Temple Beth El of Williamsburg, VA
E-News
April 21, 2020 Issue 381
Rabbi David Katz
Jill Hyman, Synagogue Manager
Parashat Tazria-Metzora
The two short parashiyot of Tazria and Metzora are usually read together, but are separate during Jewish leap years.

Many people find these the two most uncomfortable portions of the Torah, dealing with many issues related to ritual purity and impurity. Ritual impurity, or tumah, has nothing to do with hygiene; instead, it is a spiritual state which prevents a person from participating in the worship life of the community. One becomes impure through a variety of means, all of which are perfectly natural, such as illness, childbirth, physical discharges and contact with a corpse. Purity and impurity are not related to good or evil. However, impurity is considered to be a spiritual disability. For example, tzara'at, the skin affliction which is discussed at length in this part of the Torah, is not the biological disease leprosy (as it is has historically been translated - it is probably something more like psoriasis or impetigo, which are common in the desert), but rather a state that the Torah understands as the physical manifestation of a spiritual or ritual problem. This is not a medical treatise, nor are the Cohanim serving as paramedics. Rather, tumah is a purely ritual concern, and as the ritual leaders of the community, it falls upon the priesthood to facilitate purification for those who find themselves in a state of impurity.

As in Tazria before it, the discussion of ritual impurity continues in Metzora. Houses that have mildew-like growth must be inspected, and may be replastered or torn down. Impurity is also caused by discharges from the body. A menstruating woman is declared ritually impure for seven days.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Tuesday, April 21
4:00 - 5:00 pm
TBE's MMG will have a regular session led by Rabbi David. Newcomers are welcome, but please be in touch with Rabbi David ahead of time if you haven't participated before.
 
LINK: https://zoom.us/j/750545116
THIS ZOOM WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME
Password: 316776

Zoom and Schmooze
Wednesday, April 22
11:00 am
Here's a chance to check in, say hi, and visit with Rabbi David and other TBE friends.

Meeting ID: 104 219 597
Password: 042870

Torah Study
Thursday, April 23
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Torah Study by Zoom
Please join us for TBE's always-lively Torah Study session

LINK: https://zoom.us/j/104488948
THIS ZOOM WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME
Password: 978192
Simcha Shabbat
Yom HaShoah Readings
Friday, April 24
7:30 pm

LINK: https://zoom.us/j/175881984?pwd=eU5jT1FnM2ZkTjFBRWJmbU9kNG5pdz09
Meeting ID: 175 881 984
Password: 009097

TBE School via Zoom
Sunday, April 26
Information about TBE School will be sent directly to all families by Rabbi David and Brenda.

Zoom and Schmooze
Monday, April 27
3:00 pm
Here's a chance to check in, say hi, and visit with other TBE friends. Rabbi David will not be participating in this session.

Meeting ID: 758 424 002
Password: 016921


Passwords for our Zoom sessions are in response to concerns about security. Please do NOT share Zoom passwords with anyone you don’t know.
Yom HaShoah Readings - April 24
Yom HaShoah Readings
During online services this coming Friday night, April 24, Bob and Chellie Booth will share a couple of dramatic readings about the Holocaust, in honor of Yom HaShoah, which is on April 21.
Simcha Shabbat - April 24
During online services this coming Friday night, April 24, we’ll celebrate any Simcha that you’ve celebrated in your life during the month of April. If you’re able to, please send Rabbi David an Email during the week to let him know that you’d like to do this, but it’s also ok to just let him know when he asks for Simcha Celebrators at the start of services. 
This week’s Shabbat Box from the Reconstructionist movement
A Sisterhood Program With Rabbi David:  An Introduction to Reconstructionist Judaism - May 6
Join us for a Sisterhood program on May 6 at 7 pm,  "A Sisterhood Program With Rabbi David: An Introduction to Reconstructionist Judaism.”  All members of Sisterhood, and those women interested in becoming members are welcome. More information to follow.
Annual Congregational Meeting - June 17
Save-the-Date : The TBE Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the third Wednesday in June.
Help deliver face shields to Sentara Hospital
TBE member Steve Alter is 3D-printing face shields for use by medical personnel at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. He is producing five each day, and is in need of volunteers to deliver them to the hospital. Please contact Steve directly at  altertalk@gmail.com  if you can help out.
Zoom Links from a friend’s synagogue
If you’re interested in more Zoom-accessible Jewish programming, TBE members have been invited to participate online in the following programs at the SAJ (the Society for the Advancement of Judaism) - the first Reconstructionist synagogue, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, whose original rabbi was Mordechai Kaplan and whose current rabbi, Lauren Grabelle Hermann, is a friend of Rabbi David’s. 

Every Tuesday at 2pm
Text Exploration with Rabbi Lauren or Guest Teachers TBD 
Zoom ID: 790-811-981
Every Wednesday at 2pm
Moments Musicaux": Notes on Music"
"Moments Musicaux": Notes on Music" 45 minute lectures with SAJ member-concert pianist, Dr. Claudia Knafo, who will present and perform (sometimes) anything and everything you wanted to know about classical music, the lives of composers, and the gossip of the greats. See Claudia’s bio here: https://www.claudiaknafo.com/
Zoom ID: 790-811-981

Every Thursday at 2pm
Philosophy of Prayer, with student Rabbi Sarah Brammar-Shlay 
Zoom ID: 790-811-981
Community Information and Resources
This is an extraordinary time, when most everyday routines and services have been disrupted, and procedures and recommendations are frequently in flux. We are doing our best to keep in touch with the situation as it develops, and to respond accordingly.

Rabbi David and Acting President Linda Maltz are in regular contact with area social service agencies, and both participated in a statewide conference call for faith community leaders this past week. 

