Strength Through Community
Friends,
This past week has been a whirlwind and I am so grateful for the support of our leadership, professional team, and all of you for working hard to maintain our community connections. We had so many virtual opportunities to lift up our spirits: family shabbat services, Torah study, religious school, shabbat sing and stories with Michelle. There were also some very painful decisions, such as postponing b’nai mitzvah at least through May and restricting funerals to family only. As I have mentioned we are guided by three Jewish values – pikuach nefesh, to save a life, chesed, loving kindess, and kehillah, community. I appreciate your understanding and support as we move through this period together.
Our Torah portion this week begins “Moses then created a community with all of the congregation of the Children of Israel and said to them…. “ Moses then began giving instructions to the Israelites about what makes them more than just a group of individuals, now bound by a covenant with each other and with God. The first word in the portion, וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל, vayk’heil, is the verb of the word kehillah, community. Just like the Israelites, we as a part of Mishkan Israel are bound by a covenant to each other. We take care of each other, we reach out to each other, and we support each other during challenging times in our lives. That is what makes us more than a group of people, it is what makes us a community. I have already been overwhelmed by the ways in which members of our community have offered to help each other and I know that we will see more in the days and weeks to come. Thank you for all that you are doing, and don’t forget to take some time to rest!
We are here for you if you need anything. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly if you are in need of any kind of support. We are working to provide help directly and with the help of community partners. For the latest updates and schedule of events please visit our website and Facebook page.
I look forward to seeing you at Shabbat Services tonight. Join us via Zoom in order to participate in the conversation or the CMI Livestream to just watch. Either way, may this shabbat bring you blessings of strength, health, and peace as we traverse the unknown together.
Shabbat Shaom,
Rabbi Immerman