blogs/brentspodek

In light of the current state of emergency, we, in consultation with our existing Safety and Security team and our ad-hoc Coronavirus team, have made the decision to significantly re-arrange our programming at BHA until Friday, March 27, at which point we will reassess what is prudent for our community.  

The schedule changes are as follows.

Weekday Programs

• Preschool: BHA Preschool will be closed through March 27; Ilana will follow up with more specific information and resources.
• Seeds of Light Chanting and Meditation will continue online as scheduled on Tuesdays at 6:30 at https://zoom.us/j/887130828
• Wednesday Morning Minyan is canceled
• Our on-line gathering, Mindfulness in Times of Uncertainty will continue as scheduled. 

Friday Programs

• All Potlucks are canceled.
• Friday Evening Mindful Hasidism (Kedushat Levi) for March 20 and 27 will happen on-line at 5:00 at http://bit.ly/RBCSZOOM. A brief video for learning tonight is available here . 
• Friday Evening Services for tonight, March 13 as well as March 20 and 27 will happen on-line at 6:00 at http://bit.ly/RBCSZOOM
• Friday Masa is canceled for the remainder of March.

Saturday Programs

• Shabbat Morning Learning and Shacharit Services for March 14 are canceled
• As of now, Soul Stroll on March 21 is scheduled to take place; click here for registration and details. 

Sunday Programs

• Sunday Masa will be held outdoors; Julia will follow up with more detail for Masa families.
• The Art of Heresy is canceled; all registrations will be refunded. 
• Zen/Jewish Meditation is canceled; all registrations will be refunded.

No decision has yet been made regarding events on March 28 or beyond, including the Womens’ Seder. We will share more information as the public health situation unfolds and more information is available.  As always, our calendar is the most accurate place for up to date schedule information.

Regarding our on-line programs: They will take place on Zoom, an online platform for video conferencing. You can access our on-line programs through your regular web browser, though it might be easier to install the zoom app on your computer, apple or android device.

Please note that until we feel the threat of contagion has passed, there will be no large group programming inside BHA. One on one meetings will continue as scheduled. 

If you are a member of BHA and are available to help those in our community who are in need, please sign up for our Hesed Team here; this is the main mechanism we will use to help those in need. If you need assistance, please let Rabbi Brent or Cantor Ellen know.

As we all grapple with this unprecedented upheaval of our collective lives, I want to share the words of my wise friend and colleague, Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky of Los Angeles, who says, “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.”

Our building is closed; our community is intact. We are blessed with the strength, the resources and the connections to manifest the Divine Presence for each other. Now is the time to pray for health and healing, for wise leaders and responsible citizens, for liberation from fear and a robust commitment to caring for each other, for compassion and tenderness and love. 

We join you as we continue to sing our tender, fierce song of hope. 

With blessings,

Rabbi Brent Spodek                          Deb Davidovits, President