Dear Shir Chadash Community,
In a previous weekly communication, we announced the formation of the
Shir Chadash High Holydays Task Force.
The Task Force held its first meeting on June 24 and consists of Ben Horwitz, Julie Finger, Deena Gerber, Bob Kutcher, Danny Mintz, Mark Schleifstein, Will Samuels and Henry Weber along with Ken Klein, Rabbi Silver and Ricardo Totah. Its mission is to provide a spiritually meaningful, fulfilling, creative and safe holiday experience for you and your loved ones.
The transition from the Jewish year 5780 to 5781 will be unprecedented and unlike any other in our history as a community. We realize that much of what has characterized the High Holydays experience for Shir Chadash in past years may unfortunately not be available to us this year. For example, if the spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continues, it will not be safe for large numbers of congregants to meet in person. Thus, the High Holydays Task Force must rely on its talents, skills, inspiration and ingenuity to reimagine a warm, uplifting and, most importantly, meaningful period between Rosh Hodesh Elul and Simchat Torah.
The Task Force will be considering all aspects of the High Holydays, including ritual, honors, membership, children and families, technology, building infrastructure and health. The intent is to ensure that our services and programming are as widely available and as safe as possible.
If you have any input for the Task Force, please email it to
[email protected]
. We welcome your ideas and opinions.
Although we could not have anticipated the current challenges arising from the pandemic, we are committed and determined to address them in a way that enables us to provide you with the highest quality experience you deserve during this High Holydays season.
Be well and safe. Shabbat Shalom.
Ken Klein, President
Rabbi Deborah Silver
Ricardo Totah, Executive Director
