Dear Friends:
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, the number of cases has increased dramatically within our own country and in the Manalapan community. It is time that we take steps as a community to help limit the spread of this disease.
As a result and after much thought, deliberation, and in the best interests of our congregants, families, and staff, we have made the difficult decision to suspend certain activities. At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19, nor any reported direct contact with anyone with COVID-19 COVID-19, in the Temple Shaari Emeth community. If you or anyone in your household has a confirmed case or COVID-19 or has come into contact with someone with a confirmed case, please let us know by getting in touch with our Executive Director Stuart Brown (sbrown@shaariemeth.org).
Our plans to continue serving our congregational family in this challenging time are as follows:
Clergy support: Our clergy are here for you as they always are, and are ready in these times to “meet” by phone or Zoom call. Please feel free to reach out to them directly.
Rabbi Panken can be reached at rabbipanken@cs.com.
Cantor Wally can be reached at cantorwally@shaariemeth.org.
Worship services: Currently, our plan is to continue having services at the temple; but, will be offering live streaming worship on Friday nights for those who are not physically in attendance. You can watch services live by going to the " Live Services " under "Worship/Holidays" on the menu bar of our webpage . You will be prompted for a password - enter "simcha". Please note that this password is only to watch the video. You do not need to be logged into the website and you can share the password with family and friends.
The publisher of the prayerbook we use, CCAR Press, has provided links to "Mishkan T’filah for Shabbat" in a couple of ways. The first is an online-only version of the siddur you can access for free; the second gives a coupon for purchasing the ebook.
• Flipbook, Mishkan T’filah for Shabbat : Access a free online flipbook, perfect for following along at home. You can click this link for easy access to the siddur.
• Ebook, Mishkan T’filah for Shabbat : Use this link for a 50 percent discount on the Kindle version of this publication, also ideal for following along from home.
We will hold our scheduled B’nei Mitzvah services, but in this challenging time, please note that these particular services are for invited guests only. However, they can be streamed following the directions above.
Kollel "No Shush Shabbat" is canceled until further notice.
Choir: Choir practice is canceled until further notice.
B'nei Mitzvah preparation:
Coaching with Cantor Wally: B’nei Mitzvah tutoring can be done in person or virtually; families will receive information for Zoom, Facetime, or Google Hangouts from the Cantor. If you would like to reschedule your B’nei Mitzvah coaching sessions for a different time during the workday, we’re planning to keep the building open during office hours and we are happy to be as flexible as the schedule allows.
D’var Torah appointments with Rabbi Panken: These will take place as scheduled either in person or via Zoom. Information will be sent to families.
B’nai Mitzvah Rehearsals: Rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday nights will still take place at the Temple.
Religious School: Religious School classes held at the Temple are suspended through April 15th and are scheduled to resume on April 19th. The Sixth Grade Siddur services and Fifth Grade Family Program will be rescheduled. The First Grade Passover Family program on March 29th is canceled.
The Religious School has been working on a plan for continued distance Jewish learning for our students in the coming weeks. Information and details will be sent through the Religious School by e-mail next week. Please feel free to reach out to Melissa Pescatore with any questions at Mpescatore@shaariemeth.org.
ELC: The Early Learning Center we will be closed starting this Monday, March 16. Classes will be suspended for a period of two weeks, planning to resume on March 27th. Sheryn Cohen will stay in close contact with ELC Families regarding updates and future plans.
The ELC Staff is currently working on a variety of ways to provide at-home activities, virtual Shabbat services, sing-a-longs, and more, so that we can continue to create a strong sense of community. More details will be sent out next week.
Parents of school age children may find these resources helpful:
Talking to children about the Coronavirus
PJ Library resources for quarantined families
YOSHE:
YOSHE Senior – The YOSHE Creative Service, the trip to Dear Evan Hansen and the Shul-In will all be rescheduled. Contact Suzanne Wycoff at swycoff@shaariemeth.org for more information.
YOSHE Jr. – The Rock Your Kindness parts 1,2 and 3 will be rescheduled. Contact Stacy Feingertz at sfeingertz@shaariemeth.org for more information.
YOSHE Minis – The Family Chocolate Seder is canceled but watch for it next year. Cosmic Bowling will be rescheduled. Contact Robin Gitlitz at rgitlitz@shaariemeth.org.
Sisterhood: The Sisterhood Intergenerational Seder has been canceled. We will be refunding payments to any of you who have already registered and paid for these events. The Lady’s Night Out: Israel Dancing is also canceled.
Lifelong Learning Programming: The Lifelong Learning Sunday Series has been canceled for March and April. We are also developing online learning opportunities to keep you engaged and feeling part of our community - details coming soon!
Saturday and Wednesday Torah Study are canceled in the building until further notice, but there will be virtual classes taught through video conferencing. More information about when this will begin and how to access the classes will be sent out next week.
Homeless Shelter: We will continue to house the homeless. This program concludes at the end of March.
Our website will be updated as soon as possible, as this situation has developed rapidly during the day. We will be sending out e-mails with updates, information and opportunities to connect during the next few weeks and you can always check the website for the most current news from the Temple. Even as we face this challenging time that threatens to separate us from one another, we are doubling down on our efforts to stay connected with you through the many channels available to us. We know that this is a time of anxiety for many and this might be a helpful resource as you take care of your mental health at this time of uncertainty.
At the end of the reading of a book of Torah, we customarily recite the phrase chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik - let us be strong, and let us strengthen one another. We will get through this tough time together, and, despite the challenges, we will strengthen each other in the process.
A Prayer of Hope During this Pandemic
by Rabbi Naomi Levy
We are frightened, God,
Worried for our loved ones,
Worried for our world.
Helpless and confused,
We turn to You
Seeking comfort, faith and hope.
Teach us God, to turn our panic into patience,
And our fear into acts of kindness and support.
Our strong must watch out for our weak,
Our young must take care of our old.
Help each one of us to do our part to halt the spread of this virus
Send strength and courage to the doctors and nurses
In the frontlines of this battle,
Fortify them with the full force of their healing powers.
Send wisdom and insight to the scientists
Working day and night across the world to discover healing treatments.
Bless their efforts, God.
Fill our leaders with the wisdom and the courage
To choose wisely and act quickly.
Help us, God, to see that we are one world,
One people
Who will rise above this pandemic together.
Send us health God,
Watch over us,
Grace us with Your love,
Bless us with Your healing light.
Hear us God,
Heal us God,
Amen.
Our Blood Drive, scheduled for Sunday, April 5th, from 9am to 1:30pm is still on. Please come if you have already scheduled an appointment, and please schedule an appointment if you are able. Blood donations are down by 50% and there is a blood shortage emergency because of the pandemic. Please schedule a time slot by clicking here.
Please take care of yourself. If we can be of any support or assistance, please reach out to us.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Melinda Panken
Fabian Burstyn, President
Stuart Brown, Executive Director
