What Really Matters: Coming Together Even As We Stay Apart
We are all being tested and challenged to be our best selves during this pandemic. Springtime draws us outdoors, to the beaches, parks, community swimming pools and synagogues. Minutes turn into hours, hours into days, days into months, and we are still here doing what we do best – reaching out to our community through phone calls, emails, videos, Zoom, and texts.
We are all experiencing a new normal that fills us with trepidation, anxiety and longing. When will we be able to meet with our friends, go back to work in our offices, shake hands or hug someone? When will we be able to go about life as we knew it? I don’t know that we will ever experience life in the same way after going through this pandemic. However, different doesn’t necessarily equal bad. This new way of life has inspired me to reflect and truly appreciate all that I do have. I value the time I have with my children and grandchild. Our daily facetime brings a huge smile to my face. I am so thankful and blessed that they are all well and part of my daily routine.
I am also more attuned to the needs of others. I make a point of talking to my mother and father at least once a day, as they are both 86 years old and live in Baltimore. My Mom looks forward to hearing from me each day so we can share laughs, pictures, good books and updates on TV shows. After Passover seder, we began a new tradition of an extended family Shabbat dinner on Zoom. My cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, etc., join together for the blessings. We eat together, laugh together and enjoy an evening of welcoming Shabbat.
I have a renewed appreciation for our Jewish value of Chesed, acts of loving-kindness. This pandemic has allowed me to help many congregants learn to use Zoom, enabling them to join us for classes, Shabbat, Minyan and much more, ensuring their continued inclusion in our community.
This pandemic, although undoubtedly frightening, is not all bad. Things that I have done simply out of habit in the past, now take on a heightened sense of purpose and intention. The little things matter! Chesed is a precious value and I am thankful for its profound influence on my life.
I am grateful for my health and deeply saddened by the loss of so many others. The suffering is pervasive. I don’t know how long this will go on. None of us do. However, what I do know is that our acts of loving-kindness make a difference. Reach out to others. Be there to listen. Provide comfort. Share a joke or a concert online. Be a connector. Be a friend.
A community is too heavy to carry alone, Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:10. We need each other. Through Chesed, we can make the world a better place.
Celebrate Shavuot with your Temple Beth-El Family
May 26 - 28, 2020 Click picture below for larger image
Friday May 15, 2020 / 21 Iyar 5780 Shabbat Service (Link will be sent Friday at 4:30 PM and will also be available on Facebook and our home page ) 5:30 PM K'tantan
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 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.
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 the previous discussion. There is also a short "Making of Unorthodox" on Netflix for additional background.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 4:00 PM A Rhode Island Jewish Historical Quiz with George Goodwin
The quiz will consist of 25 questions with true or false answers. Chances are that everybody will do astonishingly well (or be required to repeat a grade of religious school)!
Among other projects, George created the Bernhardt History Gallery when he served as the Temple's archivist more than 30 years ago. He coedited the anthology, "The Jews of Rhode Island," which was published by Brandeis University Press and University Press of New England in 2004. This is the 17th year that he has edited "RI Jewish History," the journal published by the RI Jewish Historical Association. In addition to overseeing more than 3,000 pages of articles, George has written several of his own on a rich variety of topics. Not bad for a relative newcomer to Rhode Island!
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 4:00 PM The Jewish Superhero Justice League with Gadi Ben-Dov
Delve 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 4:00 PM A Virtual Wine and Cheese Tasting and Pairing Event to Usher in Shavuot
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.
Thursday, May 28, 2020 6:30 PM Shavuot Concert with Nefesh Mountain
Nefesh Mountain is the place where Bluegrass, Old-Time, and American Roots music meet with Jewish heritage and tradition. Creators, band leaders and husband and wife team, Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg, are the heart of this eclectic offering, pioneering a new world of American culture which seamlessly blends their deep love for American and Western musical forms with their own cultural backgrounds as Jewish Americans.
