October 2021
Dear Chevre,
We continue to live into this world of COVID adaptation -- making it work together under unusual circumstances. Our Sukkot celebration was such a special example of experimental meeting of the moment, without giving up our connection or our participation in this fall festival, also known as the "season of our joy."
We celebrated Sukkot in a Zoom room beaming forth from a 12th floor balcony of 1901 JFK Boulevard that had been beautifully decorated by Evy Simon, Lois Master and Bobbi Cohen. When I forgot to bring my own laptop, Lois Master delivered hers. When Bobbi Cohen's computer and mine started to screech with feedback, Bobbi moved inside to continue her Zoom admin support and I led from the other side of the glass door. When the sun glare was so bright that I couldn't see my screen, I moved around on the balcony catching bits of shade. We adapted.
The upshot was an enormously satisfying and meaningful shared experience. We savored the experience of holding the lulav and etrog, we sang Hallel, we shared Torah and, best of all, our community was together, in our own way, for this beautiful holiday. At Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City we will continue to live into this year with the same spirit of creativity and mutual care.
I hope to see you soon in another Zoom room! Aren't we lucky?
With love,
Rabbi Julie
