Other items in today’s column include:
*At the synagogues
*Political bytes
SAN DIEGO — Easing from online to in-person worship, Tifereth Israel Synagogue will hold an outdoor minyan at 7:15 a.m. Monday, June 8, as a first step towards resuming normal worship activities, Rabbi Josh Dorsch has announced.
The Conservative rabbi, in consultation with a medical panel and the congregation’s board of directors, offered a set of eleven rules to guide the conduct of the morning minyan, many of them similar to those that were promulgated last month by Beth Jacob Congregation.
1. People who are high risk (i.e. over 65, chronic medical condition, younger individuals with medical conditions that put them at risk) or sick are encouraged to stay home.
2. Minyan will begin at 7:15 a.m. and will be held outdoors.
3. Participants are encouraged to wear sneakers as they will be walking on dirt.
4. EVERYONE (including service leaders and Torah readers) are required to wear a mask the entire time we are together and must provide their own.
5. Temperatures will be checked by a volunteer wearing gloves.
6. There will be no access to the building and no bathroom access.
7. Maximum number of people that can be accommodated is 12. Chairs will be spaced six feet apart.
8. Participants must be 13 years or older to attend.
9. Attendance is by reservation only. To register, you must email tiferethisraelminyan@gmail.com, by 4:00 p.m., the day before. If there are extenuating circumstances, you can email Rabbi Dorsch at rabbidorsch@tiferethisrael.com, and he will try to accommodate. If you do not receive an e-mail by 8:00 p.m. the evening before the minyan confirming that you have RSVPd, you are not registered.
10. No siddurim, kippot or talitot will be provided. People can bring their own in a backpack which can be placed on the back of the seat. If you would like to borrow one from the synagogue, please contact Rabbi Dorsch and we will make arrangements to lend you one.
11. If there is rain 30 minutes before the start of service, In Person Minyan will be canceled, but the service will still be streamed on ZOOM.
“The daily morning minyan is at the heart of Tifereth Israel and everything that we as a synagogue stand for,” Rabbi Dorsch wrote. “It provides us with a regular opportunity to gather together, support one another, reflect in prayer and express gratitude. Minyan is a source of comfort and warmth. While returning under these circumstances is less than ideal, I am excited to be initiating our return to our tradition, with this practice that is a pillar of our community. We appreciate your patience and your understanding as we figure out how to navigate the complexities of the world we live in.”
*
At the synagogues
* Arlene LaGary, president of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, is celebrating that her granddaughter, Benett Hurtado, will be pictured carrying the Torah in a Hebrew Year 5781 calendar to be published by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Accompanying her photo, taken by Alex Hurtado, is the Talmudic quotation (Mishlei 3:18) about the Torah, “She is a Tree of Life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” Another quote is from LaGary, who wrote, “This young lady, age 12, continues to read Torah, and study Judaism beyond her Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California.” Benett’s rabbi and teacher is Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel.
*Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue messaged that the current times of protest over the killing of George Floyd reminds her of the time she was living in Los Angeles when officers who beat Rodney King were exonerated and riots ensued, prompting King to plead “Can we all get along?”
Weiss said that “It saddens me that as a nation, it does not seem that morally, we have progressed since those terrible days. In fact, in many ways it feels like we have regressed. As a nation that was founded by immigrants, too many people continue to disparage, denigrate and dismiss anyone who does not conform to their ideas of what an American should look like, how they should worship, who they should love and marry, how one should express their gender identity.
“As a nation, we have to do better. For George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all those people of color who have died unnecessary and unconscionable deaths, we have to do better. It is up to each of us personally to determine what we can do to help create meaningful, positive and lasting change in our society. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said: “In a free society, only some may be guilty but all are responsible.”
“A common interpretation of Leviticus 19:16 is: “Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed.” We have a personal and collective responsibility to carry out this directive. The lives of every American depends on it. The future of our society depends on it.”
Political bytes
State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has endorsed Democrat Terra Lawson-Remer in her bid to unseat County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, a Republican, in the November election. Said Atkins: “If we elect Terra Lawson-Remer, my fellow state legislators and I can better coordinate with the County on how best to move San Diego forward, rather than worry how local obstructionists like Kristin Gaspar will undermine our efforts.” Underscoring how partisan the technically non-partisan battle is, Atkins wrote, “This isn’t just the pivotal seat to control the board; this is the last majority-Republican Board of Supervisors among major counties in California. Many see this as their last chance, and they’ll come at Terra with everything they have–so Democrats must stand united and fight back now…”
*
Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com