Parashat Emor - Shabbat Shalom! Community Update Regarding COVID-19
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KehillatShaarHaShamayim - קהילת שער השמים
Please see Zoom information below!
Zoom Tefillot and classes are open to the public
In this newsletter:
Community Update Regarding COVID-19
Outspoken Defiance - From the Shiviti Bet Midrash VIDEO
Foreign Fires - From the Shiviti Bet Midrash VIDEO
Halachic Colonialism - From the Shiviti Bet Midrash VIDEO
Shabbat Times and Schedule
Mazal Tov Announcements
Tefillah Guidelines
LIVE Kabbalat Shabbat ZOOM LINK
LIVE Havdalah ZOOM LINK
Join our Google Classroom to participate in online classes All classes resume this week, b'ezrat Hashem
Lag BaOmer email to follow next week
5/8/2020 - Community Update Regarding COVID-19 A personal letter from the Rabbi
Dearest Members of Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim,
It has been exactly 50 days since our heart-wrenching announcement that we would have to temporarily close Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim's doors.
With gratitude to Hashem and the dedication of each and every one of you, we have successfully transferred so much of our communal experience to our virtual platform. That transition has been smoother than any of us could have imagined, and I thank you - on behalf of the others in our global community - for making these experiences as special as they are.
As we observe restrictions slowly being lifted throughout the country, we are keeping a close eye on the situation at hand and learning from the experiences of others before making any concrete decisions regarding the future. The health and safety of our Kehillah members is our first priority, and we will continue putting that responsibility above all else when planning our next steps.
Until then, we will continue connecting and growing together via our online platforms, and I look forward to Kabbalat Shabbat services tonight, Havdalah tomorrow, and a new week of exciting learning ahead!
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
Outspoken Defiance: Rabbinic Censorship in the Life of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef [1 hr. 24 min.]
Addressing issues of Rabbinic censorship, arguing with the establishment, bullying leadership, and the Torah obligation to speak up when necessary - in the writings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (1920-2013).
From Rabbi Yonatan Halevy’s Shulchan Aruch series at the Shiviti Bet Midrash in Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim, San Diego (5/5/2020)
This Shiur is a tangent inspired by this previous video:
Netz(ideal time to begin Amidah when praying alone): 6:00am
Latest Shema: 8:38am or 9:19am
Latest Shacharit: 10:28am
Earliest Mincha: 1:19pm
Shabbat Ends: 8:18pm
Havdalahvia Zoom: 8:45pm
Tefillah Guidelines When Praying Alone
A few inner-Kehillah guidelines from Rabbi Yonatan Halevy
Netz. When praying without a Minyan, it is ideal to pray at Netz. It is the opinion of Mori HaRav Yaakov Peretz shlit"a that even on a regular basis, it is preferable to pray at Netz without a Minyan, than it is to pray with a Minyan after Netz.
Time of Tefillah. One should always try to pray when the community is praying, even without a Minyan. For example, on Shabbat morning, if not praying with Netz, pray at the same time the Kehillah usually prays.
Torah Reading. The vast majority of the Poskim are of the opinion that the reading of the Torah is not an obligation on the individual, but rather on the community. Therefore, when praying alone, there is no need to read the Torah. Nonetheless, it is proper to read the Torah portion on your own (in Hebrew or English), perhaps choosing a commentary of your choice. You may do the same for the Haftarah.
Decorum. It is proper to create an atmosphere that is conducive to Tefillah even when praying alone. Dress as you would to the Bet Knesset, use your Siddur instead of a phone, etc.
Sing your heart out! Unlike when praying with a Minyan, there is no pressure to keep up a certain pace. Instead of rushing - try the opposite! Sing and read out loud like you would in Bet Knesset, even adding your own favorite tunes and melodies!
Praying as a family. Unlike at the Kehillah where we separate for prayer, this is an opportunity to pray and sing with your spouse, and create a unique Tefillah experience. When was the last time your child was able to sing to you the Tefillot they have learned in school and have you accompany them? The few Shabbatot in my life that I have had to stay home from Bet Knesset, were blessed with the opportunity to pray alongside the Rabbanit and pour out our hearts to HaKadosh Baruch Hu together. Seize the opportunity!
Mazal Tov Announcements
Mazal Tov to Anatoly Broyde on the birth and Brit Milah of twin grandsons! May Hashem bless their parents to raise them to Torah, Chuppah and Ma'asim Tovim, Amen! Mazal Tov!
Mazal Tov to Jacob Schwartz on his upcoming birthday this week! Mazal Tov!
Mazal Tov to Rabbi Yonatan Halevy on his birthday this week! Mazal Tov!
To have your joyous occasion mentioned here, kindly email info@kshsd.org the week before. Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim does not have a record of occasions and announces only what we are provided by our members each week!
Zoom for Video Meetings!
We are utilizing state-of-the-art technology to continue our Torah classes.
Each Tefillah session and class series has its own unique login code.
The two for Tefillah are open to the public and can be shared with anyone interested.
For classes, see the information below on joining our Google Classroom.
Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat via Zoom
Topic: Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat with Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim Time: Fridays 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
If you are not part of one of our regular Google Classrooms and wish to join, I ask that you send an email as soon as possible to info@shiviti.org, requesting to join our "Special Shiviti" Google Classroom. Or just reply to this email!
For those who plan to only use this temporarily during this period, you can join our special Google Classroom setup just for the current situation. You will receive all live updates about any relevant classes being offered online without having to subscribe to one of the dedicated classrooms.
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