Blessings to our Clergy, Teachers and Staff

During Qabbalat Shabbat on December 18, 2020, TI congregant Em Mueller delivered a blessing to our clergy, teachers, and staff, on behalf of the congregation. Her words inspired other congregants to submit reflections on how the clergy and staff have given hope and strength during this pandemic. Do you feel inspired? Share your thoughts with Emma Koblick at ekoblick@tisrael.org

Blessed Holy One, Creator of us all, thank you for the light of our clergy and teachers and staff, "

who have worked as One to care for us during these dark days giving us hope and nourishing us, keeping us connected, caring for our building even though we're rarely there, mastering new technologies, answering every call, being dedicated to our well-being. For the myriad faces looking back at us from the squares of Zoom, our voices sometimes cacophonous, always sweet; for break out rooms and new connections; for daily reminders of all the offerings; for inspiring our children and keeping them safe; for creating space for us to mourn a loved one or to celebrate -- even on a rooftop; for maintaining a focus on social justice; for kindness and wisdom, laughter and song, tireless energy, and determination; for being the glue that holds us together, and for the all around enormous amount of love all of you have shown us, we are deeply -- profoundly -- grateful. Baruch Atah Adonai, Blessed are You, Creator of the Universe,

for giving us the gift of light that is our staff and teachers and clergy.

- Em, delivered on 12/18/20 at TI Qabbalat Shabbat

When I left Boston several years ago I thought I was saying goodbye to my temple, the clergy, and its members. Well, the pandemic hit, along with a lot of other crappy stuff, and I made Etrogaide out of etrogs. " I was thrilled to learn TI would be hosting services virtually. As with many of their other initiatives, they were pioneers for setting up a system that allowed congregants and guests to not only view the service but to actually participate. Their integration of the chat feature allowed for another dimension to services.

I was always self conscious in synagogue with the usual, do I know the words? Am I in-tune? Am I dressed okay? I found out quickly that none of these things matter when you are remote. You can sing off key and even mess up a lyric or two and it's okay. Zoom also allowed me to really see the clergy and their facial expressions. For the first time, I could see the authenticity and their true love for Judaism, the Torah, and Shabbat. I never doubted their connectedness, however seeing their smiles, their eyebrow raises, and almost seeing the inflection in their voices confirmed what I had already thought to be true.

You may be asking, or saying to yourself, this is all well and good however does it go away when Covid ends and shuls are open again? While I cannot say with 100% assuredness, I do believe that this experience and self reflection says that my confidence, connectedness, and desire for in-person services have been elevated. As an example, I now participate in services with my camera on. It's okay if you can see that I am missing words, or that I am looking off into space for a moment, as that is all part of the process and growth to which I have been fortunate.

Thank you to the clergy for all they do, the countless hours they put in, and most importantly the Jewish experience they are providing. Well wishes during this chaotic time.

- David Poskanzer

It’s difficult to express the enormity of our gratitude and respect for what you have done during these months. You have completely re-imagined what concepts like “community” and “being together” can be. You "

have helped transformed walls that could have isolated us into a wall of tiles where we encounter each other panim el panim and share meaningful moments. During this year you have helped us go through the critical congregational transition of bidding a loving goodbye to one cantor and welcoming a new one whom we have yet to meet in person; stay up all night studying, cooking, and reading poetry; add the brief, poignant havdalah service to our necessary moments in the week; be inspired and charmed watching our children’s choir; and find new meaning and comfort in life cycle events that are so different from what we imagined or wanted. The clergy has been the most visible face of all these efforts, but to the staff, onscreen or behind the scenes, we echo Rabbi Zecher’s message: we see you. We see your creative and technological efforts, your dedication and patience that have enriched us all. Especially now, going into a new calendar year with some hopefulness, our thoughts naturally begin to turn toward “when this is over.” It’s unclear what “over” will look like, how much of what we knew will still be part of our world, what will be gone forever, what will be irrevocably changed. One thing that will be changed is our relationship to TI and, through it, to each other. You have sustained us and shown us that you are at the heart of our lives in a profound way. Thank you.

- Jim Dalsimer and Ellen Steinbaum