If you are in need of any kind of assistance during this crisis, please be in touch with Rabbi David, and he will do his best to find you the help that you need. Help with food, errands, unemployment, housing, domestic difficulties, and many other areas is available in the community. Please reach out if you need help. Similarly, if you’d like to volunteer to help in some way, please also be in touch with Rabbi David.

For the moment, the Temple Beth El synagogue building remains closed until further notice, and our congregation is not organizing, planning, or endorsing any in-person gatherings.  All in-person events are cancelled. This includes Shabbat Zakein, Ali Kaplan Memorial Blood Drive, Jewish Film Festival, and the in-person Community Seder at the WUU.

Rabbi David and Jill are working from home, and are available by phone or Email, as are our many volunteer leaders.

As of now, we expect this status to continue at least through the end of April (although that is certainly not our hope). We are regularly evaluating how to offer Jewish religious, cultural, and communal programming at this unprecedented moment, and we anticipate offering more options to you as we move forward. 
Greater Williamsburg Basic Needs Map
As a COVID Community Response, please familiarize yourself with the valuable resources available in our area, https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1D7dA5JZQUH9ELoaoZ4TiuvLvkZZPmHJB&usp=sharing
Educational Resources from the ISJL are an important tool for us to share. From a Taste of Torah to Special Resources for Passover and More. Southern Jewish Playlists are also in the works - coming soon! Please take a look!

Grocery Delivery

TBE member Deanna Marroletti is available to pick up and deliver groceries to any TBE member who can't or shouldn't go out to stores on their own. She is currently doing deliveries on Wednesdays and Fridays. If you'd like Deanna's help please contact her directly at 

GROCERY DELIVERY OPTIONS
 
Instacart delivery: instacart.com
Delivery from stores in zip codes 23185: Aldi, Publix, CVS, Petco, Food Lion, The Fresh Market and Target. Zero dollar delivery fees on orders of $35 or more with Instacart Express membership available monthly or annually. One time delivery without membership ranges between $3.99 and $7.99. Pickup also available.
 
Harris Teeter: harristeeter.com
Same day delivery or pickup depending on demand. In addition to $4.95 shopping fee, same day delivery is $9.95 on orders over $50. Same day delivery for orders under $50 is $11.95 in addition to $4.95 shopping fee. Express Lane pickup delayed due to high demand.
 
Harris Teeter is designating Thursdays from 9am to 2pm as ExpressLane Senior Day. To further enhance our commitment to protecting our senior shoppers, Harris Teeter will designate ExpressLane Online Shopping *pick-up times from 9am - 2pm for seniors only every Thursday until further notice AND will waive the **$4.95 fee & offer $5 delivery for seniors during these times.

ExpressLane Senior Day Promotion Codes
Waive the Fee - SD60
$5 Delivery - SDDEL

This will allow our senior shoppers to take advantage of their 5% Senior Club discount every Thursday, and it will provide a genuine opportunity for our senior shoppers to purchase what they need while practicing the CDC's recommended social distancing guidelines.
 
Publix: Publix.com
Delivery and curbside pickup by Instacart. 
Instore pickup: Due to limited product availability, some online orderable items may not be available. This includes some cake flavors and other orderable items. The store associate will call you if an item or option you selected is not available and offer a replacement.
 
Food Lion: Foodlion.com
For pickup or delivery of orders over $35, pickup fee is $1.99 and delivery fee is $3.99. There is an additional delivery service fee of 5% of the total order. Food Lion delivery hours are Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m - 10 p.m.
 
Walmart: Walmart.com
Free pickup. Delivery fee varies and is based on time slot you book. No monthly or annual subscription fees. 
 
Target: Target.com
Free four week trial membership to Shipt, you will be billed for a $99 nonrefundable annual membership when four week trial ends. Same day or next day delivery if item is eligible. Prime Pantry delivery includes fresh and frozen foods and essentials.
 
Amazon available to Prime members: Amazon.com
Free grocery delivery from Whole Foods with membership. Two hour delivery may not be available due to high demand, free shipping on all orders over $35, flat fee of $5.99 if under $35.
 
PHARMACY OPTIONS

Williamsburg Drug Company:
McLaws Cir., M-F 9-6, Sat. 9-4, 229-1041, free delivery and curbside service
 
CVS:
Jamestown Rd/199, 564-1005, M-F 8-8, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-6, free shipping, drive-thru
 
Walgreens:
229-0962, 1309 Richmond Rd, has drive-thru, free shipping
updated our hours to allow for extra cleaning and stocking.
open 9am-9pm weekdays
24-hour stores are drive-thru only overnight 9pm-9am
Seniors-only shopping: 8am-9am every Tuesday
 
Target: Williamsburg East store
200 Marquis Parkway, pharmacy hours: M-F 10am-7pm, Sat. 11am-5pm, Sun. 12pm-5pm, 259-3021
Pickup and shipping available
 
 
OTHER SERVICES OPTIONS

Library Services:
Offering digital library cards if you don't have one already
 https://wrl.org/
 https://wrl.org/temporary-library-card-signup/
 
Pet Services:

Petco: https://stores.petco.com/va/williamsburg/pet-supplies-williamsburg-va-2877.html
4600 Casey Boulevard Suite 100, Williamsburg, VA 23188
(757) 259-1980
Order online and pick up in store or drive up for curbside service
 
Petsmart : https://www.petsmart.com/
4900 Monticello Ave,Williamsburg, VA 23188, 259-1630
Jill Hyman
Synagogue Manager
757-220-1205

Rabbi David Katz
757-206-1633
mobile 757-634-6407
Temple Beth El, A Welcoming Synagogue In Williamsburg, Virginia
Visit our website , www.tbewilliamsburg.org