The timing of this email, which was prepared late last week, may seem trivial in light of what is happening in Israel, but as our Jewish tradition teaches us, our community still moves forward ensuring the terrorists do not have a victory.
Judaism has always sought a balance between worship at home and in a central location–a balance that was disrupted three and a half years ago, and is shifting back again for our community as we begin 5784.
With the start of COVID, out of life-protecting necessity, we began holding Shabbat and weekday worship over Zoom in addition to our live streaming. This was a deviation in several ways from previous practice.
The permission to count a minyan over zoom was predicated on the existence of “Sha’at Hadechak”–a pressing situation or emergency. While for some members of our community COVID is still a life-and-death concern, most members of our community are now living their lives as if there is no longer an emergency. They are engaging in indoor events, and going to work, restaurants, and entertainment venues. I was delighted this past month to see so many people back in person for our High Holy Days services during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and for Benny’s Bar Mitzvah on the first day of Sukkot.
It is time for our community to no longer rely on emergency permissions. Starting with Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan on Sunday, October 15th, we will be making a few changes to our weekday services, in particular.
We will continue to livestream every single service we conduct, morning and evening: Shabbat and Chagim (holidays) in addition to weekday minyanim will continue with being able to watch our services on livestream from our website. However, beginning October 15th, Zoom will no longer be an option for our weekday minyanim. We have seen the numbers on zoom dwindle in recent months to the point that this tool is no longer necessary, particularly because we will still have our live streaming available.
Because we have emerged from the “Sha’at Hadechak”–a pressing situation or emergency, we will be making another major shift back toward “the norm.” Also, beginning on October 15th, a full minyan will be counted only if there are 10 Jewish adults in the room. However, thanks to a ruling of the Committee of Jewish Laws and Standards, the Conservative movement’s Law Committee, the one exception to the requirement to count a minyan in person will be for Mourner’s Kaddish. Mourner’s Kaddish will be recited aloud at all services at B’nai Amoona regardless of how many people are in attendance.
I am delighted that over the past few years many have made daily prayer a part of their home practice and have come to realize what a lifeline prayer is in daily life. I hope that that will continue. Indeed, it is always permissible (and encouraged) to pray on one’s own if a minyan is not available. However, for us to be a true prayer community, those of us who can attend in person must begin doing so to support each other. Some already have taken the responsibility to come once or twice each week as part of their regular routine. It would be great if each person in our congregation would commit to coming to a minyan once a week, or even once a month, or even every other month, just to help ensure we have a minyan in person every morning and evening throughout the year.
I recognize these changes may be a challenge for some in our community. However, as we continue our theme this year at BA of “Building Community Together,” I know we will maintain a strong and vibrant community. We are no longer in a state of fear and emergency, and therefore we want to make sure we do not go a single day without coming together to represent our congregation in prayer. I hope each of us will play a part in this important practice as we begin the new year.
I look forward to seeing everyone soon for our services, programs, classes, and more!
