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Is COVID-19 a New Holiday?

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Is COVID-19 a New Holiday here

The author of this poem is unknown.   It was posted on the website of Reform congregation Synagogue Beth Yam of Hilton Head, SC. Enjoy!!!

Is Covid-19 a new holiday?

I don’t know which Yom tov it is:

We’re walking around in slippers like it’s Tisha B’Av.

We’re wearing masks like it’s Purim;

We’re only allowed to eat outside like it’s Sukkot;

We’re eating fruits like it’s Tu B’Shvat;

Everyone is walking around with cleaning wipes like it’s Pesach;

And we’re eating meals with our families and sleeping until noon like it’s Shabbat.

So what holiday is this and when does it end? 

Cause I’m ready to make Havdalah now.

Is COVID-19 a New Holiday here

The author of this poem is unknown.   It was posted on the website of Reform congregation Synagogue Beth Yam of Hilton Head, SC. Enjoy!!!

Is Covid-19 a new holiday?

I don’t know which Yom tov it is:

We’re walking around in slippers like it’s Tisha B’Av.

We’re wearing masks like it’s Purim;

We’re only allowed to eat outside like it’s Sukkot;

We’re eating fruits like it’s Tu B’Shvat;

Everyone is walking around with cleaning wipes like it’s Pesach;

And we’re eating meals with our families and sleeping until noon like it’s Shabbat.

So what holiday is this and when does it end? 

Cause I’m ready to make Havdalah now.

Va-et’chanan (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-et’chanan (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11)

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One.

(Deuteronomy 6:4)

In the Torah scroll, in every Torah scroll, the Shema is written in a unique and special way. The last letter of the first word, (which is an ayin) and the last letter of the last word (which is a dalet) are written larger than all the other letters in the text. We are not sure when or why this tradition for writing the letters of the Shema first began, perhaps simply to draw attention to these essential Jewish words on the Oneness of God. But why these particular letters? Because together these two letters form the word eid, which means “witness.”

The Shema teaches us that being a witness to the Oneness of God means doing the things, and being the people, that demonstrate God’s presence in the world.

Parsha Va-et’chanan Summary:

Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Land of Israel with the people, but God once more refuses his request. (3:23–28) Moses orders the Children of Israel to pay attention and follow the laws given by God in order to be worthy of the land they are about to receive. (4:1–40) Specific areas of the land are set aside to serve as cities of refuge. (4:41–43) The covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments are recalled. Once again, the people are exhorted to heed God’s commandments. (5:1–30) Moses speaks the words of the Sh’ma, the credo of Judaism, and commands Israel to show their love for Adonai and keep God’s laws and ordinances. (6:1–25) Moses warns the people not to commit idolatry by worshiping the gods of the nations they will conquer in Israel. (7:1–11)

D’varim (Deuteronomy 1:1−3:22)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: D’varim (Deuteronomy 1:1−3:22)

“Moses began to expound this Torah.” (Deuteronomy 1:5)

While still within the five books of the Torah, we see Moses giving commentary on the words of the Torah.

Since the days of Moses until our time, it is up to us, it is our duty, to insure that the Torah remains relevant to our lives by continuing to explore and study it and make the teachings and laws of the Torah meaningful for our lives.

Parsha D’varim Summary:

Moses begins his final words of instruction to the Children of Israel, focusing first on recounting their physical journey. (1:1–21) Moses reviews the people’s reactions to the negative reports of the spies and the appointment of Joshua to succeed him. (1:22–45) Moses recounts that all of the Israelite warriors who left Egypt died, as God had intended, and the people continued their wanderings and defeated their enemies. (2:14–3:11) Moses reiterates that the Land of Israel was allocated to the Israelite tribes. (3:12–22) “Moses began to expound this Torah.” (Deuteronomy 1:5) While still within the five books of the Torah, we see Moses giving commentary on the words of the Torah. Since the days of Moses until our time, it is up to us, it is our duty, to insure that the Torah remains relevant to our lives by continuing to explore and study it and make the teachings and laws of the Torah meaningful for our lives.

Parsha D’varim Summary:

Moses begins his final words of instruction to the Children of Israel, focusing first on recounting their physical journey. (1:1–21) Moses reviews the people’s reactions to the negative reports of the spies and the appointment of Joshua to succeed him. (1:22–45) Moses recounts that all of the Israelite warriors who left Egypt died, as God had intended, and the people continued their wanderings and defeated their enemies. (2:14–3:11) Moses reiterates that the Land of Israel was allocated to the Israelite tribes. (3:12–22)

Matot – Mas-ei (Numbers 30:2–36:13)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Matot – Mas-ei (Numbers 30:2–36:13)

We end the 4th book of the Torah with two Torah portions.

