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Updates: Confirmed Cases + Ways to Help

03/23/2020 04:25:46 PM

Mar23

 

Some updates in these hard times. 

There are four known cases of coronavirus in our congregation; we pray for their speedy recovery and for the health and well-being of the medical professionals working to keep them -- and all of us -- safe and healthy. 

Ways to help

  • We have been reaching out to every member of our congregation; as we become aware of needs, we'll be turning to our Hesed Team for help and support. If you are a member of BHA would like to be part of that team, please sign up here .
  • BHA members Dara Silverman, Sarah From and Jessica Simkovic have been doing incredible work organizing mutual assistance in the broader community.  Please visit www.beaconmutualaid.com  to learn more and be of assistance if possible. 
  • BHA member Rena Leinberger is organizing efforts to create and send masks to local hospitals who need supplies. You can find out more and take part here
  • As something to keep kids spirits up, my daughter Noa has created a drawing called Beacon Together in the hopes that other kids (and adults!) can color it in and post it in windows as a way of spreading some cheer. This way, we can provide a little shout out to each other as we go for daily constitutionals around town. You can download and print the picture here. Of course, not all our members live in Beacon, so if folks in Fishkill, Cold Spring, Wappingers, Newburgh or elsewhere have some local cheer to share, please let me know and we'll share it in subsequent emails. 

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BHA Programs

We have moved everything possible to on-line platforms. You can see the full run-down here; some highlights include:


Of course, our educators have a whole range of programs for our students - if you have any questions about those, please be in touch with  Ilana Friedman for our preschool students and Julia Alexander for our Masa students.

Lastly, at this moment that can feel so dark I want to remind us of a truth that Torah teaches about the very beginnings of the universe. 

In the beginning . . . the earth was without form and void . . . and darkness was on the face of the deep . . . and the Holy One said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. From this we can learn two things which might be worth remembering today. 

First is that darkness precedes light. For sure, we are in a dark moment now, but light always follows darkness. Second is that the darkness existed, but the light was created. The initial light was created by the Holy One of Blessing; we, who are partners in creation with the Holy One are called to not succumb to the darkness, but to create light where we can. 

With blessings for all of those who are lighting lamps for ourselves and others, 

Rabbi Brent Spodek and Cantor Ellen Gersh

 

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784