COVID-19 Updates & Information

Note to Congregation 6/14/20:

Dear Hakafa Members,

We write to share with you that it will not be possible for us to gather together in person for our High Holiday services this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have not made this decision lightly, recognizing that the High Holidays are a unique opportunity for us all to come together as a congregation to worship, to study, and to share friendship and food. But religious gatherings around the world have been the source of outbreaks of this disease. Sitting alongside each other, sharing conversation, and joining together in prayer and song are all simply too dangerous in these times. We would be heart-broken if our coming together in a physical space were to result in the illness of even one of our members, many of whom are part of the most highly at-risk population.

We have consulted with two of our congregants, Dr. Ron Hershow, Director of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health of UIC, and Dr. Julian Solway, a Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician at the University of Chicago. Their professional opinion is that it is prudent to hold our services virtually. The Reform rabbis across the North Shore have agreed not to hold in-person High Holiday services and have shared the letter attached to this email. And, Gov. Pritzker has recommended that no gatherings of more than 50 people occur until Phase 5, the final phase of the full reopening of the state, when a vaccine or treatment options are readily available.

Plans are underway to enable us to have meaningful and beautiful High Holiday services online, including Family Services. There will be an online prayer book. We will have music with Sara Goodman and Ed Zelnis, our High Holiday music director of many years, along with our four long-time soloists. Work is being done to improve the quality of our sound online in order to allow us to fully enjoy all the music, as well as the Shofar service.

Those of you who have joined us for Shabbat services know that, while it is a different experience than gathering in person, it is still Hakafa coming together in a holy way. We hope that you will all plan on joining us for our High Holiday services. Please contact either of us with suggestions for this new endeavor.

L'shalom,
Deborah Brown, Congregation President
Bruce Elder, Rabbi
 

Note to Congregation 3/12/20:

Dear Hakafa Members and Friends,

Given the continuing and compelling reports of the spread of the coronavirus and the evolving efforts to contain it, we at Hakafa are taking further steps to protect our community.

Several of the activities and programs that we'd hoped could continue this week will now be cancelled:

Saturday, March 14 – Shabbat Morning Minyan - cancelled
Saturday, March 14 - Tot Shabbat - cancelled
Sunday, March 15 - Religious School - cancelled
Tuesdays, March 17 and 31 - Hebrew School - cancelled

Additionally, at least through March 31, we will make the following adjustments:

• All weekday adult classes with Rabbi Elder will be held via Zoom Video Conferencing rather than in person. Instructions for accessing Zoom can be found in the weekly email announcements.
• All Shabbat Services will be held via Facebook Live rather than in person.
• All other programs will be rescheduled or run via Zoom; more information to come.

We have created a special page on our website (www.hakafa.org) to keep you updated on Hakafa's response to COVID-19 and for up-to-date details about congregation events / cancellations / changes, etc. Please visit it for the most current information.

An important consideration during this pandemic is how we will care for each other. If you or anyone in our Hakafa community will be isolated and in need of assistance, please contact Rabbi Elder.

And, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or concerns.

L'shalom,
Nancy Goodman, Congregation President

Resources:

• Tzedek Chicago created this at-home learning guide for families. In this you can find Passover and Shabbat learning, as well as indoor and outdoor activities to keep you and your family cared for. 
• Hakafa member, Ada Samoilovich, has provided a list of links to performances from the Met and Vienna Opera Theaters along with virtual tours of the museum  to help Hakafa members put our minds at ease during this challenging time.