The end of the book is a summary of all the wanderings in the wilderness and also an acknowledgment that we will soon enter the Promised Land; however, Moses will not enter with us.

The greatest leader we ever had will not get to cross the Jordan with us and enter the land.

From Moses, we learn that not all our prayers can be answered. We always need to desire and want more, knowing that not everything we want to achieve in our lives and not everything we wish for will be answered.

Parsha Matot – Mas-ei Summary:

Moses explains to the Israelites the laws concerning vows made by men and women. (30:2—17) Israel wages war against the Midianites. (31:1—18) The laws regarding the spoils of war are outlined. (31:19—54) The tribes of Reuben and Gad are granted permission to stay on the east bank of the Jordan River. (32:1—42) The itinerary of the Israelites through the wilderness from Egypt to Jordan is delineated. (33:1-49) Moses tells Israel to remove the current inhabitants of the land that God will give them and to destroy their gods. (33:50-56) The boundaries of the Land of Israel are defined, along with those of the Levitical cities and the cities of refuge. (34:1-35:15) God makes a precise distinction between murder and manslaughter. (35:16-34) The laws of inheritance as they apply to Israelite women are delineated. (36:1-13)

Pinchas (Numbers 25:10−30:1)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Pinchas (Numbers 25:10−30:1)

Numbers 27:1 “The daughters of Zelophehad came forward….the names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.”

Five courageous women stand before the entire people of Israel, before Moses and Aaron and all the leadership, and all 600,000 men, and they speak. They demand justice.

They stand together demanding justice, teaching us that when you know you are right, you need to stand up for yourself; teaching us when you do the right thing, you sometimes make the world better.

God makes their demand into law. Midrash and Rashi tell us that Moses wrote the entire Torah, except for this page. This page was written by the daughters of Zelophehad.

Parsha Pinchas Summary:

Pinchas is rewarded for killing the Israelite and the Midianite woman who cursed God. (25:10–15) Israel fights a war against the Midianites. (25:16-18) A second census is taken. (26:1–65) The daughters of Zelophehad force a change in the laws of property inheritance. (27:1–11) Joshua is chosen to be Moses’ successor. (27:15–23) The sacrificial ritual for all festival occasions is described in detail. (28:1–30:1)

Numbers 27:1 “The daughters of Zelophehad came forward….the names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.”

Five courageous women stand before the entire people of Israel, before Moses and Aaron and all the leadership, and all 600,000 men, and they speak. They demand justice.

They stand together demanding justice, teaching us that when you know you are right, you need to stand up for yourself; teaching us when you do the right thing, you sometimes make the world better.

God makes their demand into law. Midrash and Rashi tell us that Moses wrote the entire Torah, except for this page. This page was written by the daughters of Zelophehad.

Chukat – Balak (Numbers 19:1−22:1, 22:2−25:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Chukat – Balak (Numbers 19:1−22:1, 22:2−25:9)

Our Haftorah is from Micah. The following verse is part of the beautiful tapestry that hangs in front of the Waller Chapel at The Temple:

“God has told you, human being, what is good:
and what does Adonai demand from you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God”

(Micah 6: 8)

Micah is answering the people that claim that they are following what God demands from us. They are keeping all the rituals and observing all the cultic parts of our tradition.

Micah tells us that Adonai demands more than that from us! Adonai, first and foremost, wants us to behave with Justice, compassion, and mercy towards our fellow humans.

Parsha Chukat – Balak Summary:

The laws of the red heifer to purify a person who has had contact with a corpse are given. (19:1-22) The people arrive at the wilderness of Zin. Miriam dies and is buried there. (20:1) The people complain that they have no water. Moses strikes the rock to get water for them. God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of Israel. (20:2-13) The king of Edom refuses to let the Children of Israel pass through his land. After Aaron’s priestly garments are given to his son Eleazer, Aaron dies. (20:14-29) After they are punished for complaining about the lack of bread and water, the Israelites repent and are victorious in battle against the Amorites and the people of Bashan, whose lands they capture. (21:4-22:1) Balak, the king of Moab, persuades the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that Israel’s enemies will be defeated. (22:2-24:25) God punishes the Israelites with a plague for consorting with the Moabite women and their god. The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite man and his Midianite woman. (25:1-9)