March Covid Message

Dear Temple B’nai Abraham Family,

All of us a taking in a lot of information that is shifting and changing at a crazy rate about COVID-19. In this time of anxiety and uncertainty, I want you and your families to be safe, and insure that we all do our part to keep others safe.

Our tradition teaches that pikuach nefesh - saving lives – outweighs everything else.

In line with recommendations from public health officials and in consultation with neighboring congregations and Combined Jewish Philanthropies, members of the TBA Board, Deb Schutzman and I have decided to cancel ALL programs for two weeks.

This includes Shabbat services, weekday minyan, Religious School, and the Sisterhood Author Brunch scheduled for this Sunday.

The office will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9:00-12:00. Deb and I are also available through email or phone.

We are also canceling our Community Passover Seder. Conversations are underway with the larger Jewish community about making sure all have a way to celebrate this holiday, including access to Passover food and a virtual Seder. More information is forthcoming.

These are not easy decisions for anyone who knows that community is about connections. All human beings are dependent upon and responsible for each other. There is no more potent example of how this is the case than this moment.

 We will send information about how to connect virtually. It is likely that we will offer services on line (including opportunities to say Kaddish) as well as study and conversation, and maybe some scheduled Jewish mindfulness practice. Deb and I are also discussing possibilities for kids and families.  We can also provide support to help you utilize ZOOM and other technology.

If you have ideas along these lines please share them.

A few other notes:

Please be vigilant about where you get your information. There is a lot of false information out there, and there are plenty of scams trying to take advantage of people at this vulnerable time. Stick to the CDC and the MA Dept. of Public Health.

If you or anyone you know is in need in some way, please let me, Deb or Board members know.

We hold in our prayers all medical workers, anyone who has been touched by this pandemic.

I am ending with this poem for some inspiration.

Pandemic - Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath—

the most sacred of times?

Cease from travel.

Cease from buying and selling.

Give up, just for now,

on trying to make the world

different than it is.

Sing. Pray. Touch only those

to whom you commit your life.

Center down.

And when your body has become still,

reach out with your heart.

Know that we are connected

in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.

(You could hardly deny it now.)

Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.

(Surely, that has come clear.)

Do not reach out your hands.

Reach out your heart.

Reach out your words.

Reach out all the tendrils

of compassion that move, invisibly,

where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love—

for better or for worse,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we all shall live.

May all beings be healthy, may all beings be safe.

Rabbi Alison Adler