Community Corner

Jerusalem,

When I think of you

In your past days of glory,

My heart breaks in two.      

Dealing with COVID-19 has impacted us all in unique and challenging ways. This August, Shalom Task Force will be presenting our Shalom Workshop as a gift to our community’s educators, first responders, and newlyweds, as a means of recognizing their experiences over the past few months. These workshops will be given via online video conferencing and presented by Yeshaya Kraus, LCSW, director of the Shalom Workshop program for Shalom Task Force. Over the last decade, more than 2,000 couples have benefited from Shalom Workshop, the premier evidence-based marriage empowerment workshop in the Jewish community. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Shabbos Nachamu has long been an expression for being joyous and celebrating our Jewish pride. This weekend is also a time to double down on our fervor for and confidence in our ultimate redemption. These traditions surface with mysterious historical roots per the Maharil; the Ritva calls for more ostentatious foods to be served, and a student of the Rashba even writes in Drashos Even Shoiv to respect days like a festive holiday.

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) presented a program via Zoom that focused on how synagogues can safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 21, representatives of 40 shuls from throughout the United States participated in the “Re-Entering with Seichel – Sanitized and Safe” presentation and learned about strategies to protect us from the coronavirus within our beis k’neses.

As part of the ongoing program called “Turn Saturday Night into Motza’ei Shabbos,” Chazaq, TorahAnytime, Chickens for Shabbos, the Queens Jewish Link, Just A Moment, Naftali Status, and Kol HaTorah Kulah are hosting an inspiring, informative virtual program with Dr. David Lieberman (internationally renowned, award-winning, and pioneering leader in the fields of human behavior and interpersonal relationships, and author of 11 books) and Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser (rav of Khal Bnei Yitzchok of Brooklyn, columnist, daily radio commentator, and acclaimed speaker and author).

On the first Shabbos following Tish’ah B’Av, we read the first of the seven special haftaros of nechamah, giving klal Yisrael comfort after our period of mourning. The haftaros tell of the coming of Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash, which gives us hope that although we have suffered a great loss, there will be a time when the mourning comes to an end.