A message from the Rockland Jewish Federation and Board of Rabbis

Your Rabbis and Your Federation Want You to Know…

You’re Not Alone

Over the past two weeks, members of the Rockland County Board of Rabbis have continued to communicate with one another about steps to care for our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We met by phone with Governor Cuomo’s office and will continue to stay in touch with our local authorities. At this deeply anxious time, we are reaching out to our own communities to remind them that they are not alone. Our tradition is one that is consumed with life and its protection. The principle of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) supersedes almost any other restriction, and we are therefore recommending that everyone in our community stay home as much as possible. In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to update the Rockland Jewish community with recommendations and spiritual support.

The Rockland Board of Rabbis: Congregation Sons of Israel-Upper Nyack, Montebello Jewish Center, Nanuet Hebrew Center, New City Jewish Center, Orangetown Jewish Center, West Clarkstown Jewish Center, Beth Am Temple, Temple Beth Sholom, The Reform Temple of Rockland, Congregation Shaarey Israel, Congregation Sons of Israel-Spring Valley

Jewish Federation’s team of volunteers and professionals has been energized and motivated by the way in which Jewish community leadership and volunteers from across our community have pulled together to embrace the challenges of the new “normal” we are facing, today.

Because we are living in a time none of us have ever experienced, we realize we must try our best to take things one day at a time. At most, we can plan a few days ahead. The single most important certainty is that Coronavirus-related challenges will continue for many weeks, if not months. To make matters worse, the unparalleled health crisis has been coupled with a financial crisis that is already negatively impacting many families in our community.

While none of us at Federation or other Jewish institutions claim to understand Coronavirus, we do understand community building…living the Jewish values of caring for the most vulnerable, educating our children, fighting anti-Jewish hate, and keeping our Jewish institutions connected, both here and in Israel. We know this must continue.

In these new, uncharted times, we know we must think differently about how to engage and connect with all of you. Reconfiguring how we work together while remaining true to Jewish values, your Rockland Jewish institutions will be here to support you through this time. Finally, we know that when the current crisis ends, this community will emerge stronger because, through these challenging times, we came together to work and innovate together.

We are fortunate to live in the New York metro area where there has been a thoughtful, forceful, and serious response to the coronavirus health emergency. We are equally fortunate to have access to some of the finest medical institutions in the world. We have been in contact with Jewish federations across the country and are sharing ideas about how best to serve our communities.

In the meantime, there is no shortage of opportunities for doing good. First and foremost, make sure your family members are safe. Remember that if needed, emergency food supplies are available through the Rockland Jewish Family Service. You can reach them at 845 354 2121 X 140.

Thank you for the many extraordinary things many of you have done during the past few days and for those you will do in the weeks to come.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us at info@jewishrockland.org.