covid19updates

Good Morning Young Israel Family,

I continue to be amazed by the tireless chesed and wisdom across our community.  Everyone has a role to play: giving, receiving, connecting, and collaborating. Just like in the construction of the Mishkan, we all have our part to play in the makeup of the beautiful community we call our own. 

Allow me to encourage each one of us to find 5 minutes today to reach out to someone in our community and say hello. Help remind them and ourselves that while we may be feeling distant and alone -- we are alone together!

Have a wonderful day, filled with strength and good health, 

Rabbi Tuvia Brander

Below, this email includes various updates and resources for our community - please read it thoroughly and carefully and utilize it as appropriate.

(1) Daily Tefillah Zoom Continues
(2) UPDATE on Shul Closure and IMPORTANT Medical Guidance 
(3) Today Youth Trivia Challenge on Zoom with Yair Lichtman
(4) Shabbat Schedule
(5) Addressing Financial/Resource Needs -- LET US KNOW!
(6) Zoom Info and Instructions/Assistance for those not yet connected
(7) Young Israel COVID-19 Information Repository

(1) Daily Tefillah Zoom - Virtual Davening Together 
Add some Tefillah and Torah to your routine, join us for our twice daily virtual davening get-together. Together, we can still harness the power of prayer together by davening at the same time. 

Tonight, we will be davening Mincha followed by Maariv at 6:45 PM. We will begin Mincha together followed by a chapter of Tehillim and short D'var Halakha from Rabbi Brander and concluding with Maariv. 

This morning, we will be davening Shacharit at 6:45 AM.

Direct computer link:  https://zoom.us/j/6850940946 . Full the zoom link information can be found below.

(2) UPDATE on Shul Closure and NEW Medical Guidance

Our Young Israel Board met last night to be briefed and review/plan our continued communal response to the current situation. At present, our building will sadly continue to be closed into next week. We will continue to reassess the situation early next week.  

It is critical for us to underscore the importance of staying home, not going out and certainly not gather with others in any setting! The OU shared the following update this evening:

• During these extremely difficult and precarious times, we again turn to one and all with the clear and unambiguous mandate to heed the guidance of our governments and health authorities regarding the prevention of the spread of COVID-19. 
• STAY HOME; SAVE LIVES! This is a halachic imperative of the highest order that each and every one of us must obey for the sake of the health of our own families, communities and fellow citizens. 
• We cannot repeat this often enough. Stay home. Avoid groups or public interactions of any kind, for any purpose. Leave home only for essential needs and only if you are healthy, have not been exposed to the virus, and are not in a high risk category. Observance of this mandate is critical. 
• We pray to the Almighty for the recovery of all those already affected by COVID-19, and for the swift success of the efforts of our government for testing, containment, treatment and prevention.

This is on top of the important medical guidance shared yesterday about individuals coming into our area from other parts of the country: (below courtesy of the OU)

Many individuals - including thousands of students - are returning to their communities from areas with active communal transmission - including Israel, New York and New Jersey. These individuals should practice separation for 14 days in the family home, having a separate room for sleeping, a separate bathroom if possible, and otherwise keeping a safe distance. 
They should not be the ones doing the shopping trips or any ventures out into the community until they have been home for 14 days symptom-free.
We advise strongly against those returning from such areas - as well as all grandchildren - kissing or hugging or having other close contact with elderly grandparents or others considered high risk from COVID-19.
With regard to what specific steps to take within the family home to separate those returning from the other members of the family, parents should consult with their own medical advisors and should adhere to all governmental, public health and local medical guidelines for how to practice separation for returnees from areas of active transmission. Many local synagogues and communities are helping members to be informed and connected to appropriate sources of guidance.

(3) Youth Trivia Challenge -- THIS AFTERNOON!!
Today, Thursday afternoon, the Young Israel Kidz Club will be hosting a ZOOM-based Trivia Challenge for children grades K-8 (K-2 at 4:00 PM, 3-5 at 4:45 PM,6-8 at 5:25 PM). See flyer below for more information. Log on at Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/6850940946


(4) Shabbat Schedule and Upcoming Programing
As we prepare for a very different sort of Shabbat this week, we will be hosting a number of virtual ways for us to "Shabbat" Together! Friday morning at 11:45 am we will be hosting our Tot Shabbat Groups for children 6 and under. Friday afternoon we are all invited to log on for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat! Plus, after Shabbat, don't miss our communal Havdallah and our adult Melaveh Malka Virtual Hangout! More details to follow in tomorrow morning's email!! 

Beyond these programs, Rabbi Brander will be starting a Pesach Series next week and we have some other surprises in store! 

Plus, we are in the process of finalizing a virtual support group focusing on how to deal with anxiety, isolation from social distancing and getting along with your household members.  

(5) Addressing Financial/Resources Needs
As a community, we are here to help each other.  We recognize that the financial and resource tolls of this crisis will only grow.  We are preparing to support our community on many levels.  If you are in current need or expect to be in need, please contact Rabbi Brander or Les Loew so we can begin to assess need, prepare and provide immediate support.  If you'd like to offer support, please donate here.

(6) Zoom Info and  Instructions
Remember all Young Israel Zoom-based Meeting will have same log on information!! 
To join Zoom online on your computer or smartphone go to: https://zoom.us/j/6850940946 
You can also connect simply by calling in! Just dial our special conference call: 1 646 558 8656 and when asked key in our Meeting ID: 685 094 0946 followed by # and then another #. 

Especially in these trying times, we want everyone to be able to connect together! If you are not sure how to use Zoom yet, here is a great tutorial: CLICK HERE. Also, we are happy to send someone to your home to set it up and make sure you have the ease of access you need to connect with the many different programs coming your way. Lastly, did you know that you don't even need a computer to use Zoom -- you can easily connect with a simple phone call -- just dial our special conference call: 1 646 558 8656 and when asked key in our Meeting ID: 685 094 0946 followed by # and then another #. 

(7)Young Israel COVID-19 Information Repository
All the emails that we are sending about Covid-19 are posted to our website at www.youngisraelwh.org/covid19