American Jewish Life

Rosh Hashanah

Here are photos of my 1st day setting for 12 people. I have the outline of the service along with a page of instructions to each participant.

Supporting Ourselves and Our Children Through Challenging Times

Rabbi Dr. Alex Mondrow gave 3 support sessions for the parents of SINAI Schools, which serves children with special needs across the NY metropolitan area. This is part 1 of the series, given about 2 weeks after everyone went into lockdown in NJ.

Jews United for Justice, Interview #1

This interview talks about how Jews United for Justice is maintaining safety, engaging their volunteer community, and adapting their outreach efforts during the pandemic.

My mother's funeral - what it's like to have someone you love die of covid-19

This story, published in the Jewish Standard, tells the story of my mother's death of covid in a nursing home, at the height of the pandemic in New York; her funeral, and sitting shiva for her.

Matching Tallis and mask during a socially distanced minyan

Wearing a Tallis and mask of matching fabric during a socially distanced minyan for Rosh Chodesh Elul

Passover in a Time of Coronavirus

This essay from Rabbi David Spinrad of the Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia, addresses how COVID-19 has forced changes to Passover this year. Using four perspectives (priorities, people, preparation, and traditions), he encourages people to enjoy the holiday despite the coronavirus pandemic; to use technology to gather with love ones from a safe distance; give themselves a break when it comes to preparing for Seder; and to recognize that while traditions are important, they have the opportunity to make history this year instead.

#dynamicdayschools videos

Jewish day schools and yeshivas continue to be incredibly dynamic, providing excellent learning and community-building opportunities, as well as meaningful commemorations and celebrations, throughout this otherwise challenging time in the world. Because of the values our schools share, we are uniquely positioned to adapt to new challenges and innovate unique ways to educate and nurture our students. Enjoy these videos showcasing Jewish day schools across North America, made entirely from videos, pictures, and music sent to us by schools.

When the Buildings Cheered

For five springtime weeks during the pandemic, I walked the sidewalks of New York to capture the nightly 7:00 PM gratitude for front line workers. Wearing a new face mask and holding an old iPhone 5s, I walked on nearly deserted streets that felt both familiar and foreign. As a born New Yorker, I have always found this city to be the most beautiful, ever-evolving place on earth. I still do. Those five weeks became these five minutes… “When The Buildings Cheered.”

Cousins monthly get together turned into Zoom happy hour in Atlanta!

The Bregman clan getting together once covid hit to continue our monthly celebrations with one another!

Corona Contemplations

I have been struggling on how to represent the changes and destruction of life as we know it. Time seems to have shifted dramatically and feels like it is being taken apart bit by bit. Not knowing what the future will be like, the only thing we know is that life will never go back to the way it was in the past. I am participating in a text study and creative arts class which has really helped how I view art and study of sources that guide me and inspire me.

How Will You Move Forward?

"How Will You Move Forward?" is spray-painted onto a red brick sidewalk along 7th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the near the Chinatown/Gallery Place Metro stop. The art was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funeral in the time of COVID-19

An image portraying how funerals have changed in response of the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced attendance, face masks, and social distance between attendees.

Weekly Torah Class via Zoom

Rabbi Mark Urkowitz teaches his weekly Torah class, now via Zoom, for the residents of The Medallion, a Jewish senior care facility in Houston, May 2020. Photo credit: Stephanie Kleiner From the collections of the Houston Jewish History Archive, Woodson Research Center, Rice University

Virtual Havdalah

Capital Camps' first ever Virtual Havdalah. 150 Camp Families connected with them over Zoom and facebook live, and even more have watched the recording posted to their facebook page. It was a magical evening connecting their camp community across the US and globe

Weekly Virtual Shabbat

Karen Levi contributed this image to the Capital Jewish Museum's COVID-19 archive, documenting her weekly virtual Shabbat

Seder Plate for Virtual Seder

Seder plate for virtual Seder. Contributor Karen Levi drew items she couldn't get at height of Pandemic fear.

Keeping Religion Safe and Vital: Congregation Beth Israel in Portland Oregon

Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon was first established in 1858, It is currently part of the Union of Reform Judaism. The congregation is dedicated to meaningful spiritual experience and commitment to social justice. Since mid March of 2012 CBI has reached out to those most vulnerable to Covid-19 and offered events and services on Zoom and other platforms.

Early Bird COVID-19 Sermon For The Jewish New Year

A key prayer connected with the Jewish High Holy Day services states in part, "“On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, how many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in good time and who in an untimely death. Who shall have rest and who shall wander. Who shall become rich and who impoverished.” This sermon is about how the pandemic has affected our feelings about this chilling prayer about fate and how we might interpret it. An alternate "gentler, kinder" version is offered and discussed. This sermon will be preached in mid-September during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year Please note: For the date below, I put the month and day I plan to preach the sermon on Zoom; the date I "prepublished" it is June 24th, 2020 in my blog, offbeatcompassion.com

"Minced" virtual southern Jewish cooking competition

Four staff members of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life participated in a Facebook Live cooking competition via Zoom, hosted by ISJL Historian Dr. Josh Parshall and Dr. Marcie Cohen Ferris, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Professor Emeritus and scholar of foodways and southern and Jewish cultures.

