Shavua tov, everyone. Covid has brought us a number of Back to the Future moments. The Board of Kolot Mayim decided this past week to primarily return to Zoom for delivery of our Shabbat services. The Hybrid model – providing a Zoom of in-person services as/is complicated and our in-person numbers were just too low – to the point where justifying the expenditure of effort was not possible. We will be holding an in-person service once a month for everyone who feels able to attend – followed by a light lunch. Meanwhile let’s think of other ways that we can encourage our members to gather in small bubbles – here are some ideas generated from last week’s Shabbat service.
Ideas for getting together
Shabbat – On Friday nights and Saturday mornings, invite a few people to join you for a Shabbat meal and enjoy singing together while following the Zoom service.
On Shabbat afternoons – arrange to have tea and a visit – maybe every other week.
Arrange for Zoom or phone visits Friday morning/early afternoons to check in with friends – and maybe people you don’t know so well yet.
Let’s make our Zoom services as interactive as possible.
Help with services:
Want to learn to sing one of the prayers for Friday evening or Shabbat morning? Call Rabbi Lynn.
Love music? Help the rabbi locate Jewish music videos to play on Zoom.
Give a d’var on the weekly parashah – contact Rabbi Lynn for ideas.
Want to help with our once monthly in person service?
We need a volunteer to organize a rota of people to bring the following: Bring paper bowls, a crockpot of vegetarian soup, bread (Challah/Pita) and dessert.
We have an opportunity to build Shabbat connections and well beyond. I am looking forward to hearing from you about your ideas and how you might like to participate as we continue to build our kehillah.
Kol tuv,
Rabbi Lynn
Vayishlach
November 16, 2021 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: uri cogan •
Shavua tov, dear friends.
On Sunday, Aaron and I took the ferry over to Salt Spring Island to help bury our cousin Uri Cogan. Uri was buried in land dedicated by a local farming family for a natural green burial site, an area of woodlands, and a beautiful resting place for a soul that had loved this island for many years.
Uri was born in Haifa, had served in the IDF, and then come to Canada with his wife Susan. His burial was a muddy affair, as burials can be during our rainy season. And our burials are a very physical rite, with all present engaged in getting their hands dirty, as it were.
Last Friday evening one of our congregants asked about the word “levayah” which is the word we use for funeral/burial. Levayah means to accompany. As a community we have suffered a loss, just as the more direct mourners suffer, when someone dies in our midst. It is a mitzvah to accompany those mourners, as we accompany the deceased to their burial. We do the work of life.
We live in community, in death as in life. May all of you have long life.
With love,
Rabbi Lynn