MFJC’s Need To Know During Our Building Closure:
Socially Distant; Spiritually Near
Dear MFJC Family,
The Torah’s paramount value is ‘you shall live through the Torah.’ Physical health and safety needs to be our first thought. Out of concern for our personal health and safety and out of concern that we will compromise other people’s health and safety and out of concern that the hospitals and health centers will be unable to care for those who need it most because we have exacerbated an already taxed health care system, our building will be closed. While the physical Building is closed, we are thinking of ways to stay spiritually connected. Let’s reach out to the vulnerable among us; let’s check in with our neighbors and friends more regularly; let’s commit ourselves to prayer and Torah study. A little bit of light chases away a great deal of darkness.
Lifting Our Spirits – Staying Connected
The Challenge of being apart is somewhat lessened by the possibilities of connecting via Zoom and other platforms.
Please take advantage of the offerings and we will continue to tweak as our needs demand
1. Daily Prayer – Every Morning we will convene on Zoom for Morning services, 730AM Daily Davening Zoom Every Morning we will recite a Mourners Kaddish with our group to finish Services, approximately 8AM, provided we have a minyan at the time
Following Sunday morning Prayer, we will continue our Talmud study via Zoom
2. Zemer Yomi – Daily Song – Follow this link for Rabbi Menashe’s Recorded Song of the Day – Zemer Yomi 3. Torah Class – Bi-Weekly Torah Portion – Monday and Thursday Zoom Session, 10:10AM Parsha Zoom 5. Nighttime Zoom – Every Evening, 8:15PM – A chance for us to meet on Zoom and schmooze, make a l’chaim, share words of encouragement MFJC Nightly Zoom 6. Erev Shabbat – Fridays 6PM – We Welcome Shabbat with blessings, Song and words of Torah Erev Shabbat Zoom 7. Havdalah – Saturday Nights – With Music, We Say Goodbye to Shabbat together and Get Ready for a New Week, Havdalah Zoom 8. Yahrzeit Zoom – If you would like to recite a Kaddish with a minyan for an evening Yahrzeit. We will convene as needed at 8PM
How Can We Help You? How Can You Help Us?
During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that we support one another so that we can be sure each one of us has what we need to stay safe and well. The ways we offer support will likely unfold over time as the situation changes and as our needs change.
Please let us know if you are home bound and may need material support of food, money, medical attention, phone check-ins -please let us know by replying to this note.
Likewise, if you are available to help out by making phone calls or helping fill the needs of the home bound or those who are unwell, please let us know by replying to this note.
In the Torah, when building the Temple, Moshe calls for donations of time and materials. The response is so robust, even excessive, says the Torah, that the engineers call for the community to hold back their donations.
This is a time when our community is being called to give from itself. Let’s model ourselves after that first Jewish community that heard the call for help in the face of a need and they gave generously from their hearts.
Pesach – Passover – 5780 – During COVID19
Passover is the Ultimate Family/Community event on the Jewish Calendar. This year will be a more difficult experience than most in terms of house preparation, food preparation, communality of the celebration.
Sale of Chametz
Every Year, I look forward to meeting you as your agent to arrange for the sale of your chametz. Since this year that will not be an option, I have set up an online form that you can use for this purpose, found here: Mechirat Chametz Form Please fill out this form by Sunday, April 5. This sale of Chametz is being performed through the greater Jewish Community. In moments of isolation, this is ironically a unifying opportunity Passover Prep & Food List – 5780 – Since shopping will be more complicated this year – we should avoid stores – and food maybe more scarce; here are some ideas to simplify your shopping
And if you cannot leave your home to shop, please be in touch with Rabbi or the office so we can arrange shoppers.
Here’s a helpful link from the International Rabbinic Fellowship on ideas for simplifying and enriching Pesach in Isolation:
IRF Pesach PrepAttached is a list of food listed by the London Beit Din which simplifies our purchases during passover to ease shopping and minimize travel to store:
Kosher Foods List – Pesach 5780Siyyum Bechor – Erev Pesach Break Fast – After 730AM Zoom Service, on April 8 – First Born traditionally fast on the day before Passover. You can be absolved of fasting by participating in a celebration of Torah study. I will make this Siyyum on the morning of Wednesday, April 8 – Here’s the Link:
Daily Davening Zoom Passover Prep – Questions for Passover food supplies and Koshering our Home. Please join in our Zoom call for this discussion.
Bring Your Questions – Monday and Thursday Zoom Torah Classes will devote time to Your Passover Questions
Passover Zoom – 10:10 AM – Monday and Thursday in March & April – i.e. March 30; April 2, 6. MFJC Passover Schedule – Please Look Closely at Our Holiday Schedule to follow MFJC’s Holiday connections this year:
Pesach Schedule 5780 Please Stay in Touch and Stay Connected
