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**Special Zoom Log-on for Sukkot, Sh'mini Atzeret & Simhat Torah
(All other services will use the regular Gesher Shalom weekday minyanim log-ons)
Join via the Internet:
Dial in: 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 832 2353 4441#
Simhat Torah
Saturday, October 10
**Evening Service: 7:00pm
Sunday, October 11
**Morning Service: 10:30am
Mincha to follow conclusion of the morning service
2pm Simhat Torah celebration:
In the parking lot of the Montrose Center, 301 Bridge Plaza North
Dance with the Torah Scrolls (in PPE protective casings)
Live Musical Accompaniment
*Bring a mask and disposable gloves
*And remember to keep 6 feet apart
Dial in by phone: 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 338 747 559
Congratulate our Honorees:
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Our Hatan Torah
Richard Schiff
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Richard is currently a Vice-President of the Synagogue and Chair of our Ritual Committee. He is a long-time member, joining when he and Nancy were newly married, and raising their 2 sons here. Nancy often joins the weekday evening and Friday night services. Richard has held many volunteer positions, including unofficial Shul photographer. Most visibly, Richard ushers on the HiHo's. This year, with his ushering job eliminated, Richard went above and beyond, in making sure that all the items on his endless checklists were addressed. What you experienced on the HiHo's was largely a product of Richard's tireless work behind the scenes. For this, and for his years of dedication, we are pleased to honor him.
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Our Hatan B'reishit Adrian Osian
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Adrian has been a faithful attendee at our morning minyanim for more years than I have been at Gesher Shalom. He comes in, davens attentively, offers a quiet "Good morning" or "Goodbye", and then rushes out to brave the GW Bridge traffic on his commute into the City. We often would not have had an in-person, 7:00am minyan without him. Occasionally Adrian is even able to make our 9:00am morning Zoom minyanim, despite the inconvenience of its later starting time. He and wife, Dr. Michelle Reisner, have raised their 3 children (all Solomon Schechter graduates) in our congregation, and Michelle is often able to join our Thursday morning minyan. For his years'-long commitment to our minyan and to our Shul, the Ritual Committee is pleased to honor Adrian.
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Precautions for Our In-Person Simhat Torah Hakafot
Dear All,
These are precarious times. We have a responsibility to protect each other, even as we are learning to live with COVID-19. It is not always easy. We are offering the privilege of a physically distanced and safe Hakafot service, outdoors, and with everyone donning appropriate PPE. Please know that there are some experts who have serious concerns about any religious service! That is largely because it relies on so many people being meticulously careful.
Cases of COVID-19 are rising again, and it is frightening. This is a potentially deadly disease and we have congregants among us who are elderly, who have risk factors for severe disease, and some may be immuno-compromised. It is the responsibility of each one of us to protect each other. If you are not feeling well, or you may have been exposed, please do not come.
Still, we are going to attempt-weather-permitting-to hold a short, outdoor, physically-distanced service on Simhat Torah, with live music and appropriate PPE. 2:00pm in the parking lot at 301 Bridge Plaza North
NOTE: there will be no entrance to the Montrose Center; the building will be locked and there will be NO access to any bathroom facilities or water. If this is a problem for you or for a young child, this is not the appropriate service to attend at this time.
Here are the plans:
Ideally email me indicating that you will attend and how many are coming.
- Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask
- Mask must cover from nose to chin
- Masks with valves are not permitted
- Cloth mask is fine (ideally 2 layers with filter)
- No bandanas allowed
- You must park along the periphery or underneath the building, leaving as much space for congregants to socially distance. If/when we run out of room, you will be asked to find street parking.
- Unless you are with a co-dwelling partner or family member, everyone must keep at least 6 feet apart (ideally 9 feet if you can).
- Only one person will touch each Torah
- Please do NOT touch the Torahs unless you are one of 7 individuals honored with holding a designated Torah.
- No hugging, kissing, shaking hands, touching. Virtual hugs and kisses only!
- Again, we will have musical accompaniment. So no need for singing..... The SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to possibly spread by aerosols, small particles that can linger in the air and may come not only from sneezing and coughing but also from talking and singing.
If there are any breaches of these protocols by anyone, we will be forced to terminate the outdoor service abruptly, and everyone will be asked to leave the premises.
Please, please be mindful of these protocols. It could be a matter of life and death. B'ri'ut (Health/Wellness): Our tradition values good health and care of our bodies; we must use our knowledge for the good and to apply what we know to protecting ourselves and our community. "And live by them!" (Lev. 18:5)
Let's enjoy seeing each other!
Let's celebrate the holiday and our honorees!
Let's dance and march and sway and revel in hearing live music (but not singing along)!
We know we can make the best of it while abiding by these necessary limitations!
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Torah Celebrations Across the Globe
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| | Simchat Torah Photos and Video from Around the Globe |
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Mi SheBayrach
We make special prayers for those who are ill at every Shabbat Morning service and during our Monday & Thursday Minyanim. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have been adding a special Mi SheBayrach for those who have contracted the coronavirus.
You can add a name (traditionally: Hebrew/Yiddish name and mother's Hebrew/Yiddish name, but we'll take English names and the names of those who are not Members of our Tribe) by calling or emailing me.
Or better yet: why not join us for the 9:00 am weekday morning minyan, and read the Psalm (in English) just before we include the name of your family member, friend or acquaintance in the Mi SheBayrach?
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SH'MINI ATZERET
A yearly tithe (ten-percent) of all agricultural products must be spent by the farmer at the central religious shrine. The produce itself may be brought or it may be converted into money. Every third year an additional tithe must be distributed among the Levites, strangers, widows and orphans. In order to further assure the economic well being of the disadvantaged, all loans are cancelled according to a seven-year cycle, and the Torah reminds us to exercise the greatest compassion and generosity when confronted with the plight of the poor. Released slaves are to be rewarded liberally for their loyalty and service. Eradication of poverty is the ideal to which everyone must aspire.
Unblemished, kosher firstborn male animals are to be brought as a sacrifice before God. Their meat is to be consumed by the farmer and his family.
We are reminded to observe the three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
From the second scroll we read of the sacrifice offered in the Temple on Sh'mini Atzeret.
ATTENTION:
BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 1 (TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE END OF DST), WE WILL BE USING NEW ZOOM LINKS FOR ALL OUR PROGRAMMING TO ELIMINATE THE WAITING ROOM AND DELAYS IN ACCESSING OUR SERVICES AND ALL OUR OTHER OFFERINGS. WE WILL ALSO BE CHANGING THE MEETING ID's FOR DIALING IN. THE NEW ACCESS LINKS AND CODES WILL BE MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS IN ADDITION TO BEING POSTED IN THE SHAB SHA!
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ALL our Synagogue Prayer Services and Programs are conducted over ZOOM
You can participate in one of two ways
- Dialing in - or -
- Using internet access and a smartphone, tablet or computer
Do You Need to Obtain a Siddur? Please call or email me for details. kas
Do you need a CROSS-REFERENCE GUIDE to pages in the old Sim Shalom (Blue cover) for Shabbat and Holidays (when we are using Lev Shalem)?...
Or
to the Weekday Services in Lev Shalem (when we are using the burgundy weekday Sim Shalom)?
Call me or email me for the GUIDE
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