At these unfamiliar and difficult times when our resolve is being tested, I think that keeping in touch and supporting each other is very important.
More so, I truly believe that through the opportunity to study Torah we enrich our minds, elevate our souls and bring ourselves closer to our inner self and to Hashem, where we all find console and comfort.
After speaking with some of our Shabbat Chavurah women we decided to hold online classes on Mondays and Thursdays, following the Mincha service held with Rabbis Pearlson and Kunis.
Join our online class, via Zoom, please click hereandenter 649 646 6938 followed by # when prompted for your meeting ID.
To join via audio only: dial 1-253-215-8782 or 1-301-715-8592
The great rabbis of the Talmud would frequently start the day's study sessions with some humor. I'm not a great rabbi but...
David Kilimnick, a Jerusalem comedian notes:
Did you hear? The Tel Aviv Airport Terminal was totally empty yesterday...”
“People Thought It Was an Attack! When we saw no tourists, our first thought was that Israel was under attack. But CNN and BBC said nothing bad about Israel so we were confused.
We were happy to find out Israel was not under attack and the lack of tourists had nothing to do with anti-Semitism; unless the person who first contracted the virus in China was Jewish. Then we’d all be in trouble.
Certain Parts of Israel Are More Packed Than Ever: Israelis aren’t leaving. I didn’t realize how much vacationing Israelis do. The country is packed but that’s because it’s filled with Israelis who were supposed to be in Budapest right now.
As difficult as the Coronavirus is, there’s a bright side in Israel -- at least there won’t be another election taking place anytime soon. Right?
Now for some good news!
Jewish Astronaut SeesTel Aviv From Space and Sends Blessings: Astronaut Jessica Meir, whose father fought in the 1948 War of Independence, tweets Israel photo from space and sends her blessing:
"Gazing down at the city in which my father was raised," Meir wrote, referring to the city of Tel Aviv, "I take to heart one of his most uttered expressions, 'This too shall pass.' Wise words to remember, in both good times and bad." "Good night Tel Aviv, Israel!" Meir concluded.
Quick D'var Torah: On yesterday's Daf Yomi (the daily Talmud story page) I marveled at the correlation of the statement of Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar and our situation today with COVID-19. He taught: “One may not betroth children on Shabbat, nor enter into an agreement to teach him to read a sacred book or to teach him a trade, and one may not comfort mourners, and one may not visit the sick on Shabbat — this is the statement of Beit Shammai. And Beit Hillel permit performing all of these activities on Shabbat”.
Rashi explains Shammai’s reasoning: when a person comforts the sick or a mourner who is sad, the comforter is saddened themself. Beit Shammai, wanting to keep Shabbat as a day of joy, forbids these difficult activities.
Beit Hillel permits people to visit the sick and comfort mourners on Shabbat because WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST, EVEN AHEAD OF SHABBAT!
While it would be nice to live in a world in which sadness never intersected with Shabbat, and while we try to experience Shabbat as a taste of such a world, a dose of reality is also needed.
The world we live in has pain and sorrow, fear, sickness and death – and the do not stop for Shabbat.
What it means to be a Jew is to recognize that sometimes we have to set aside Shabbat in order to be present for those who suffer.
Life frequently takes precedent over other Jewish laws.
May we dream of Shabbatot that are filled with nothing but joy and may we have the compassion to recognize when it is time to relinquish our own joy for the sake of comforting others.
With all my love,
Rabbi Eliot
P.S.: Don't forget:
Join Menorah's Online Minyan (via Zoom) by clickinghere
To join via audio only:
dial 1-253-215-8782 or 1-301-715-8592
enter 649 646 6938 followed by # when prompted for your meeting ID
Temple Menorah 620 75th Street Miami Beach, FL 33141 info@menorahmail.org
At these unfamiliar and difficult times when our resolve is being tested, I think that keeping in touch and supporting each other is very important.
More so, I truly believe that through the opportunity to study Torah we enrich our minds, elevate our souls and bring ourselves closer to our inner self and to Hashem, where we all find console and comfort.
After speaking with some of our Shabbat Chavurah women we decided to hold online classes on Mondays and Thursdays, following the Mincha service held with Rabbis Pearlson and Kunis.
Join our online class, via Zoom, please click here
NO ONE IN OUR SHUL COMMUNITY IS KNOWN TO BE INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AS OF THIS MORNING.
HOWEVER: In 1848 there was a Cholera Epidemic in the city of Vilna. The doctors informed the great community leader, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, that if the people didn’t eat on Yom Kippur the plague would take scores of lives.
The Rabbi made an edict to eat on Yom Kippur. He was informed on Yom Kippur that people were fasting. He brought out a table, wine and challahs and in front of the entire Shul, made kiddish and HaMotzi. He then sent everyone home and said ‘Do not come back to Yom Kippur davening unless you have eaten. It’s a Mitzvah’.
The rabbi was not lenient about Yom Kippur – he was strict about Pikuach Nefesh – saving lives.
As I write this note, Jewish Day Schools are closed indefinitely. I have been notified that 7 Jewish organizations have canceled all programming until further notice. People over the age of 60 have been warned to not attend any public gatherings of any kind.
We have concluded extensive, thorough deliberations with medical and community specialists. Based on their recommendations we have decided to curtail all public assemblages at Temple Menorah until further notice.
Specifically: - No classes or school sessions - No minyans - No Shabbat services - No open office hours - No youth programming
Please note: 1. Rabbi Pearlson and Rabbi Kunis remain available to handle any ritual or family difficulties. 2. Rabbi Pearlson is coordinating daily classes that will be available throughout the day via Zoom and/or Google Hangouts Meet 3. Our staff is taking advantage of the building closure to initiate a deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility. 4. Our office staff will be working daily, but offsite. 5. Phone calls to the shul will be answered via voicemail and we will respond will the greatest of alacrity.
Be assured: we are not being lenient about Davening or Minyans – we are being strict about Pikuach Nefesh – saving lives.
I would like to invite everyone to keep the sick and the infirm in our tefilot. Let’s dedicate all our emotional, spiritual and physical energies to ensuring everyone is kept healthy and safe during the coming days and weeks.
May Hashem bless our endeavors and may we succeed in bringing security and health to the world. Amen.
