Dear Shir Tikva Community,
In this rapidly changing environment, we have been monitoring the news about COVID-19 closely among our synagogue leadership and are working hard to at once honor our deeply held Jewish values of coming together as community and also of preserving and honoring health and safety. We want to remind you all that your clergy and the Temple Shir Tikva team are here to support you in any way that we can. Please continue to let us know what you need, by reaching out to any one of us—and please help us to make sure that those members you know who might not have ready access to email have the information below and know how to reach us as well.
This email contains a number of important messages, and we ask that you read what is below thoroughly. We will, of course, be sending additional updates in the days and weeks ahead as the situation evolves:
This evening our Board held a virtual meeting. Following the advice that we have received from official agencies (school and health authorities) and in communication with other local synagogues, we are attempting to encourage social distancing where possible and so have made the following decisions:
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The Early Learning Center will be closed for two weeks following the example of the Wayland School District. We will be writing to ELC families separately with more information.
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B’nei Mitzvah Shabbat morning services: recognizing the hard work that our young people have put in to prepare for these celebrations, and understanding that these are primarily family affairs, we will be continuing to honor the B’nei Mitzvah dates as scheduled for families who wish to do so. In the interest of limiting social contact, these will be considered private functions and so we ask that only those who are invited attend. (However, these services will be available via the livestream for all who wish to attend online). For families who want to find an alternate date, we are of course honoring those requests.
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Adult Education programs: Recognizing that many of those who attend our adult education programs are in high-risk categories, we will not be holding these programs in person but will be moving them online wherever possible, through Zoom technology and other online meeting tools. We will share details as we have them. This week’s Torah Study (March 14
th) will be available here:
https://zoom.us/j/677919354 for people to join via Zoom (we suggest joining prior to the 9:30am start time in case your computer takes a while to download the necessary program). Further Zoom instructions will follow next week for those who need a tutorial.
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In-person Religious School and AISH will be suspended until the end of March. Our hope and intention is to offer some online learning opportunities or links to resources for our students and families who want to stay engaged with Jewish learning. We will be sharing those details shortly.
We are sorry that it has come to this situation, but as we try to remain responsive to an ever changing set of circumstances and events, we feel that this is the prudent course of action to follow, in line with our Jewish values and to ensure the safety of our community. As we face this situation, we are also beginning conversations about how we can support those who may be at a greater risk of contracting the disease and those who may have a quarantine imposed upon themselves. Please reach out to us, to let us know how you are doing and so that we can understand what support you and your loved ones need.
Yours,
Rabbi Danny
Rabbi Jordi
Cantor Hollis
Susan Altman
Marcia Gitlitz
Alison Weikel
Scott Cohen, President
