Dear ATJC Family,
We hope that you are healthy and are managing as well as possible during these challenging days. We continue to hold in our thoughts the well-being of those physically infected by the virus. We pray that they recover quickly and completely. To varying degrees, this virus has affected us all in different ways. We have experienced moments of anxiety and uncertainty, loneliness and stress. While it may seem that whole world has changed, perhaps we can find comfort and consolation in the immutable nature of our Jewish values, wisdom, traditions and customs.
Two thousand years ago, the great and wise sage, Hillel, taught: Al tifros min hatzibur, “Do not separate yourself from the community” (Pirkei Avot 2:4). For a Jew to remain apart from other Jews is perhaps the greatest violation of our beliefs, namely that Jews both need and are responsible for each another. This is why “social distancing” is particularly painful for our people.
The truth is, “social distancing” is a misnomer. What we must practice is “physical” distancing, not social distancing. Now is the time to emotionally, spiritually, and virtually connect more than ever with each other. Now is the time to call or video chat with friends, neighbors and loved ones. Now is the time to reach out and connect. Now is the time to remember that what makes us a congregation is not our building, sanctuary, chapel or even school. Rather, YOU are our congregation. It has always been our people, not our place, that mattered most. That truth remains unchanged.
Our now-virtual congregation is committed to leaving no stone unturned and no form of technology untried in our effort to create, foster and nurture new forms of communal connections. All ideas are welcome, and we appreciate your patience as we strive to continue to care for you, inspire you, teach you and uplift you.
Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th, ATJC will resume online our long-standing tradition of having a daily, weekday minyan. For the foreseeable future, this virtual minyan will take place only in the mornings, Sunday through Friday, at 8:30 AM during our regular time. Unlike our streaming Friday night and Shabbat morning services, our daily minyan participants (should you choose by activating your camera and/or microphone) will be able to see one another and hear each other. This way, we will not only ensure that we have a minyan, a quorum of 10 adult Jews, but we will feel that powerful sense of community that so many of us desperately seek and need now more than ever.
During our daily minyan as with our Shabbat services,
Kaddish can be said for those in mourning or observing yahrzeit and the Torah readings will be read. Here is the
Zoom link to join our daily morning minyan by video. This link will work on any computer or smart phone. You can also dial-in to the minyan from any smart telephone with one click +19294362866,,302584813# or from any type of phone by dialing (929) 436-2866, wait, for the prompt, and then dial the meeting ID, 302584813#. We will be using our
Sim Shalom for Weekdays Siddur from our chapel which can be downloaded
here and either printed or viewed on a screen.
Our current, comprehensive schedule of weekday and Shabbat worship services can be found on our website here, including two weekly services for young children on Monday mornings
9:30 AM (Havdalah and Hebrew songs) and Friday mornings
9:30 AM (Shabbat prayers and songs). Our current schedule of Adult Education classes can be found
here. Our Religious School families are receiving extensive regular email updates on the highly engaging online learning happening now on Sunday mornings. Our Tauber Academy families are connected with their teachers on WhatsApp and video conference and are eagerly anticipating their first virtual Tauber Shabbat service and celebration on Friday morning. Our
Tikkun Olam volunteers have already reached out to all of our seniors, already delivered toilet paper and latex gloves among other items and will continue to care for all those in need.
Please continue to check our
website and
Facebook pages for additional information, updates and announcements. Please note that we are exploring the possibility of live streaming one or more of the Passover Seders in real time, so please stay turned for more information.
As always, if there is anything you need—emergency or not—or if you have suggestions for virtual gatherings, classes, meetings, services or events, please reach out to us by email
info@atjc.org or phone (305) 937-1880. Your resilience in the face of this crisis has been our greatest source of inspiration. We believe in the power of community, especially this ATJC community.
May we go from strength to strength, and may we see each other’s faces online soon.
Rabbi Jonathan Berkun
Rabbi Guido Cohen
Rose Rubin, President
Mark Flaxer, Executive Director
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
