There’s A Lot Going On!

August 2020  Keeping Connected

Hi Friends,

Hope you are staying cool. As I write this article it is in the high 90s and I am glad to be in my air-conditioned house. It’s hard to believe it is already August. The temple has been extremely busy, I think busier than other years, even though we are still closed. There are a lot of activities and planning happening and I want to be sure you are aware of goings-on.

  • As you know, the request for your pledge has been sent out. I ask that you return the pledge form as soon as possible as it helps us determine what our financial health will look like this coming fiscal year. It is also the form we need back showing that you are continuing to be a member.
  • Rabbi Perry has established a task force to help her prepare for the high holidays. Knowing that our celebration and prayer services will look very different this year requires a tremendous amount of work, creativity, and technical abilities to ensure our high holy days are just as meaningful as they always are. This task force is very hard at work.

  • Deborah Morrissey and the School Committee are also working diligently to determine what Religious and Hebrew school will look like in the fall. I am sure you will be hearing more about some of their plans soon.
  • Our new security system is about 50% complete and we hope it will be completed within the next few weeks. Note that everyone will be receiving a new key (fob) and when the system is near complete, we will be providing training to select members and will inform the congregation of how to get their new keys and how the new system will work.
  • The solar panels will be installed the first week of August.
  • A new ad-hoc committee has formed entitled the Phased Re-opening Committee. The members of this committee will provide guidance on the re-opening of Congregation Shalom during the COVID-19 pandemic in alignment with Massachusetts recommendations.  I will chair this committee and if you are interested in joining, please let me know.
  • Even during all of this remoteness, our temple has been finding creative ways to connect. There have been a couple of great Adult Education programs this month and more to come. Sisterhood and Brotherhood are finding creative ways to have fun and be together. Social Action/Social Justice is working hard on a new program called Every Voice Every Vote that you will hear more about soon. Deborah Morrissey and some of our teachers have been staying connected with our children through different activities.

Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Stay well.

Liz