Rabbi's Update 9/15/2021

Dear Friends:

A brief note as we get ready for Yom Kippur.

First of all, our hybrid services for Yom Kippur are a “go”. Rabbi Raphael, Barnaby Yeh, and I all tested negative for COVID-19 and therefore we are all able to participate in person tonight and tomorrow.

If you attended either the funeral or the shiva for Curt Levinson z’l this past Thursday, you must have received a negative COVID-19 test this week to attend Yom Kippur services (or for that matter services this Shabbat morning or next week for Sukkot) in person. Since there seems to have been some inadvertent confusion, you do not need to send a copy of your negative test to either me or the office, nor do you need to notify us that you have tested negative. As a small community where most of us know everyone else, we trust that you will follow the protocols that we have set.

If you are attending services in person tomorrow, copies of both the Yizkor Service booklet and the Healing Service will be provided for you. If you are attending via Zoom, a link to download the Yizkor booklet will be emailed later today. The Healing Service may be downloaded now at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PRqboPiACJPo6I-w4IHuXGi226nSn3tO/view?usp=sharing

If you would prefer to pick up a printed copy of the Yizkor and Healing services, they will be available in the office today. If you attended in person on Rosh Hashanah but are attending by Zoom for Yom Kippur and you lack a copy of the Machzor, these can be picked up at the synagogue as well. We will leave some of all three in a bin outside the synagogue office as well.

Remember that the Zoom link for Yom Kippur services is the same as for all other services, classes, and meetings. The only difference is that the Waiting Room will be activated and when you log on, one of our volunteer Zoom hosts will need to admit you. Please remember to keep your microphone muted at all times unless you have an active speaking part in the service at that time.

May this Yom Kippur be a time of true prayer and reconciliation for all of us.

As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. Although I am working primarily from home, I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment.

G’mar chatima tova -- may we all be sealed for a year of blessing.

Rabbi Charles L. Arian