March 16, 2020
Dear Isaians,
In this rapidly changing environment, as new guidance and direction is given by our local officials, we are adjusting our plans for Temple Isaiah. Beginning today, Monday, March 16 at 5:00 p.m., in the name of limiting community interaction to slow the spread of the virus and our commitment to public health and safety, the Temple building will be officially closed until April 19, 2020.
- All staff members will work from home. Essential appointments will take place through Zoom or by phone.
- Tutoring for B’nai Mitzvah students will continue online only.
- On Friday nights, clergy will lead Shabbat services from their homes using FaceBook Live.
- All B’nai Mitzvah services will be postponed until a later date.
At this time, we have had no reports of any cases of COVID-19 in our Temple community or in any of our schools. If we are informed, we will do our very best to contact those who may have been exposed.
I truly understand that this is a challenging and fast-moving situation, which is likely creating anxiety for you, your children and your families. The Clergy, Staff, Administrators and Teachers are all here for each of you. We are working hard to create an engaging and meaningful distance learning experience for every member. (See all of our offerings below.)
Our ancestors gave us a powerful message about individual power and communal responsibility: “
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh ba Zeh
– All of Israel are accountable for each other.” Simply put, we are responsible for one another’s health and well-being and the preservation and protection of life,
Pikuach Nefesh
, is the most important mitzvah to perform. To save a life, we are allowed to break the rules of Shabbat, to stop fasting on Yom Kippur, and to suspend lifecycle events.
As we continue to care for one another:
- Please follow the strict guidelines of social distancing.
- Please monitor yourself and your family. If anyone has any symptoms, please let your physician know before going to the appointment.
- Please abide by the rules set by our local, state and national government: Avoid unnecessary public outings and gatherings, including playdates. If you need help with supplies, please contact Rabbi Zoe Klein Miles who is organizing our rapid response team for members.
“
With an abundance of caution
” has become a catchphrase of this time. Let us now mix
caution
with
love, compassion and patience
:
With an abundance of love
, we practice restraint.
With an abundance of compassion
, we think of others.
With an abundance of patience
, we practice breathing and centering ourselves and counting our blessings. May our blessings increase ten-fold in the weeks to come as a result of the actions we take today.
Let’s connect online. Resources to learn and engage.
As we adjust to a new schedule at Temple Isaiah, we invite you to meet us online and connect with us through study, song, conversation, and creative, generative thinking about community and Jewish identity.
