THE YEAR of the PANDEMIC SEEMED TO BE ENDING

….. This has been a most difficult year for many in our congregation, a year of loss, of separation from loved ones, of celebrations, planned and canceled, of anxiety and the feeling that there was no end in sight. Then, almost miraculously there was hope with a vaccine to protect us all. Our congregants rushed to get protected as soon as they were
eligible, feeling a great measure of relief. Slowly, it seemed life was returning to a semblance of normal. We began tentatively with small gatherings outside. We pulled our masks down to reveal whole faces which was a great relief, keeping our distance.
…… At PRS we began cautiously, holding a service outside under a big tent thanks to the generosity of our friends at St. Mary’s Church of the Highlands. June 19th was our first Shabbat service, followed on June 27th by our annual meeting and celebratory picnic. We honored Rabbi Helaine Ettinger at that time, thanking her for the guidance, gentle words of comfort, and encouragement, and for her work holding Friday night Shabbat zoom services, adult education classes, and special services for holidays. We also took the opportunity to honor our dear friend Barry Skura whose sudden passing left us grieving. In recognition of his love of education, PRS created the Barry Skura Education Fund in
his memory.

And NOW IT CONTINUES. PRS WILL HOLD VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS.
 

As much as we all fervently wished for the end of the pandemic, it is still with us. This seems particularly cruel as we were all looking forward however cautiously to in-person services this year. It seemed so possible! But alas the Delta variant has dashed our hopes. The PRS board after consultation with Rabbi Helaine and searching their own feelings and fears decided that the risk of in-person services however carefully planned might put our congregation at risk. So we bowed to necessity and caution, and are pleased to be able to bring you your High Holiday services through zoom! After the rave reviews, we received last year we are looking forward to “getting together” again
electronically. We were able to get together with our fellow congregants, but also with family and friends far and wide joining us from all over the USA and even abroad.

How can you join us for the High Holidays? Simply email co-president Cathy Duke at  cathye95@aol.com with your full name,
address, telephone number, and preferred email by September 1. Join us for our zoom Rosh Hashanah services beginning September 6, by gathering around your family table and dialing in. Services begin at 7 PM, so join at 6:45 to say hello! Our full schedule of services appears on this website under EVENTS.

Our High Holiday schedule of services appears on our EVENTS page.  We also invite you to enjoy our in-person Sukkot!  Our multi-talented Helmut Hoess will be building our sukkah, and on Sunday, September 19 at 2 PM we invite you to join us in decorating the sukkah then a brief service at 3 PM and kiddish.  Rabbi Helaine Ettinger will lead us in observing the customs of the holiday outside on the beautiful big lawn of St. Mary’s Church in Cold Spring (on the corner of 9D and 301) You will be able to fulfill the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah too!  We will be having a modest dessert kiddish. Kindly wear your masks.  For more information, contact co-president Cathy Duke at cathye95@aol.com or 914 450 4188.

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If you would like to make a donation to PRS to support our efforts please send your gift by snail mail to:  Philipstown Reform Synagogue, PO Box 94, Cold Spring, NY 10516

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PRAYER BOOKS FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS