Chevre
Friends
"Cancel Everything" is the new normal (credit Yascha Mounk for the mantra; The Atlantic, March 10). And we all are, everywhere....Our congregations and institutions are postponing events and eliminating all manners of in-person interactions - meetings, worship services, celebratory gatherings, lectures, classes for youth and adults. However, while Covid-19 may pose a threat to our physical well-being, social distancing does not threaten our communal vitality. Jews have persevered, and Judaism has thrived, for millennia, in large measure, because of our capacity for adaptation. Our perspective on sacred space and physical centers of gravity has evolved continuously, from the time that we built Tabernacles and Temples to house the Divine Presence. Today, we have the opportunity to reimagine our paths to engagement and connection and expand our vision of what constitutes Kehillah, community. We may not be able to hold hands but we can and should reach out virtually. We are also called to uphold our core values, and pay heed to the plight of all who are affected by the pandemic--physically, spiritually, emotionally, and economically.
At Synagogue Council of MA, we will continue to discharge our mission to serve you and support our congregations statewide, across all lines of affiliation, denomination, and observance. Look for updates about upcoming programs, such as our Fundraising Seminars, Presidents' Leadership Forum, and our Unity Matters broadcasts, as we shift to online and web-based modalities.
I invite you at any time to reach out with questions, concerns, and suggestions as we face new challenges each day.
We wish you a week of peace, contentment, quietude, and security.
Shabbat Shalom
David Bernat, Executive Director
Gretchen Marks Brandt, Associate Director
Emma Savitz, Office Administrator
Elizabeth Pressman and Craig Schneider, Co-Presidents
