BIQsummer2020

We asked several Beth Israel members how they
have stayed connected to their Jewish community
and their Judaism during these past few months.
HEATHER & DAVID HOFFLICH
Our family has been doing Shabbat regularly during quarantine at home, but Zoom has been a great
addition to our lives and has allowed us to connect with loved ones from far away. We held a Zoom
Passover Seder and celebrated Shabbat and b’nei mitzvah with our loved ones on Zoom during this time.
Our children have stayed connected with the religious school through their Zoom classes; our daughter
participated in classes with Morah Amira. She was incredible during this time as she really helped our
daughter continue her learning of Hebrew and instilled in her a love for the Hebrew language.
MARTY STERN
I attend Torah study every Saturday morning through Zoom. I remain involved with the Men’s Club
through board meetings and the semi-monthly Discussion Group on Mondays. I have seen the
Friday night services on YouTube and I still try to help out with Caring Community by calling fellow
congregants to check on how they are doing. I attended a Zoom Shiva Minyan service. The number of
attendees to Torah study has increased. Some of our elderly members can attend now that they don’t
have to drive to these events. So instead of 35 to 40 at a Torah Study we average 55. My engagement
with Jewish life, or the following of rituals have not changed. I do miss physically being at temple with
my friends and fellow congregants.
JANICE ALPER
I am thrilled that we have a virtual service weekly and I get to see the familiar faces of long-time
participants. Rabbi Bernstein’s class in Counting of the Omer reminded me of the significance of the
period of time that so often goes unnoticed in our busy lives. Her preparation, and even personally
dropping off the counting book provided an opportunity for introspection and regularity, just as Shabbat
does. I particularly enjoyed having Rabbi Stein join us and his thoughtful preparation of Pirke Avot
added to the class. The initiation of Rosh Chodesh events as an ongoing activity is one of the highlights
of my enhanced connection to Beth Israel. The thoughtful preparation of the organizers enabled me
to meet new people, some of whom were long-time members of Beth Israel who I would not have
had an opportunity to get to know in different circumstances. The most significant virtual event, for
me, however, was our communal seder. As someone who lives alone, Rabbis Bernstein and Gimbel
provided an experience of a seder with music, and children searching for afikomen. It didn’t matter
that there were more than 260 computers tuned in…I still felt as if I was part of a family gathering and
certainly not alone. While I’ve always been connected to Jewish life, this period of time has reinforced
that bond. The regularity of Shabbat continues to be a staple for me, but also the connections with the
broader community have enriched me and helped me not to feel so alone. Kudos to Ilene Tatro for her
professional management of everything at this time.
GALI & HAIM SNAPY
Since the beginning of quarantine, we have been participating in many preschool Zoom events. We
enjoyed Preschool Director Cathy Goldberg’s Letter People sessions and Wednesday Wonders sessions.
We’ve also been participating in some of the preschool Shabbat and Havdalah Zoom sessions and have
also been keeping in touch with other preschool families. Our engagement with Jewish life has stayed
the same. We have, however, been focusing more on our family, celebrating each Shabbat with wine and
challah, and we also celebrated Shavuot and Passover.
SUMMER 2020 / 5780 7