COVID-19 Updates

Good evening, friends! I trust everyone is well tonight!

1. I want to remind everyone we have a Virtual (non)Minyan everyday, at our regularly scheduled times. Click here to access it from your phone/computer: https://sundaysky.zoom.us/j/6373445618

Be sure to give Zoom access to your audio and video. 

OR: 

- Call any of these numbers, and use Meeting ID: 637 344 5618
+13462487799,,6373445618# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,6373445618# US (San Jose)Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
877 369 0926 US Toll-free
877 853 5247 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 637 344 5618

2. Tomorrow night, I will begin the first of three Wednesday night classes on Pesach preparations. Our first class will be on basic Kashering and preparing for Pesach. Subsequent classes will be on running a Seder, and Haggadah thoughts to share at your Seder. As so many people may be making Pesach for the first time (or first time in a long time), this is particularly timely! 

I will share tomorrow access information for the Shiurim.

3. The latest email from the OU:

Dear Friend,
I hope that you and are your family are safe and healthy, and that you are coping with the incredible challenges that we are all confronting.

I turn to you to urge your participation in an emergency Pesach food campaign. An unprecedented number of families within our community are experiencing financial strains that they never imagined they would suffer.

The COVID-19 crisis has deprived many families of income and others are confronting wholly unanticipated, non-discretionary expenses; all the more devastating during this period leading to Pesach. It is, therefore, incumbent on each of us to expand our generosity this year and increase our annual maos chitim contribution way beyond our typical practice.

The OU’s Kosher Food Lifeline program, which provides resources and assistance to local food pantries, tomchei Shabbos and bikur cholims around the country, has seen a significant uptick in urgent requests. Through your participation in this campaign, we can significantly expand the Pesach food available for those in serious need.

Please participate generously and quickly so that we can quickly distribute funds to communities, whether through local food pantries or through local community rabbonim.

Pesach is a particularly difficult period for those in need, and this year is an extraordinarily unique year in that regard. There is little time to waste as funds must get to our communities as quickly as possible. I most certainly encourage you to support your local maos chitim effort, but also urge you to donate to the OU’s 5780 Passover food campaign today.

With gratitude,

Moishe Bane,
President
Orthodox Union

P.S. Additionally, the OU’s Kosher Food Lifeline is working to get resources into the community as quickly and efficiently as possible. To that end, a site has been set up to track and showcase foods that are available in each community, on a local level. If you know of food that is available, please fill in this form and join us in working together to help those in need, particularly during this most trying time for so many.  

Have a great night!

Rabbi Friedman