Page 12 - Jewish News_August-2020

12 August 2020 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Area synagogues...continued from page 10
the Torah service, during the Hakafah High Holiday services will mostly In an article in the Longboat Key vices and programming due to the
(Torah procession), I actually carried likely be virtual (livestreamed from the Observer, Azerad noted that “I dis- Coronavirus.
the Torah to the screen so that congre- sanctuary, with Zoom for Torah study covered that there were two aspects “Our board and lay leadership
gants could “touch” the Torah virtually. and Yizkor). “We are considering a few of programming that we needed to ad- quickly decided to move our services
JEWISH CONGREGATION outdoor experiences, such as tashlich dress. One is the kind of programming and programs online, in step with con-
OF VENICE with outdoor shofar blowing and other that lends itself to the label of caring gregations locally and nationally. We
According to Rabbi Benjamin Shull, possible drive-in options,” Rabbi Shull and sharing (like discussion groups ad- have been offering a daily minyan, our
the Jewish Congregation of Venice said. dressing the concerns
rapidly shut down its in-person pro- TEMPLE BETH-EL of participants). The
grams by the second week in March. On March 13, the Temple Beth-El next is the item of rit-
“It was all somewhat sudden,” Rabbi Board of Directors unanimously de- ual and worship.”
Shull said. “We had been planning on cided to close the facility until it was Friday gatherings
hand-sanitizing and distancing, but the safe to return. Rabbi Michael Stern- are Zoom calls (able
shutdown of sports leagues and other field and Cantor Debra Bard have been to accommodate many
venues convinced us to close every- providing Sabbath video services via screens), with both in-
thing.” YouTube on Friday evenings since formal discussions and
The congregation shifted to on- the temple’s closure. The temple’s re- Shabbat dinners. Mem-
line services and programs. “We first ligious school had been meeting via bers call into Zoom
started using the Zoom format and Zoom conferencing. A couple of weeks with their Shabbat
recorded just the cantor and me from ago, the temple started offering Satur- candles, wine and chal- Temple Beth Sholom Executive Catering Director Susan McCann with
home,” Shull explained. “We sent the day morning Torah study via Zoom, as lah bread, and Rabbi volunteers Lauren and Sam Haven getting ready for meal pick-up
recordings for congregants to view on well. Stephen Sniderman leads them in the regular Friday and Saturday Shabbat
their own. We also started some Zoom Temple Beth-El programs today ritual blessings. services, holiday services, and multiple
classes (Torah study, schmooze with are still being offered virtually. Accord- As for other programming, Temple classes and presentations, all virtually
the rabbi, Kol Isha with the cantor, ing to Ron Eiseman, Board President, Beth Israel is offering a bridge club, via Zoom. This also includes the adver-
etc.). After several weeks we started “Temple Beth-El members have been a Friday happy hour, a book club and tising and ordering of our popular take-
livestreaming from the sanctuary with very supportive of the changes that discussion groups. The question as out Shabbat meals. We have shortened
the cantor and me and a few others (no were made. Our utmost concern is the to when worship will move back to our Saturday Shabbat services slightly,
more than five in all).” health and safety of our congregation in-person depends on the virus itself. though they still keep their traditional
There were some Wi-Fi prob- and their families. They truly appreci- “In the meantime, virtual connections feel and have been very well received
lems, and they soon switched to Zoom ate the video programming provided reign supreme. For now, it seems to be by the congregation,” Calaguas said.
for live services with congregants on on a weekly basis.” working,” Azerad said. “We’ve been Currently, TBS offers a daily morn-
screen and breakout Oneg Shabbat ser- Recently, the directors sent out a trying to bring as many people as pos- ing minyan from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., Fri-
vices. Most recently, the congregation survey to members asking them about sible into our circle,” he added. “And day night services starting at 6:30 p.m.,
held a drive-in Havdalah, which was their comfort level of returning to in- people are very, very grateful for that.” and Saturday morning service starting
well-received and attended by about 30 person services for the High Holidays. Plans for High Holidays include at 10:00 a.m.
people. They are planning drive-in Fri- A decision will be announced shortly. streaming services from the sanctuary The continuing education commit-
day evening services and are trying a Regardless of what the board deci- for a digital experience. “Our congre- tee has a mini-series called “Staying
livestream service from the sanctuary, sion is, the temple will still offer video gants have become more and more Connected.” Each program is 45 min-
with its improved Wi-Fi. programming for those members and comfortable with technology over the utes long on a different topic.
Congregants enjoy the online ser- friends who are not comfortable at- last few months, and we hope that it Weekly, homemade, fully kosher
vices, particularly the live Zoom ser- tending a live service. will be an easy transition under the cur- Shabbat meals are available for curb-
vices. According to Rabbi Shull, they TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL rent circumstances,” said office admin- side pickup. All meals are $12 and can
are getting about 60-70 percent of the At Temple Beth Israel, Executive Di- istrator Shana Johnson. be ordered via the TBS website, where
congregation’s pre-pandemic atten- rector Isaac Azerad said it was busi- TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM the menus are available, as well. At the
dance. “We held the drive-in service ness as usual once the pandemic and its According to Lex Calaguas, Market- same time, the congregation is run-
since many of our congregants ex- social distancing rules arrived in mid- ing and Communications Coordinator, ning a food drive where people may
pressed an interest in some type of in- March, except that everything that was Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) radically drop off donations of canned and non-
JFCS_JN_August_quarter.pdf 1 7/2/20 10:38 AM
person experience,” Shull said. once in-person was now done virtually. changed its approach to religious ser- continued on next page
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