This week has brought both challenges and blessings. The physical distancing necessary to limit the impact of COVID-19 imposes material, spiritual and emotional burdens on all of us, each in our own way. At the same time, we have heard from so many BZBI members about the ways that people are connecting by phone and video and, for those who live together with others, forming deeper bonds with loved ones.Our outreach efforts continue. If you’re feeling lonely and haven’t heard from us, feel free to let us know and we’ll add you to the list of people we’re checking on regularly.

If you know of someone who does not have access to a computer or who is in need of other kinds of support, please let us know. We continue to check the main Temple Office email and voicemail, so if you leave us a message there, we will get back to you as soon as we can. Also send us messages using the BZBI website’s “Contact Us” page.

The Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards issued new guidance for congregations declaring this period a sha’at ha-dahak, a time of extreme pressure, during which special allowances can be made for ritual practice. Specifically, we are now allowing a “virtual minyan” of ten people connected by audio and video to recite Kaddish.We hope you will join our Zoom minyanim at the regular BZBI minyan times to ensure that our members are able to say Kaddish. Many people in our community have yahrzeit each week, and your support for our virtual minyan is especially vital during this sha’at ha-dahak. We expect the CJLS will offer specific guidance about Pesah observances in the near future.

Although we are not able to read Torah with the virtual minyan, we have added Torah study on Monday and Thursday mornings to fill in for the regular weekday Torah reading. Both of these classes will take place immediately following minyan (8:30 AM) using the same Zoom link as the minyan itself. On Mondays, Rabbi Mort Levine will continue his weekly parasha study (formerly on Tuesday mornings) and on Thursdays Rabbi Abe offers Morning Mishmar, a short Hasidic teaching on the parasha. We are also making every attempt to record these classes, along with the Wednesday Lunch & Learn so we can share them with everyone who isn’t available to join live.

We continue to hold each of you in our hearts.

With Blessings,

Rabbi Abe Friedman
Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Annie Lewis
Associate Rabbi