During these unprecedented times, we remain committed to our core values. Our work of connecting families to Jewish life and learning continues during these moments. We are more than just a building. Here you will find a list of events and resources, both community-wide and national, that can help foster a sense of community, entertain and educate during this period of isolation. Please continue to check in as we will be continually updating this list as information becomes available.
Online Jewish Ritual and Communal Gathering
-
Shabbat for young professionals: with OneTable, you can Shabbat Alone, Together. 20’s and 30’s across the country can now host Shabbat Dinner with any number of people at the table as well as post virtual gatherings. This OneTable Facebook page will be continually updated with resources and opportunities to gather virtually across the country.
-
JewishLIVE: a Facebook group that is curating a wide variety of online Jewish events. Turn here for live streaming of Jewish ritual, spiritual and communal content.
-
Jewish Council for Public Affairs: JCPA’s mandate is to advance the interests of the Jewish people; to promote a just and pluralistic America; support Israel’s quest for peace and security; and advocate for human rights around the world in common cause with civic, racial, ethnic, and faith-based leaders.
- Jewish Broadcasting Service TV: JBS is a Jewish television channel featuring daily news from Israel, leading Jewish figures, issues and events of Jewish importance, call-in programs, Jewish studies, Live Friday and holiday services for the home-bound, children’s programs, films, music, books and entertainment.
- Is Peace Possible with Peter Beinart: Liberal political commentator Peter Beinart (The Crisis of Zionism) critiques the peace plan and discusses American Jewish attitudes today regarding Israel. With Jodi Rudoren, a program of The Forward from Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ.
- Amplifier Giving Circles: All People are Responsible for One Another, a resource on caring for the sick amidst the COVID-19 Crisis
Torah/ Words of (Jewish) Wisdom
-
A Moment of Crisis Can Be an Opportunity for Connection (Rabbi Ari Witkin, The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit)
-
The Torah of Unknowing, Parashat Ki Tissa (by Rabbi Noa Kushner from San Francisco)
-
A Rabbi’s Cure for Coronavirus Anxiety (Rabbi Emily Cohen, Lab/Shul, New York)
-
Covid-19 and Torah: Advice from the Sabbatical Year (Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Congregation Adat Shalom, Maryland)
-
Musings on Coronavirus from the Torah and Talmud (Rabbi Nicki Greninger, Temple Isaiah, Lafayette California)
-
Seeking God’s Face in the Age of Coronavirus (Rabbi Ken Richmond, Temple Israel of Natick, Massachusetts)
-
The Staggering, Heartless Cruelty toward the Elderly (Rabbi Shai Held, Hadar)
-
A Rabbi’s Cure for Coronavirus Anxiety (Rabbi Emily Cohen, Lab/Shul)
-
Spiritual Prescription for the Coronavirus (Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, Valley Beit Midrash, Tucson Arizona)
Mindfulness & Jewish Meditation
-
Institute for Jewish Spirituality: For over 20 years, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality has helped thousands of people every year to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the world, and rediscover their sense of sacred purpose. Explore this website for teachings, inspiration, guided meditations and the following:
-
A daily virtually-led meditation sit
-
An online meditation starter kit
-
An online course in meditation
-
Jewish Podcasts
- Unorthodox: Unorthodox is a smart, fresh, fun weekly take on Jewish news and culture hosted by Mark Oppenheimer, Stephanie Butnick, and Liel Leibovitz.
-
Can We Talk?: Can We Talk?” is produced by the Boston-based Jewish Women’s Archive, a national nonprofit that highlights the lives and stories of notable Jewish women. The first episode, aptly named “The Pilot’s Pilot,” tells the stories of two 1940s-era Jewish women pilots
-
Israel Story: Fans of Ira Glass’s “This American Life,” the popular public radio show that presents stories playing on a weekly theme, will enjoy this quirky English-language counterpart to the Israeli radio program “Sipur Israeli.”
-
Person Place Thing: produced with the JCC in Manhattan, “Person Place Thing” is a one-on-one interview show based off of a New York Times Magazine column, premising on this theory: people are more interesting when speaking not about themselves, but rather about things they’re passionate about.
For Parents
- PJ Library Resources for Quarantined Families
- Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, “Parenting as a Spiritual Practice” (ELI Talk), or Nurture the Wow (more information)
- Shabbat at Home with Your Kids (Rabbanit Leah Sarna & Molly Jaret)
- Valley Beth Shalom (Encino) has created resources for preschool families, including activities, a schedule, and a collection of books read out loud.
- Melita, a Bay Area Jewish early childhood songleader/ musician (and part of Octopretzel), is doing a daily on-line song-time, experimenting with it the week of March 16. Register here (for a fee).
Jewish Education for Children & Teens
- JEDLab already has many posts about virtual teaching and school management.
- The Jewish Education Project (New York) resource page, with webinar recordings and link to helpdesk
- Prizmah resource page: with webinar recordings and upcoming webinars
- BBYO has created bbyo.org/OnDemand to offer teen experiences and support as well as support to teen educators.
- Center for Israel Education has free online courses here: https://israeled.org/ideal/
- A social story and other resources to explain Coronavirus to and stay at home with preschoolers
- A Facebook group has been created to connect Israel tour educators with Diaspora Jews/ educators--the tour educators are available to create online live tours of sites in Israel.
- Torah Live has free video courses on halacha, middot and Jewish holidays geared mostly toward middle school students. Pesach course coming soon! Free premium accounts are available by emailing yisroel@torahlive.com.
Please check back regularly as we will continue to keep this resource guide updated.