The pictures at the top and bottom of this email come from my sons’ b’nai mitzvah. In them, I am celebrating in the most joyous way I know how. I am dancing the hora.
I have been thinking about the hora this week. The clasping of hands. The moving in close to the center. The hooking of arms. It is an unadulterated physical manifestation of community.
It is, for the moment, an unavailable form of community.
A week ago, our board voted to freeze membership dues at our 2019-20 level in recognition that times are tight for a lot of people. Our 2020-1 JCOGS membership renewals will go out in a few weeks, and your dues will be exactly what they were this past year. As always, financial circumstances should never get in the way of your membership, so there will be help for those who aren’t able to pay full dues or tuition.
What does freezing membership dues have to do with the hora? Both are metaphorical ways we announce: “We are a community.” We are here, we come together, we clasp hands and make sure no one is left behind. We lift each other up.
Even as Vermont slowly reopens, the board also discussed the need to reopen based on our Jewish values of preserving the sanctity of human life, pikuach nefesh. Our Jewish principles and tradition will guide our community at all times.
A year ago, JCOGS completed a five-year strategic planning process, embedded with Jewish values. We identified five pillars of our plan:
Robust tikkun olam
L’dor vador education
Engaged membership
Strong Jewish presence in north central Vermont
Financial sustainability
Each of those pillars is a way we announce: “We are a community.” Those five pillars remain our focus. They will manifest differently over the next several months, but at their core, they are our strategic priorities. From the upcoming blood drive to Olam Chesed education to care of our members, we will keep focused on the same priorities our congregation identified.
In December, the board reviewed our JCOGS mission statement: “To create and sustain an environment that perpetuates and celebrates Jewish traditions, observances, and sense of community.” We chose not to make any changes. The board felt that, even after all the transition JCOGS has been through in the past two decades, this statement still reflects our core mission. It is as much our mission in May 2020 as it was in December 2019 and as it was in decades past. We may be doing it a little differently for the time being, but we will be perpetuating and celebrating all that makes us a Jewish community.
This summer, we already know we won’t dance the hora at the farmer’s market. Instead, we’ll find other ways to elevate and build community. We’ll work on tech support for our community members, making sure people are able to access our online programming. We will be hosting a full Stowe Jewish Film Festival, with three wonderful films (including a rom-com!). We’ll be offering programs for families and helping our larger community. And we’re replacing our planned in-person summer fundraiser with a virtual one that will get us laughing together. Because, right now, laughing is where it’s at.
This summer, we’re going to focus on all the ways we can connect. All the ways we can clasp hands, move in close to the center, hook arms, and lift each other up in the air, even when we’re apart.
We remain strong in our Jewish identities, committed to repairing the world, and connected to our community. We’ll rejoice, and we’ll look forward to the day we’ll dance the hora together again.
All my love, Emily JCOGS President
(In with your membership renewal, you will find your Benefactor Appeal. If you can, I urge you to give more generously than usual to help cover the cost of financial aid on dues and tuition. It’s how we lift each other.)
Friday, May 15, Fancy Hat Friday! 5:30 PM Schmooze; 6 PM Musical Shabbat services We don't get to wear our finest clothes to Shabbat services at JCOGS, but we can wear our finest hats for virtual services. Join us for Fancy Hat Friday, and come ready to show off your finest (or funniest) hat as we celebrate Shabbat together in style. Invite a fancy friend too. 5:30pm Schmooze it up: BYO wine or tea for a live chat, then stay on the same live stream for our Musical Shabbat service with special guests. Join via zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/98120687974. ................................................
Saturday, May 16, 8:30 PM Havdalah Join in Havdalah with Rabbi David and family. Set yourself up before havdalah with a glass of wine or grape juice, some sweet smelling spices, and a havdalah candle (here’s how to make one or to buy one), and follow along with the prayers here. Join via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86426978463 ................................................
May 24-26: Crescendo Brought to you by this year's virtual Stowe Jewish Film Festival, Crescendo will be available to view from home from May 24-26 at no cost. A world famous conductor takes on the challenge of forming an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra in an attempt to create harmony out of discord. Please register for the film in advance HERE. Preview the film here. ....................................................