Institute of Southern Jewish Life Pass(over) the Seder Plate Video

A video from Institute of Southern Jewish Life celebrating Passover with a virtual passing of the Seder plate. All the staff at the ISJL participate to virtually welcome Passover. This video was shared on social media with ISJL supporters and partners.

Study, study, study

Like you, I have lots of time on my hands during the past several months. I have chosen to increase my knowledge of Judaism by studying online with my professors in Jerusalem (Hebrew University), here at home at my synagogue, and with the Jewish Theological Seminary in NY. The webinars have been free, usually one hour, presentations on Zoom with hundreds of other adult learners. A wonderful way to connect and learn from some of the leading experts in many fields of research.

Let's Chalk Shabbat

Announcement of Shabbat candle lighting time chalked on sidewalk outside Trader Joe's on Manhattan's Upper West Side

A Perspective of an Agnostic/Atheist from a Jewish Family

I am not affiliated with any religion and have trouble believing in a higher being as described in many houses of worship. The coronavirus pandemic, by sending religions scrambling to redefine important traditions, has strengthened these secular beliefs. However, I appreciate the uplifting effects that religion can have on families during this trying time. Because of social distancing measures, this year was the first time my family held Passover completely alone. This was a gloomy thought as Passover is a holiday to spend time with and appreciate family and friends. Surprisingly, though, quarantine managed to gather our geographically scattered family in a way we never could. I am attending college in another state and normally cannot come home for Passover. This year the pandemic fortuitously returned me home right before it began. Then, with the help of newly popularized video platforms like Zoom, we were able to celebrate the Passover seder with nearly all of my mom’s family for the first time in my life. It still strikes me that the mixture of my family’s religion and the hardship of the pandemic created a family reunion that would probably not have happened otherwise. I disagree with many tenets of religion, but I will be forever grateful for its ability to bring people together.

Healing Heartbreak

Jewish religion heavily honors life cycle events as a way to guide practitioners through a moral, spiritual, and meaningful journey. When I was first informed of my 50-year-old uncle’s sudden death from a heart attack, I was in disbelief. How could such an incredible athlete with an admirable diet and a healthy lifestyle die from such a complication? Mike was the most intelligent and humble man I have ever known, pouring all of his heart into his children, his wife, his clients and anyone who had the privilege of meeting him. Most importantly, Mike embodied the Jewish community. After Mike’s passing, my aunt received deeply heartfelt emails from more people than imaginable. Mike continues to unite the sense of a Jewish community through his memory. When a Jewish person passes, it is custom that the funeral service and burial quickly follow to best preserve and honor the body. When the mourners return home from the funeral, the shiva - a formal, seven-day Jewish mourning - begins. The shiva serves to bring together the Jewish community in mourning and in celebration of the life of the deceased. The Jewish people were never instructed on how to properly mourn during a worldwide pandemic. Nonetheless, Mike’s wisdom surpassed precedent. Our extended family and friends gathered online to say the mourner’s kaddish, which does not mention death but rather asks God to pray for the souls of the deceased. Mimicking the environment of a shiva house, many people then shared stories of Mike, allowing for both cries and soft laughter to be heard. Mike’s memory joined family and friends from all across the nation, creating a sense of community and comfort that we all so deeply miss during this time of isolation. I know Mike will continue to embrace and uplift the Jewish community through his memory for years to come.

Y'hi Ratzon -- Safe Together Apart

I am Cantor at a Conservative synagogue (Jewish) in Columbus, Ohio. I wrote this song/prayer shortly after the arrival of what was first called Coronavirus, then Covid-19 -- before the word pandemic was being commonly used. The song/prayer had coalesced by March 20. It is based on a somewhat obscure passage in the weekday Torah service (the Torah is read every Monday and Thursday) -- a passage theoretically recited between raising the Torah and returning it to the Ark. The original prayer asks God (our Father) to protect us from desolation and pestilence. I broadened it -- both in Hebrew and in English -- to think of God as both Father and Mother -- and to ask for protection for all of us (not just "b'nei Yisrael" -- the children of Israel) -- brothers and sisters in this country and around the world -- and to keep us Safe Together Apart -- which is the unique challenge to us in these times. I typically do either the Hebrew or the English (generally not both) between various services -- or in the midst of some services -- probably about 5x per week. As we still follow our basic traditional rituals, it hasn't altered the prayers that we do. . . it just gets added here and there. And I share it with other cantors, other Jewish spiritual leaders, and leaders of other faiths, at all appropriate opportunities.

Pandemic Religion Contributions

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