Dearest Members of Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim,
This is one of the most challenging emails I have written to you in the years since we began our journey as a family with the name Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim. I ask that before you read this email - you open your heart and mind, you cast away any pre-conceived notions, disregard any political or other affiliations, and let me speak to you from my heart. I place my trust in the words of the sage who said "words that come from the the heart will enter the heart".
Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim is not closing. We cannot close. We will not close. It is in our DNA to persevere even against the greatest odds. In the most trying circumstances, when even I was unaware that I had the courage to lead, you - without any comparison between Moshe Rabbenu and myself, but with much comparison between you and the holy partners, Aharon and Chur - lifted up my hands and supported me through those challenging times. I am asking for you to join together - with me, with Rabbanit Devorah, with our members, our regulars, and every one of our friends and family - to make sure that we as a Kehillah make it to the other side, with flying colors!
Our Chachamim teach us in the Talmud (Chullin 10a) and codified by Maran in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 173) that "Chamira Sakanta M'Issura". This literally means that we 'must be stricter with a "Sakanta", danger/hazard, than we are regarding an "Issur", Torah or rabbinic prohibition.’ If there is even a remote possibility of physical injury, our Chachamim treated it more severely than any religiously prohibited matter. This is a matter of national Jewish law, and not subject to any individuals interpretation or personal decision to take the risk.
Therefore, after closely monitoring the coronavirus disease outbreak and receiving regular updates and guidelines from the CDC, State and local authorities; advice from trusted medical professionals familiar both with our Kehillah and Shiviti as a whole; consultation with Mori HaRav Yaakov Peretz shlit"a; and conversation with colleagues from around the world; I have reached the decision that it is in the best interest not just of those in our Kehillah, but also of those in our community, city, and country, to temporarily hold off on gatherings for any reason at the Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim campus.
There must be no break-away Minyanim or rogue gatherings from our community, whether in the Kehillah campus or off of it. I ask of you to place your trust in HaKadosh Baruch Hu that this will end soon, and beg of you with all my heart to stand behind me and support this unanimously.
If I may get personal? We have numerous Kehillah members with compromised immune systems, or for example my very own daughters Shira and Hodaya, may HaKadosh Baruch Hu bless them to always be well and healthy, who are prone to respiratory issues. We can do our part to "flatten the curve" and slow down what the leaders of this country are considering an unprecedented outbreak of disease among the population.
And if you do not believe that this is necessary for health reasons? Our Rabbis teach that even if all other problems can be avoided, "Midey Chilul Hashem Lo Yatzanu", we are not exempt from the prohibition of desecrating Hashem's name in the world, and contributing to the feeling that the Torah observant Jewish community is not taking this matter seriously enough and is directly endangering human lives. If not for anything written before this last point, I ask that you trust me when I stress the importance of standing united on this issue for reasons I fear to fully disclose in writing!
But we are not closed! You cannot close a family. You cannot extinguish the flame of a community. You cannot shut down operations for a movement that you founded, and that has literally thousands of hearts, minds, and souls connected around the globe. The only thing that can happen is that we will experience the power of Shiviti the same way those around the world do - whether in Israel, the United Kingdom, Mexico, or South Africa - and simply shift our day-to-day operations to the magnificent world of the internet.
- We will continue with our Shiurim on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays! Our Zoom platform and Google Classroom have proven to be powerful venues for continuing our Torah learning!
- We will continue providing a learning venue through our Shiviti Learning Forum on Facebook.
- We will continue answering your Pesach questions through our Pesach Kashrut Forum on Facebook.
- We will continue being in touch with our friends via every appropriate medium at this time.
- We will check in on each other, taking care of each others needs.
- I suggest that we consider putting together a virtual Kabbalat Shabbat an hour before Shabbat, and a virtual Havdalah an hour after Shabbat, via Zoom.
- I even propose that we try and put together a weekly "social event" for Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim, where we can just sit and catch up on Zoom over a cup of home-brewed tea or coffee.
- And ultimately, Rabbanit Devorah and I are here for you personally each and every step of the way. Talk to us. Know that we are here to discuss anything, good or bad, big or small. It doesn't make a difference where we are physically - but we are always together at heart.
What does the future hold? I don't know. Those are hard words for me to write. I don't know, but I know that we have $300 worth of Shemurah flour being delivered to bake Matzot with, and I don't know how we will be able to. I know that we have Pesach in a couple of weeks, but I don't know what the state of affairs will be in terms of arranging a communal Seder and Tefillot to thank the Creator. All I can promise at this point, is that we will continue to act responsibly, and not exaggerate our response or needlessly cancel things in the future. As soon as we receive the green light to move forward, we will do just that, b'ezrat Hashem!
We will send updates as called for, and you can count on further communication in the event of any changes or updates.
Rabbanit Devorah and I will continue to monitor San Diego's health situation on a daily basis and promise to be in touch regularly. We pray that we will soon be able to return to our usual routine and ask that HaKadosh Baruch Hu send peace and healing to the world.
Wishing you and yours only well,
Rabbi Yonatan Y. Halevy
Spiritual Leader
Shiviti – Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim
|
|
