Add Your Voice to High Holidays!
As we did last year, we invite you once again to add your voice to our prayer and celebration at High Holidays by submitting a “mini-drash” or kavanah (intention). These are short reflections or sharing of life experience, 2-3 minutes long, either in response to this year’s theme (reference the theme here), or connected to the annual themes of teshuvah (returning/renewal/repentance) or forgiveness. Through your contributions we will include more voices and reflect more diversity of experience as we journey through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur together.
Deadline for contributions is August 31. Send to Rachel at rachel.pollak@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: “Mini-drash 2020”
Why Did We Choose Slack for Our Havurahood Groups?
See these helpful slides explaining why Slack was chosen for our community.
Book Group News
Would you like to look at the schedule of books to be read this year? Looking at the schedule will help you plan ahead for your reading. You will find it on the new Book Group webpage found here. You can also go to the Havurah website and hover over the Clusters tab to find Limud, and then hover over Limud to the Book Group page. The Book Group webpage also has tips for discussion leaders, and a list of previously read books. Enjoy reading!
Sign Up to Be a Host or Scroller
You have probably attended a service, class, meditation, or other Havurah event on Zoom by now. Have you ever wondered how we manage to get such a great experience for everyone, or who is scrolling through the siddur? Our hosts and scrollers are volunteers, and you can join them! Just sign up on the Hosts & Scrollers tab of this form. No experience? We can train you! Please sign up today, or contact Karen Westerman for more info.
Zoom Gabbai Training from Reconstructing Judaism
with Carol Stern (Adat Shalom, MD) and Jake Ehrlich (T’Chiyah, MI)
Tuesday, August 11, 10:30 am PST
With our new normal of using Zoom for services and programming, a new type of gabbai is needed to remove the responsibility of managing technology from Rabbis, Cantors, and program leaders. This important role of “Zoom Gabbai” is a key part of running Zoom services and programming safely and smoothly, and preventing Zoom bombing. This session, originally developed by Adat Shalom in Bethesda, Maryland to train volunteers, will describe the most important parts of being a Zoom Gabbai so that you and other folks in your community can take on this role. This call will be recorded and made available later for those who are not able to attend. Register for Zoom Gabbai Training here! If you have any questions regarding this call, please reach out to jweinberg@reconstructingjudaism.org.
Recon Connect & Virtual Shabbat Box from Reconstructing Judaism
Visit ReconstructingJudaism.org and click on Recon Connect or the Virtual Shabbat Box. There you will find the community, innovation, spirit and depth that embody Reconstructionist Judaism. Recon Connect is an online hub updated regularly!
COVID-19 Resources
Check out our COVID-19 resource page on our website for more information. We have added a new publication about Parenting in a Pandemic and Mental Health During a Pandemic.