Dear Friends,
Like many of us, I remain stunned at the rapidity of the transformations we’ve witnessed over the past few days.
We’ve all seen the headlines: School systems have closed. Colleges have cancelled in-person classes for the remainder of the semester. The NBA is shutting down. The Capitol in Washington, D.C. is closed.
And -- as I’m sure you read in the
announcement
that went out an hour or so ago -- Temple Aliyah will be closed for at least the next two weeks.
The reason for this flurry of activity is clear. The corona virus is spreading rapidly throughout the world. There is a real danger that health care facilities will become overwhelmed. There is a need for all of us to share in slowing down the spread of the virus, to
“flatten the curve”
-- that is, to keep the pace at which new cases arise manageable -- and thus allow our health care professionals to continue to provide care and help us get through this challenging time.
Through it all, we shouldn’t forget who we are, and who we strive to be.
The number one directive that I hope all of us are following is
“social distancing.”
This is considered the fundamental and essential step to slowing down the transmission of the corona virus.
Let me say what social distancing is --
and what it isn’t.
Social distancing is
physical
distancing. It’s taking pains to be, most of the time, at least six feet away from other people. It’s refraining from shaking hands. These steps diminish dramatically the chances that droplets containing virus will alight onto the clothing or the person of another human being.
Social distancing needn’t -- and
shouldn’t
-- be behavior that distances us from our family, friends, and community.
Especially at this time,
we should be reaching out to those who might otherwise be isolated. When I say “reaching out,” of course, I don’t mean touching! I mean making use of the wondrous technological devices at our disposal to
communicate
with others, to
share
with others, and to
care
for others.
Indeed, each time we find ourselves distancing ourselves
physically
from someone, we should ask ourselves: Is there someone to whom I could and should be reaching out?
Our Hesed Committee helps us fulfill our collective responsibility as a community to help those in need. It will continue to have its work cut out for itself over these next few weeks and months, and I encourage all of you to volunteer to assist them in their holy work.
Indeed, I am hoping that
all
of our synagogue committees, such as the Ritual, School, and Kesher committees, will continue to function as we persist in pursuing our mission even during these challenging circumstances.
But there is also much that each of us, as individuals, can do.
I’d like to share with you the inspiring words of Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, a Modern Orthodox rabbi in San Francisco:
Every hand that we don't shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.
Let’s heed Rabbi’s Kanefsky’s words. Let’s not allow “social distancing” to be an excuse to refrain from offering emotional caring and support. On the contrary, may it impel us to get closer in other ways.
The Cantor and I will continue to be available remotely for pastoral guidance and support. And our synagogue leadership will continue to be available and accessible as well.
There will be many ways that we can continue to connect as a community. For example, although we won't physically be together tomorrow, we can spend part of Shabbat together virtually by live-streaming our worship. Hopefully we'll be thinking creatively to conduct other gatherings similarly. As plans are made to adapt to our rapidly changing reality, we will continue to send updates.
However physically distant from one another we will be obliged to be during the coming days, may it not contribute to our neglecting our responsibilities toward one another (our
mitzvot bein adam la-havero
).
Instead, let’s do even more than we usually do.
As we seek to diminish the rate of the spread of the corona virus in the days ahead, let’s increase the rate at which we spread care, comfort and connection.
Shabbat shalom. May this rather unusual Shabbat be a time of renewal and resolve.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Carl Perkins
