Internet Seders?
The question about an internet seder has been asked. 1. I attach an article from the the Times of Israel 2. I attach a Teshuvah from one of the UTJ scholars. (I have omitted a second halachic issue that R Novak addresses, because it is so technical and he does not conclude that it prevents using the internet.) Israel’s chief rabbis say Passover Seder can’t be held via videoconference Teshuvah of R David Novak (UTJ): Question: A divorcee and her daughter have for the past t
Updates, Siyyum Bechorim, and Words from the Prophets
Good afternoon, At least two people from Traditional have read my emails, because they correctly corrected me -- the progression was not "geometric," but "exponential." Either I missed that class or my teachers have "a lot of 'splainin' to do, Lucy." So far, I have not heard of anyone in the congregation having been infected, and the worst I heard was that some out-of-area relatives may have been exposed to someone and were quarantined. A. News: As I write, total cases on
Shabbat Shalom -- Some positive, at least, amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic
Good morning & Shabbat Shalom, A. News: As I write, total cases on the planet now exceed a half-million. US: total reported coronavirus cases: 86,012; deaths from coronavirus: 1,301 Israel: 3,035 reported cases, and now 12 reported deaths. World: 558,502 reported cases, and now 25,251 reported deaths. B. Shabbat is described as "a taste of the world to come" -- amidst this pandemic, it can be an other life experience. See my suggestions from last week. When I venture o
Coronavirus March 25, 2020: Perspective
Shalom, A. News: As I write, US deaths from coronavirus: 809; total reported cases: 55,568 In Israel there are now 2,170 reported cases, and now 5 reported deaths. The coronavirus pandemic is infecting, affecting, and altering our society. Most of us have never experienced anything like this. However, some perspective: 1. Influenza (the flu) -- in the five months from October 2019 through February 2020 -- 45 million Americans infected, 46,000 died, according to The Cente
Shabbat Shalom: Updates, What we can do, Shabbat, and Psalms
As we ready for Shabbat, our first without services, I wish you a Shabbat Shalom. A. The News: As of this writing the the number of cases in the US has grown to 14,250, up nearly 3,000 in the last 24 hours, and 205 deaths, up 48 in the last 24 hours. In Israel, still no reported deaths, but the number of cases has risen to 705. Dr Fauci has recently said this will still take at least several weeks. Since coronavirus does remain on surfaces -- different surfaces for differe
Torah Guidance As We Face the Coronavirus Challenges
Good Morning, A. First, as we have previously stated, if you need my assistance, please let me know. I have already begun phoning members of the congregation, but getting to everyone will take time. My first priority is the elderly and those who are ill. If you can offer a service, please let me know, so I can share it with our members. B. Our weekday minyanim were suspended, but the prayers themselves remain for us. In the weekday Amidah, two prayers, the 8th and 9th
