IMPORTANT – CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Message to The Community 

Dear Member

We are living in unprecedented times.

As the situation has worsened in the UK it has become clear to faith communities that normal religious and communal gatherings cannot currently take place.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the following statement regarding vulnerable people: “This advice and avoiding all unnecessary contact, is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions”. In separate advice professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, said it applies to people “who in adult life would normally be advised to have the flu vaccination.” Amongst others this includes people aged 65 and over.

It is therefore with a heavy heart that we announce to the community that for the time being services and gatherings at the Synagogue cannot take place . 

Help and Support

The government has termed these restrictions as ‘social distancing’ which is one of the main tools we have to prevent the rapid spread of this virus.

However social distancing is carried out purely by the physical separation of people.  Self isolation will unfortunately result in distress and in many cases loneliness as well . Of course this extreme action is necessary in order to save lives.

In the coming weeks our challenge will be to preserve our valuable community. This will require a  creative approach to the way in which  St Annes Hebrew Congregation functions. Our goal is to ensure that we all remain connected.

With that in mind we are assembling a team to work with the Rabbi to support all members of the community with help and advice.

For the time being if you are self isolating at home, or know of someone, and need support with food, medical supplies and of course a friendly conversation then please contact the Rabbi directly on 07917 548 386 (or email rabbi@shulbythesea.co.uk) or a member of the executive.

In the coming days we will be writing to you again with specific information regarding the support we will offer. However you must contact the rabbi or member of the executive if you have any other needs or simply want somebody to talk to.

Pesach

We are also aware that Pesach is around the corner which is an extra challenge. There sadly will not be a communal Seder at the Rabbi and Rebbetzen’s home this year and we will contact you with advice and support about making Pesach.

Let us reiterate that if there is anything at all troubling you please do not be embarrassed to contact us.

To conclude as sad and difficult as these times are, it is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to put into practice our Jewish teaching that “All of Israel are responsible one each other”.

This is a unique opportunity for extra measures of kindness and warmth between people through which darkness will be transformed to light.

Whist we can never know the exact reason Hashem tests us, we do know that at times of such as these where the entire society – in this case the entire world- is suffering then we are called upon to strengthen our Teffilah and Faith and translate them into acts of kindness as well as spiritually examining our lives so as to improve.

Let us continue to maintain strength and faith and a positive upbeat approach which is just as crucial for our health and we pray that Hashem will soon turn around the situation as we say in the Haggadah

“He brought us out from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to [celebration of] a festival, from darkness to great light, and from servitude to redemption. “

We wish you and your families good health and well being at this time.

Kind regards

Rabbi Bergson

Robert Pinkus (President)

Jack Hecht (Vice President)

Howard Lipman (Treasurer)