A Tough Decision

Local temples and synagogues make major changes to reduce coronavirus spread.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jews in the D

D

etroit-area temples and
synagogues, which
had already instituted
enhanced sanitation and other
practices to offset transmission
of the coronavirus, quickly
ratcheted up their response on
Thursday and Friday, March
12-13. This followed Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’
s
announcement that all K-12
schools in Michigan would be
closed at least through April 11.
On Thursday, March 12,
members of the Michigan
Board of Rabbis, which includes
local Reform and Conservative
congregations, held a Zoom
online meeting with represen-
tatives of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish
funeral home directors, as well
as other local rabbis. Since then,
the state ordered that most gath-
erings of 250 people or more
should be canceled. Exceptions
include manufacturing, grocery
stores, public transportation,
etc.
According to Rabbi Aaron
Bergman of Congregation Adat
Shalom, who is president of the
Michigan Board of Rabbis, the
meeting began with a medical
update from Adam Rosh, M.D.,
an emergency physician. “He
was enunciating what we were
all thinking — that if we don’
t
take it seriously, it’
s going to
get exponentially worse. If we

ignore it, it will overwhelm the
[medical] system. We would
rather explain why we were
too cautious,
” Rabbi Bergman
explained.
Based on Dr. Rosh’
advice,
it was agreed that religious
services, classes, meetings and
other in-person congregational
events should be canceled at
least for several weeks. Temples
and synagogues quickly notified
members about the cancella-
tions, suggesting alternate meth-
ods of observance and commu-
nication. Notifications stressed
the potential need for changes
in a rapidly evolving situation.
“Congregations are under-
standing but tough. No one
is saying ‘
I can’
t believe you’
re
doing this,
’
” Rabbi Bergman
said.
Congregation B’
nai Moshe
in West Bloomfield is cancel-
ing services and other activ-
ities for at least two weeks.
Congregation Adat Shalom
plans to resume services on
April 16. Congregation Shaarey
Zedek expects to resume
services during the weekend
of April 17. Temple Beth El
will forego in-person services
through April 19.
Specific policies regarding
services, other events and avail-
ability of clergy and other staff
have been communicated via
email to members and are typi-

cally available on congregational
websites. Some congregations
are able to live-stream services
and educational programs.
A member of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek arranged a
Kaddish service via Zoom.
Several websites offer guidance
on how to handle the require-
ments of a minyan and other
ritual traditions in a virtual
service.
According to Rabbi Mark
Miller, Temple Beth El’
s senior
rabbi, a beautiful bat mitzvah
was held on Saturday with
immediate family members
present and a live-streamed
version offered to other relatives
and friends. “We are giving
families a choice of whether to
postpone their events or hold
them in person but on a small
scale,
” he added.
However, live-streaming on
Shabbat or holidays isn’
t permit-
ted in Orthodox synagogues.
“We are continuing services
with many precautions of clean-
liness, hygiene and safety,
” said
Rabbi Schneur Silberberg, out-
reach director of Bais Chabad
Torah Center. Shabbos Kiddush
and children’
s programs have
been canceled.
“We are keeping our minya-
nim but following government
guidelines for smaller gather-
ings. Attendance at services has
been significantly less the last

few weeks. People with weaker
systems should perhaps stay
home,
” he added.
Rabbi Silberberg spoke on
Friday with a rabbi who has
served in China throughout
the coronavirus epidemic there.
“He cautioned against panic and
urged that practical measures
be followed. It was reassuring
to speak with someone who
has gone through this,
” Rabbi
Silberberg said.
Rabbi Yechiel Morris of
Young Israel of Southfield
notified congregants by email
on Friday that the synagogue
had suspended all minyanim,
shiurim and programs until fur-
ther notice. “In addition, due to
current health concerns, private
minyanim, shiurim and get-to-
gethers should not be held at
individual homes,
” he wrote.
Bergman said, “It is most
important to help our congre-
gations. Each congregation
is dealing with questions and
how to connect.
” He said the
Conservative movement had
scheduled a conference call for
March 17 for synagogue profes-
sionals to help them maintain
congregational connections
and self-care during the current
situation.
As of press time on March
16, 53 people in Michigan had
tested positive for coronavirus
in Michigan.

14 | MARCH 19 • 2020

The empty sanctuary
at Temple Beth El in
Bloomfield Township

TEMPLE BETH EL FACEBOOK

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