it difficult to join us physically. I imagine a hybrid of simultaneous in person and distance/virtual events that extend our reach. I don’t know what they might look like, but if we combine the inventiveness and dedication that we applied to our virtual events with our new knowledge, I am confident that we can create meaningful events that are accessible to our entire community.
Our board, in collaboration with Rabbi Dean and Cantor Shayndel, is dedicated to emerging from this pandemic stronger, closer, and more appreciative of each other than we were a year ago. We are also dedicated to doing all this safely. We will continue to hold the health and safety of all of us above everything else.
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