Dear TEE community,

We are at a wonderfully exciting time in the life of our congregation! Our move to the JCC and the warming weather mean that we can plan to be together in person again before too much longer. Beautiful outdoor areas – including courtyards, nature trails and a covered performance space – will allow us to gather in COVID safe ways during the coming months.

After over a year of social isolation, it is also a time when many people are eager to be part of a larger community and we are working to meet that need. In addition to Shabbat services, we are planning a pre-Shavuot workshop on Sunday, May 16th; work on a children’s garden in cooperation with the JCC; an afternoon retreat to create something to decorate and define an outdoor prayer space; and a monthly ritual gathering focused on earth-based Jewish traditions. More details will be coming soon.

As we move toward more regular meetings in person, we will also be considering ways in which we want to continue to connect by Zoom. One happy outcome of the pandemic is the way that using the internet brought people to Temple who might not have been a regular part of our community otherwise. We want to find meaningful ways to maintain those connections and would love ideas and feedback from our membership.

On a more personal note, I am now fully vaccinated and look forward to visiting in person with those of you who feel comfortable doing so. I will be reaching out, especially to members who live alone, but I hope you will also let me know if you would like to schedule a time to get together.

Like many of you, I’m sure, I am greatly looking forward to this new season of reawakening – for both the earth and our community.

Be well / Zei gesunt / Sano,

Rabbi Drorah Setel