COVID19 Updates
September, 2021
We are once again meeting in person in our building, with streaming services, and Zoom. Check your emails from the synagogue every week for details on everything happening at Temple Beth Sholom in person and online!
Not receiving emails? Contact the office to get on our mailing lists.
April 1, 2020
The synagogue’s in-person activities remain suspended until further notice, in alignment with State and Federal guidance on social distancing. To support our TBS community, we have established an ongoing series of online events.
Refer to the schedule of daily and weekly activities, and to your emails for how to connect. Contact the Rabbi if you need the video conference details.
March 13, 2020
In light of the ever-changing information about COVID19 in our area, TBS leadership has reached the difficult decision to suspend all in-person synagogue activities through the end of March. We believe this is the socially responsible thing to do to protect our leadership, congregants, and staff, and to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus. MWJDS has also moved their learning online, and you may find more information in the email they sent this morning or by contacting school leadership.
We will continue to stay as connected as possible remotely. Our response will evolve as the information about the virus and its effect on our community evolve. Here is what we are planning for the coming week:
- Shabbat Sha-Zoom: We’ll welcome shabbat together on a remote video call at 6PM this evening. See the next section for details.
- Live Stream: TBS is not currently prepared to live stream a service. Over the next week, TBS leadership will look into our live streaming capabilities and discuss the spiritual, halakhic, and communal pros and cons of live streaming services on week days and on shabbat. For this shabbat, I have sent links to several other communities who already live stream in the 3rd section of this email.
- Torah study: This email includes material for studying the week’s parsha. You are all also welcome to remotely join my Wednesday class, even if you haven’t participated before. We meet at 9:45 Wednesday mornings, email me if you’d like the credentials to join.
- Phone Bank: Despite the encouragement to physically distance ourselves, we want to remain emotionally close as a community. If you are feeling isolated, please do not hesitate to contact me for support. I am also working with the Caring Volunteers to create a phone bank to keep in touch with people who are isolated. If you’d like to be on the list to receive a call, or if you’d like to be a volunteer making calls, please email to let me know.
- Committees: Meetings may be held remotely at the discretion of the committee chair. Be in touch with your chairperson for info about remote access.
- Virtual Office Hours: I still want to see and hear from you! I’ll be posting times for virtual office hours throughout the week. Also please feel free to continue to call and email to stay in touch.
Most importantly, we are committed to supporting everyone in the larger Framingham and Metrowest community during this challenging time. If your access to food and other essentials has been disrupted because of your inability to work or leave the house during this outbreak, please reach out to me. I have funds available to assist you, and will keep all conversations confidential.
Wishing you all a restful and healthy shabbat.
Shabbat Sha-Zoom
We are looking into multiple ways to stay connected and serve our community remotely. This evening, I invite you to participate in a brief Zoom video call to welcome shabbat together with songs, blessings, and candle-lighting. We’ll host this “service” before shabbat so that we’re not actually on the computer once shabbat comes in.
You may join via computer by following the link below or by telephone at the numbers below. You do not need to create a zoom account to join.
Time: Mar 13, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Live Stream
TBS is not currently prepared to live stream a service. Over the next week, our leadership will look into our live streaming capabilities and discuss the spiritual, halakhic, and communal pros and cons of live streaming services on week days and on shabbat.
In the meantime, if it fits within your shabbat practice, you might enjoy watching a live stream of services from any of these sources:
Finally, if you are intending to say kaddish tonight but cannot access a livestream or do not feel comfortable reciting kaddish in that context, please consider this “Prayer in Place of Mourner’s Kaddish.”