מי בבית כנסת ומי בזום? Who shall pray in the shul and who via Zoom?
Last Rosh Hashanah we prayed: How many shall leave this world and how many shall be born into it, who shall live who shall die….who shall be at peace and who shall be tormented… Looking back it appears we missed a few: Who shall remain healthy and who shall deal with COVID-19? Who shall keep their jobs and who shall become unemployed? Who shall send their kids into the classroom and who shall remain virtual? Who shall pray in the shul and who via Zoom? Far too many questions, and none of us have enough answers. And even when those answers come, we spend our days and nights agonizing over them–are we doing all we can, or should we be doing more? Is this right for my child? For my elderly relatives? For myself? One question from the Unetaneh Tokef has been definitively answered: in terms of the peace versus torment, many of us have spent far too little of 5780 at peace.
There is one way, I find, to bring a small amount of peace to my days and my weeks, and that is to find a way to connect to my ENJC family through ZOOM and live services. We have had virtual daily services Sunday to Friday evenings, and mornings on Sunday. In fact, the evening minyan has had less trouble getting ten than before the pandemic. That should not surprise you. It requires much less effort to run Zoom on a phone, tablet or computer than to get in a car and drive to the shul for in-person services. And, since no driving is involved, it takes much less time. Why don’t you join us once in a while?
We were also doing Shabbat morning services on a virtual-only basis, but for the last several weeks, we also have had in-person attendance Shabbat morning. And that brings me to my concern. To avoid spreading the virus, we have kept the in-person service as short as possible, while meeting all of the halachic requirements. And, although this has disappointed some (especially me), in accordance with the recommendations of medical authorities and the Cantors Assembly, I have minimized singing, both mine and the congregation’s. The High Holy Days will be an extension of the Shabbat experience.
By now you have heard about the arrangements for in-person High Holy Days and expressed your interest in in-person attendance. (We will also be streaming for those of you at home.) Rabbi Silverman and I are working to considerably shorten the length of services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. While nothing will be the same as usual, we hope to provide a meaningful spiritual experience. I look forward to actually seeing many of you in-person for the first time since last winter. Mostly, I want to encourage all of you to attend as many of our services as you can. I am sure you will find it meaningful, as well as a way to catch up with fellow congregants you may not otherwise see. If you need help getting online, please inform the office and we will help.