Message From the President
The Sun Still Shines Through the Stained Glass Windows
and in Our Hearts
Jo Ann Howard, President
As I was getting ready to type Happy New Year 2021, I picked up our Activities Booklet from last year to see what had been planned at the beginning of 2020. We had a
Tu B’Shevat Seder in February and “It’s Never Too Early for Purim” at the beginning of March. We had such a wonderful time at both events, and then…our doors were shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, here we are at the beginning of 2021 and those two holidays are right around the corner…earlier on the secular calendar and right on time on the Jewish calendar.
The sun is still shining through our stained glass windows.
Let’s pause for a minute to reflect on what it meant to shut our doors. Rabbi Klirs conducted her monthly Shabbat services and adult education on a prerecorded Zoom feed in March, April and May. Peter and I (with blessings from the Board) tried Zoom live starting on May 22nd and have only missed two Shabbats since then! In the fall we were invited to join Temple Emanuel’s Zoom services for Rosh Hashanah 5781 and Yom Kippur. We had our own Zoom services for Sukkot and Simchat Torah. We even celebrated the second night of Chanukah together! Those of us who meet on Zoom have enjoyed welcoming Shabbat and celebrating holidays as a “family”.
The sun is still shining through our stained glass windows and in our hearts.
Looking ahead, Tu B’Shevat is at the end of January and Purim is at the end of February. We’re going to make these events happen…yes, on Zoom and I hope more of you will join us. Our sense of community is so important. Lighting candles together, reciting prayers, sharing special moments, kvelling when our younger members participate, meeting new friends…these are the things that keep our doors open in our hearts!