Rabbis counsel caution during pandemic, even when following local government guidelines
In a normal year, Chabad-Lubavitch of Eilat, Israel, on the shores of the Red Sea, would host hundreds of children in their synagogue for the reading of the Ten Commandments, in keeping with the call of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—that every Jewish man, woman and child hear those sacred words.
But this year is very far from normal.
So they brought the synagogue to the kids instead. Rabbi Mendy Klein, who directs Chabad of Eilat with his wife, Chana, traveled around the area in a van towing a trailer bearing a backdrop depicting a synagogue interior. Klein, accompanied by a friend dressed as Moses, stopped in front of more than 50 local kindergartens, which recently reopened with extensive precautionary measures, and acted out the story of the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the reading of the Ten Commandments.
While not a substitute for the real thing, this and similar creative programs are examples of how Chabad centers around the world are keeping the spirit of Shavuot’s communal observances thriving even as the holiday itself will be celebrated at home.
With synagogues in Moscow remaining shuttered on Shavuot, a two-day holiday celebrated this year from sunset on Thursday, May 28 until nightfall on Saturday, May 30, and the traditional all-night learning set to take place at home, Chabad of Russia got creative in hosting a virtual all-night study session the night before Shavuot, with classes running from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Additionally, pre-Shavuot courses will take place hours before the holiday begins for those less inclined to stay up two nights in a row. Among these, the International Jewish Community, which caters to English-speaking expats living in Moscow, will be hosting “Ten Talks, Ten Commandments,” featuring 10 speakers from eight countries.
“Ten Talks” and other initiatives are taking place at hundreds of Chabad centers worldwide, as pre-Shavuot study sessions stand in for in-person classes on the holiday. To boost the learning on the night of Shavuot, Chabad.org prepared a plethora of material ready to be printed beforehand, part of their extensive suite of resources for people receiving the Torah this Shavuot in living rooms around the world.
Rabbi Mendy Klein in Eilat, Israel, brought Shavuot to schoolchildren in advance of the holiday.
Shavuot in a Box
Another popular Shavuot custom is enjoying a dairy meal, which recalls that as the Torah was given and the laws of kosher dining were first received, the Jewish people were not yet capable of properly preparing beef and poultry, and as such, ate dairy. With community members stuck at home, Chabad centers got creative in bringing the feast to their congregants, instead of vice versa.
“In the current situation, we felt members in our community needed a little extra TLC,” said Mina Schanowitz, who co-directs Chabad of Deerfield, Ill., with her husband Rabbi Chaim. “So, in the spirit of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, 100 TLC bags, including: Torah thoughts, Loaf of love (better known as challah) and Cheesecake (homemade!) were delivered.”
The Shavuot in a Box motif was extensively adapted and customized to fit the needs of individual communities. In Las Vegas, for instance, Chabad for Young Jewish Professionals, led by Rabbi Mordechai and Mushkie Harlig, distributed a cheesecake, Shabbat candles and ingredients to whip up a batch of Shavuot sangria at home.
In Merion, Pa., a class at Chabad of the Main Line studied the Rebbe’s michtavim klaliim (general letters) on Shavuot.
Many decorate the synagogue and home with greenery and flowers for the holiday. Rabbi Mendy Ross, who co-directs Chabad of Duluth, Minn., with his wife, Tirza, delivered bouquets of flowers to people isolated by the pandemic.
“We are delivering flowers to people who are the most isolated right now, whether they’re elderly, in the medical field, essential workers,” said Ross. “To try to cheer them up and bring them the joy of the holiday, even though unfortunately due to the circumstances, we are unable to hold regular Shavuot services and programs.”
A total of 100 Shavuot “TLC” kits were distributed in Deerfield, Ill.
Limited Synagogue Services With Precautionary Measures
In keeping with local coronavirus guidelines, limited services will take place in some cases consisting of just the Torah reading, which includes the Ten Commandments. Extreme precautions are being observed across the board, including moving services outdoors, requiring the wearing of masks, and asking the elderly, immunocompromised and those feeling unwell or having come in contact with a COVID-19 patient to stay home.
“Our goal is not to achieve an acceptable risk or level of infection,” wrote the Sydney Beth Din in a letter dated May 13. “Our goal is that as the result of minyanim there be no infection at all.”
In keeping with this standard, the Sydney Beth Din later determined that due to two confirmed COVID-19 cases in a local Jewish school, no services would be held on Shavuot. “There is absolutely no halachic allowance for engaging in communal prayer at the expense of a participant contracting or spreading a potentially life-threatening illness such as COVID-19,” continued the letter. “We are therefore obliged halachically to proceed with extreme caution in all areas.”
For more information about Shavuot services near you, contact your local Chabad center here.
A bouquet of flowers was sent by Chabad of Duluth, Minn., to the home of an individual isolated by the coronavirus pandemic.