COVID-19 Updates

Good morning, DAT Minyan community!

I am sorry I didn’t send out a message yesterday – but today is a new day!

1. DAILY OU TEHILLIM: Join the Orthodox Union community for the recitation of Tehillim (chapters 20, 27 and 130) – todays Divrei Chizuk (words of inspiration) will be shared by Rabbi Zev Goldberg of the Young Israel of Fort Lee. To participate, please dial 773-377-9170.

2. NEW OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE EVENT: Three continents, and three speakers! The OU is offering a three-part virtual series titled "Seder Ideas and Inspiration" for women. World renown educators from three continents will present messages to take to your Seder tables. Sign up go.ou.org/wips.
   - Sunday, March 22^nd: Mrs. Slovie Jungreis Wolff will speak about Powerful Pesach Insights: Emunah and Geula in Our Times
   - Sunday, March 29th, Mrs. Raisel Freedman will speak about Changing Faces at the Seder
   - Sunday, April 5th, Dr. Chani Tannenbaum will speak about The Surprising Roots of Yitziat Mitzraim

3. KNOW ANYONE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE? If you know anyone in need of assistance (and that can include you, as well) with food, shopping, financial issues, please contact deverchesedtaskforce@gmail.com.

4. NEED DISHES TOIVELED FOR PESACH? Rabbi Tzvi Steinberg has innovated a solution for when the Mikva’ot are closed. He has created a “Mechirat Keilim” system, not dissimilar to Mechirat Chometz. As indicated in Shulchan Aruch and the Taz, one may give items to a non-Jew, whereby that person obtains complete ownership. This is permitted as long as one has intent to reacquire the items after a short period of time. While the items are in the ownership of the non-Jew, one may borrow those items from the gentile and use them in the interim without Tevila. Eventually, those items are reacquired, and upon reacquisition (and being cleaned for any Chatzizot/interpositions), they are Toiveled as usual. To that end, he has set up a system that will make the transactions for you. Rabbi Steinberg will be conducting a utensil sale approximately every other day. For more information, visit www.MechirasKeilim.com.

5. MIKVAH GUIDELINES: I have received a few calls about Mikvah usage by women. The following are the guidelines being followed throughout the country:
   1. The Mikva’ot are open to women who are asymptomatic, and believe they have not been exposed to anyone with COVID-19.
   2. The CDC states the chemical content in hot tubs et al are sufficient to kill the virus. The chemicals in Makva’ot meet or exceed those standards.
   3. All חפיפה (preperations) must be completed at home. (No shower usage at the Mikveh.)
   4. The normal cleaning of the Mikva’ot - bathroom, mikveh railing, doorknobs, etc. – is done with household cleaners (which have proven effective against the virus) between EACH USE.

6. PESACH CLASS: This Wednesday night's Pesach class is entitled, “Leading a Seder.” It will be held at 7:45 pm. Log in at: https://zoom.us/j/661971155.

7. THURSDAY CLASS TIME CHANGE: Our class on "Biographies of our Tanaim and Amoraim" will be held weekly at 4:45 pm, and available at https://zoom.us/j/661971155

8. ​​​DAILY VIRTUAL (NON)MINYAN: Our daily attendance is growing! What a great way for both men and women in our community to start the day with positivity and unity! join us at our regularly scheduled times for Shacharit and Mincha/Maariv by logging in at: https://sundaysky.zoom.us/j/6373445618 or calling in at either 253-215-8782 or 301 -715-8592, using Meeting ID: 637 344 5618.

Have an awesome day!

Rabbi Joseph Friedman