Finding Community During Covid

Finding Community During Covid-Era High Holy Days

By Rabbi Jen Gubitz and Nicole Zador

"This year, the High Holy Days, brought about a profound shift in what defines community and holiness."

In this COVID-19 era, where it is difficult to know what day it is, the Jewish calendar keeps moving forward maintaining a sacred rhythm for our lives. For the Riverway Project community, the High Holy Days offered us an incredible space for reflection, self-evaluation, and communal gathering that we so desperately needed. And, of course, we had to do it differently. For tashlich, the ritual throwing away of sins, we went kayaking (a kayak is 6 feet long, the perfect length to ensure social distancing). Going out on the water with a series of tashlich reflections and birdseed, everyone was apart, yet they were also experiencing it together.

The High Holy Day Leadership Squad brought together 12 community members to serve as Zoom Ushers ("UsherZ"), service leaders, and musical voices. We gathered for Riverway Confessional, which was a power hour of prayer encompassing all the themes of Yom Kippur. We moved from an alphabet of woe to a crowd-sourced alphabet of wow - acknowledging our communal mistakes and our hopes for the future.

For Sukkot, we gathered with Rabbi Gubitz at local parks to shake the lulav and etrog and truly live in the impermanence of the holiday. And for Simchat Torah, we heard from five community members about their relationship to Torah and Judaism.

This year, the High Holy Days, brought about a profound shift in what defines community and holiness. They affirmed that we are not alone; that there are others with us even if they can’t be sitting by our side.