Items

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  2020-11-15

  Jewish Melbourne: Mitzvah Day

  Mitzvah Day in 2020 was on 15 November, and due to lockdown and restrictions on gatherings, special activities were organised through the website.
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  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne Rosh Hashanah in the time of covid

  Our Neighbours offered to blow the shofar for the street. A few Jewish families live on our street in Balaclava. We all gathered in the street, All still and all connected by the mitzvah of hearing the shofar. It was a very special feeling. I felt the need to document this extraordinary event, this moment in history. In this time when so many of us are disconnected this moment of togetherness felt precious. Shofar, Rosh Hashanah, community, connected, isolation, mask, generosity, neighbor, listening, Mitzvah, covid moment, improvising, Balaclava, outside, togetherness
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  2020-09-20

  Rosha Hashanah in the time of covid

  Our Neighbours offered to blow the shofar for the street. A few Jewish families live on our street in Balaclava. We all gathered in the street, All still and all connected by the mitzvah of hearing the shofar. It was a very special feeling. I felt the need to document this extraordinary event, this moment in history. In this time when so many of us are disconnected this moment of togetherness felt precious.
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  2020-05-05

  Blessing for the Mitzvah of Putting on a Mask

  In Judaism, there are blessings to be said for nearly any action or occasion. For lighting candles, for waking up in the morning, for getting dressed. A blessing for wine, a different one for bread, a different one for fruits. This blessing can be said when putting on a facemask, and emphasizes the central and important place in Judaism of the divine commandment to protect life.
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  05/23/2020

  Jewish Community of Japan homepage announcement on Covid19

  Front page of the official website of the Jewish Community of Japan (the primary Jewish community center and house of worship in Tokyo), reading: "Dear Members and Guests of the JCJ “The preservation of health is a mitzvah which overrides all other .” We are in the midst of a global pandemic which requires caution and responsible action. Social distancing has been suggested as one of the best ways to prevent the quick spread of the virus. It is for this reason that we have decided to cancel all Shabbat and festival services at the JCJ until further notice. "
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  2020-04-08

  Cantor preparing for virtual Passover seder - Temple Emanuel, Dallas

  Our congregation in Dallas, Temple Emanuel, put a huge amount of effort into creating a virtual seder. About 250 computers participated, probably about 500 people. Our clergy led, and congregants also participated by reading the Hagaddah. We don't have a collective congregational seder tradition, so this is an innovation for Covid-19. Our clergy, rabbis and cantors, put in a lot of effort organizing this. This picture is of one of our senior cantor. She has equipment at home now to lead virtual services, a reflection of the resources and effort it takes to keep a large congregation going through this time.