SYNAGOGUES
November 2020
BETH TIKVAH
Federation Star
31
www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239.434.1818
Beth Tikvah update Shelley Goodman and Sue Hammerman, Co-Presidents
T
he High Holidays have always been cherished as a time of hope, introspection and new beginnings. It is when we think about all that we have done, and all that we continue to do for the people in our lives, our homes, our communities and Israel. It is when we rededicate ourselves to our purpose and mission, as we strive to be a light unto others. This year was no exception. Although the holidays were different, our services were streamed and Zoomed, providing all the uplifting messages and spiritual connections for which we have been yearning. Much appreciation and gratitude to Rabbi Chorny, who diligently worked to make these holidays so special, and Cantor Frani Goodman, who added her musical touch. November is normally the unofficial beginning of a new season for Beth Tikvah. Though many of our congregation have not yet returned, with the use of Zoom, no one is more than a click away. Many of our programs never ended and more are again beginning.
Lecture series Our seasonal lecture series begins on Zoom, with Jeff Margolis discussing “Remember the Ladies,” literary works by First Ladies on Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m.
phone at 239-593-6821. All women who are interested in attending are welcome.
“Jewish Perspectives”
Beth Tikvah Co-Presidents Shelley Goodman and Sue Hammerman
The series continues on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., when our speaker on economics and finance will be Justin Land. Please contact office@bethtikvah.us or visit our website www.bethtikvahnaples.org to reserve your spot and receive the Zoom links.
Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group Our Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group brings friendship and intellectual stimulation together monthly. This month, we will meet on Sunday, Nov.15, at 11 a.m. Please check the Beth Tikvah website for the Zoom link to join us. If you are interested in being a facilitator, please contact Elaine Kamin at elainekamin@gmail.com or by
NAPLES JEWISH CONGREGATION
Rabbi Chorny continues leading the “Jewish Perspectives” course on Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10 and 17, at 12:15 p.m. If you wish, bring along a dairy lunch and join us for weekly topical discussions. You will be encouraged to participate live on Zoom. The educational link on our website will direct you to how you may join.
Naples Jewish Film Festival Planning is underway for our eighth season of the Naples Jewish Film Festival, scheduled for February/March 2021. This series of four films on Jewish-related themes will be streamed to all Subscribers. Look for more details about the films, showings and subscription opportunities in future Beth Tikvah updates and on our website. This year, you will be able to enjoy these new and exciting feature films in the comfort of your own home! Beth Tikvah is the affiliated congregation in Greater Naples of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN) for support of our
Scholar in Residence, Naples Jewish Film Festival and All Things Jewish programs. All Beth Tikvah lectures and events are open to the Greater Naples community. Everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is required for most events.
Beth Tikvah November happenings on Zoom • Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. - Jeff Margolis lecture • Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10 and 17 at 12:15 p.m. - Jewish Perspectives with Rabbi Chorny • Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. - Justin Land Lecture • Sunday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. - Rosh Chodesh Women’s Study Group
Religious services streaming schedule • Thursday and Sunday morning services begin at 9 a.m. • Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m. • Saturday services begin at 9:30 a.m. • We convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request. You may reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239-537-5257.
www.naplesjewishcongregation.org / 239.431.3858
A most unusual High Holy Days during a most unusual time By Steve McCloskey, President
Steve McCloskey President
W
hen we gathered in our sanctuaries in late September and early October of last year to commemorate the High Holy Days, it was not within the contemplation of any of us that we would not be able to congregate together for this year’s High Holy Days services. Our world has literally been “... turned upside down” by the global pandemic and its myriad, rippling effects on every aspect of our lives. The last seven or eight months have been wrenchingly disruptive and emotionally draining. Reaching out to others has become a virtual act, rather than a physical one. Hugs have been supplanted by screen shots of love and friendship. What has remained constant, a “virtual” anchor for us, has been our loving and caring NJC family, which observed this year’s High Holy Days on Zoom and YouTube Live. When we last gathered for Shabbat services on Friday, March 13, we were in the very beginning of the throes of the novel coronavirus. It seems so very long ago — a distant world almost — yet it has been a mere seven months. We at
NJC had to adroitly pivot to a new, and as yet unknown and unexplored, virtual world in order to remain connected with members to provide them the spiritual succor that they craved. We had never live-streamed our services before, nor had we ventured into cyberspace with our NJC family. Led by our intrepid Dick Lechtner, who took it upon himself to learn how to conduct our services on Zoom and YouTube Live, and ably assisted by Rabbi Howard Herman; Jane Galler, our Cantorial Soloist; Alla Gorelik, our Music Director and accompanist; Peter Weissman, one of our revered choir members; and Barry Goldenberg, our Ritual Chair, we were providing members with virtual Shabbat services by early April. We did not have the time for a learning curve with a long arc. Our members have wholeheartedly embraced our virtual services on Zoom and YouTube Live, best demonstrated by the number of views for each of our services. This is a testament to the quality of the services we are providing to members through the stellar rabbinical leadership of Rabbi Herman and the wonderful and spiritually uplifting music from Jane, Alla and Peter. This year’s High Holy Days services were remarkable for their ruach and neshama, embracing the timeless Judaic precepts of justice, mercy and compassion and humility before God.
Rabbi Herman’s messages during our High Holy Days services were steeped in meaning and purposefully powerful, designed to engage us in critically thinking about our Judaism, our lives, and perhaps most importantly, how we can meaningfully touch the lives of others and make our world just a little better by our presence in it. Rabbi Herman spoke about the Judaic obligation to speak truth to power, including from the bima, in order to repair our world; about living the life that we intended; about being a good
ancestor; about the standards of leadership demanded by our faith, particularly as it relates to our treatment of the least advantaged in our society; about the often elusive and ephemeral pursuit of happiness; and about the critical importance of expressing gratitude, especially for those who enrich our lives. We are certainly expecting that we will be able to gather in person again for next year’s Days of Awe, which begin in early Sept. 2021. May our hope for next year’s High Holy Days be that we and our world will be in a better place.
Serving the Jewish community since 1996
Fuller Funeral Home ~ East 4735 Tamiami Trail East Naples, Florida 34112 239.417.5000 wecare@fullereast.com
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