2 minute read
President’s Message
Bob Spector Shalom Chaverim,
I cannot believe how quickly the summer is flying by and that our High Holidays are only days away. I hope you have had many opportunities to have in-person gatherings with family and friends throughout the last few months. As you know, we will be offering in-person attendance for all our services throughout the Holiday season and that these services will not be the same as what we have traditionally been accustomed to at Beth Shalom. I understand that there is disappointment that we will not be offering a complete traditional service option this year. Our clergy have worked extremely hard to create a spiritually enriching experience for all of us that balances the essence and integrity of our prayers with the health and welfare of our community. To maximize our safety as well as the number of congregants who can safely attend, we decided to offer two shifts which then required that our services be shortened. I understand that the science is not exact, but unfortunately this new COVID-19 variant is proving that even the vaccinated are at greater risk of contracting the virus. As of the time I am writing this column (August 1st), I expect that with proper precautions we will be able to gather in-person as a community, and I hope and expect that next year we will be able to pray together as an entire community without fear of our health being compromised. Last month, I mentioned my vision of a strong and thriving community that shares values that can be characterized as Tolerant, Open, Patient, Understanding, Accepting, Compassionate, and Healthy. The first letters of each of these values approximates the word TOPUACH (ta-pu-ach), the Hebrew word for apple (perhaps the power of the unconscious?). The apple is one of our most popular and symbolic foods of Rosh Hashanah, representing the hope of having a sweet and healthy new year. I have what I hope is a small ask of you. Throughout the holiday season, during your meals and attending services at either Beth Shalom or online with your loved ones, remember the sweetness and power of the topuach. That even in the midst of a continuing pandemic, we focus on what we do have in our lives rather than what we do not have; that we embrace the joy of being together as a spiritual community rather than the disappointment of having our service being different; and that we celebrate our good fortune in being part of a wonderful Congregation Beth Shalom family. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we hope you have a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. L’shana tovah u’metukah,
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Bob
