Letter from the President – May at Shomrei!
To the Shomrei community,
It’s almost May in Montclair and Shomrei has a lot of plans for Shabbat services sprouting and about to come to life! A few weeks ago, I wrote to you that we were reviewing the responses from the Shabbat Services Survey and working on various options. I am really excited to tell you about our plans for May. We will be gathering in person outside each week and will continue to Zoom and stream so that those that are unable or uncomfortable with in person gatherings can still be part of our services. We are also working on our plans for June when we expect to begin some indoor services. As we come back into the building, I want to remind you that this past year we installed new air conditioning with upgraded filters and improved air flow. We will also continuously review safety protocols to ensure that we are following required guidelines.
Below are details for May. I will send another note once we have solidified our June plans.
Kabbalat Shabbat
Over the past 2 weeks, we have held Kabbalat Shabbat both in person and on Zoom and the services were uplifting and well attended. We heard from many of you that you wanted to gather more often. It was wonderful to see my Shomrei family in the parking lot and to interact with those who were on the Zoom as well. For the entire month of May we will be holding both in person, weather permitting, and Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday night at 6:30 pm. Details, including safety protocols and sign up are on our website shomrei.org/lawn.
Come welcome Shabbat in the Shomrei parking lot or participate on Zoom. The tulips are blooming on the Shomrei lawn and I look forward to sharing the Shabbat experience with you.
Shabbat Morning
We will continue streaming Sharing Shabbat each week but it will be at a new time – 9:30 am every Shabbat morning– so that we may also hold an outdoor service or teaching session in our parking lot at 10:30, weather permitting. Unlike Kabbalat Shabbat, the outdoor in person service will not be streamed. The first outdoor service will be on May 15 and will continue for the remainder of Shabbat mornings in May. We are still working on the details of the services and one of the outdoor services will include teaching by Rabbi Greenstein. Details of these services, including safety protocols and signup will be on our website as well.
Yom Tov & Yizkor
On Sunday May 16 at 5:45 pm, Shomrei will be participating in a Community Shavuot Tikkun with Bnai Keshet, Temple Ner Tamid and Temple Sholom outdoors at Bnai Keshet. Right after that program, we will hold an outdoor in person short evening festival service in the Shomrei parking lot at 7:30pm. Come join us.
On Monday and Tuesday we will stream Sharing Shavuot at 9:30 am both days. Yizkor will be part of the streamed Yom Tov service and as a separate outdoor in person service on Tuesday morning at 10:30 am in the parking lot. Again, please sign up on the website.
I hope to see you at Shabbat services as well as the other programs that we have planned. Please check Shomrei Week or the website for any updates and remember to sign up for the in person outdoor services.
