In his indispensable book, “The Sabbath,” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel compared the other days of the week with the magnificence of Shabbat. He wrote, “How should we weigh the difference between the Sabbath and the other days of the week? When a day like Wednesday arrives, the hours are blank, and unless we lend significance to them, they remain without character. The hours of the seventh day are significant in themselves; their significance and beauty do not depend on any work, profit, or progress we may achieve. They have the beauty of grandeur.”
Now, in these days of Covid, when there are virtually (no pun intended) no boundaries between working and not working, parenting and not parenting, and activity and rest, and each day feels like every other day, each of us must ask, how will I make this unique and sacred day count?
Since the days of social distancing began, I have had the pleasure of leading our virtual daily minyan service. People from all over the country (and on occasion a guest from Canada) have been joining us for prayer, community, comfort and support. If you would like to join us, we gather at 5:45, Saturday through Thursday. Some join us to say the Kaddish and remember a loved one, while others check in to stay grounded and connected. Since the 2nd day of Passover, we’ve also been counting the omer, marking not only the days of our journey from slavery to freedom, but also to remind us that each day has a distinct character of its own, the holiness of daily life.
As we face the challenges ahead, let us be sure to realize the potential of these days. Between answering your emails, be sure to reach out to a friend with whom you’ve lost touch. Between zoom meetings, be sure to spend a few minutes outside to feel the sun’s warmth on the back of your neck. And if you should happen to find yourself with a few minutes to spare, be sure to phone a loved one, especially if they’re on their own. May these days of plagues soon be over, but until then, may we give them meaning and beauty through our daily acts of love and kindness.
Thursday, May 28, 2020 6:30 PM Shavuot Concert with Nefesh Mountain
Friday May 8, 2020 / 14 Iyar 5780 Shabbat Service & 87th High School Graduation (Link will be sent Friday at 4:30 PM and will also be available on Facebook and on our home page ) ____________________________________________________________________
Saturday May 9, 2020 / 15 Iyar 5780 9:00 AM
Torah Study
ZOOM LINK HERE Password: TBE6070! ____________________________________________________________________
Pop-up Torah Classes In our amazing community, we each have something to share! Join us for these classes where members of our community will share their Torah via the Zoom links below. Do you have some “torah” to teach? Let us know and we’d love to showcase your knowledge with our community as a way to stay connected!
Thursday, May 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020 4:00 PM Tehillim - Soul Soothing Psalms with Rabbi Gavi Ruit
During times of uncertainty and distress, Jews have always turned to the Sefer Tehillim - The Book of Psalms - for solace, guidance, and renewal. We will be reading and discussing Psalms selected specifically for these difficult times.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 4:00 PM What happens to youth sports after COVID-19?
When Hilary Levey Friedman was researching her book, Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture, she often heard parents bemoan how much family time youth sports, and other activities, consumed. But all agreed that unless there was some sort of reset, where everyone agreed to step back, change wasn't possible. Parents wanted to preserve the option for their kids' future opportunities and not participating meant falling behind. Now, a global pandemic has forced that reset. How will children and families react to this change? How might kids' afterschool activities shift as a result of COVID-19? Hilary is a sociologist who teaches in the Department of Education at Brown University. She is also President of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women, and her second book, Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America, is out this August!
Join us via zoom for Shabbat morning services as we call the following adult B’nei Mitzvah students to the Torah: Amy Gaddes Eugene Grossguth Ruth Horton Sara Mohr
Sunday, May 17, 2020 2:00 PM Sisterhood Discussion of Unorthodox
We had 18 people participate in a lively conversation about the first half of the Unorthodox series on May 3rd. We spoke about the first two episodes and a lot of extra material that people have seen. If you're interested, here is the link to watch previous disscusion. There is also a short "Making of Unorthodox" on Netflix for additional background.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 4:00 PM The Jewish Superhero Justice League by Amy & Gadi Ben-Dov
Delving into the major sages and scholars who have influenced the practice of Judaism as it has changed over time. From generation to generation, the Jewish people have encountered challenges, questions, and dilemmas. How have Rashi and the Rambam, Rav Kook and the Baal Shem Tov (among others) changed the way we understand our bible.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 A Virtual Wine and Cheese Tasting and Pairing Event to Usher in Shavout
Caleb Ben-Avram and Tim Slivinski, members of historic Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, GA, and former proprietors of Naked Grape Wine Bar in Fort Lauderdale, FL, will host a virtual wine and cheese tasting and pairing event to usher in Shavuot. Caleb is a former member of the American Cheese Society and still works at the Murray's Cheese kiosk in Savannah. Tim is a wine maven who was the chief buyer of wines for the wine bar. Both are looking forward to sharing their knowledge with you.
