COVID-19 Update from Temple Emanuel

Last Updated: 5/18/2020 6:00 pm
לֵ֚ךְ עַמִּי֙ בֹּ֣א בַֽחֲדָרֶ֔יךָ וּֽסְגֹ֥ר דְּלָֽתְךָ֖ בַּֽעֲדֶ֑ךָ חֲבִ֥י כִמְעַט־רֶ֖גַע עַד־יַֽעֲבָר־ זָֽעַם
“Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until this wrath has passed by.” (Isaiah 26:20)

The holiest work we can do is to protect each other.  We all must pull together now to honor the spirit of Pikuach Nefesh, preserving life.

As Isaiah’s long ago words foreshadow, we are entering our individual rooms for a while. So too may we soon see the fulfillment of his other transcendent vision:

שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יַשִּׂיגוּ, וְנָסוּ יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה
“They shall find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)

 

Message from Mady Donoff, President

When we closed the Synagogue building two months ago, we followed the clarion call of Pikuach Nefesh, the Jewish mandate to preserve life above and beyond all other obligations. We imagined a temporary shut-down. Two months later, we are all, reasonably, anxious to come back together again. We are grateful for Governor Baker’s statement today enabling that possibility while mindful of our continued obligation to hold Pikuach Nefesh as our lodestar.

As we balance opportunity and obligation, we will be careful and deliberate.

To continue reading this letter click here.

Online Services and Learning

All in person events, programs and classes have been postponed until further notice.  But our synagogue community did not close. We moved online!

  • Services will be held virtually with live streaming. See our live stream page for more details.
    Learn more about our Live Streaming at Temple Emanuel. We are making a digital Minyan every morning and evening.
  • Select classes will be available digitally using Zoom. Visit the Upcoming Events Page for program details.
  • Our administrative staff will be working remotely but will be available by email.
    The Temple Emanuel main number, (617) 558-8100, will remain in operation.

 

Support

At this time when the mitzvah of PIkuach Nefesh, preserving life, compels us to impose distance, we’re use all technological means at our disposal to ensure that isolation does not mean being isolated from one another. We remain a community of connection. We find new ways to reach out and communicate with each other.

  • If you are in need of help at this or any time, please contact us at clergy@templeemanuel.com.
  • If you are available to help, sign up to help others that are in need.
  • Join TEConnect, a new GoogleGroup to help Temple Emanuel members stay in touch and to ask for/offer support during these times and beyond. This is a place where you can share the stories and ideas which are helping you stay strong.  To join please send a blank email to TEConnect+subscribe@googlegroups.com.
  • For congregants observing a loved one’s Yahrzeit, we have made the display of our Yahrzeit Board that hangs in the Gann Chapel available online for you.
  • Songs of Hope and Healing from Cantor Elias Rosemberg
    In these difficult times of fear and uncertainty, we hope that the music could heal and help you by finding comfort in these melodies

The Spirit of Hope & Healing (Volume 12)
R’fa’einu – Hazzan Mike Stein

  • Daily DvarEach evening during these times of social isolation, we join together virtually in the Gann Chapel for our Evening Minyan where we are spiritually connected in ways that restore hope, structure, community, love, people, wisdom and joy.

 

Community Wide Resources