I have spent the day working from home. This was already planned, as it’s the second Thursday of the month when I have coaching and consulting clients all day long. They are all pastors. They’re from different parts of the country, navigating different challenges.… Read the rest
Month: March 2020 (Page 14 of 15)
We write this at a moment when in Massachusetts our Governor has declared a state of emergency because of the Corona Virus. Pastors and Church Leaders are making hard decisions about what to keep and what to cancel or modify.… Read the rest
Dear Supporter Ji,
Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 (the coronavirus you’ve heard about on the news) is officially a pandemic. Given the heightened concerns about the health of our sangat, the Sikh Coalition asked that I share information and recommendations as it relates to the virus so that our gurdwaras can be better prepared to handle concerns.… Read the rest
A caveat before I begin: I have hesitated from responding to the Coronavirus since news of it first broke, since I am neither a scientist nor a public health official, but now… as a rabbi, a faculty member of the Jewish Theological Seminary and as a former member both of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and of the Israel Rabbinical Assembly Law Committee, I want to say clearly and unequivocally: we must take drastic action to enforce social distancing, in the absence of clear governmental directives.… Read the rest
The Diocese of Syracuse has been in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is actively following the directive of the county public health departments to ensure that all diocesan parishes, schools, ministries, and charities are responding appropriately to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).… Read the rest
We have been asked, in light of the pandemic spread of the terrible coronavirus, whether yeshivos and day schools should close down until the danger of infection has passed.
It is our opinion, at least as of now, and at least in cities or municipalities where public and private schools are not required to close, that yeshivos and day schools should remain open.… Read the rest
Statement of the Presiding Bishop to the House of Bishops
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Day #3
“Opportunity is always to be given to every communicant to receive the consecrated Bread and Wine separately.” (BCP p. 407)
“The Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall have full authority and responsibility for the conduct of the worship and spiritual jurisdiction of the Parish, subject to the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of this Church, and the pastoral direction of the Bishop.” … Read the rest
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California STRONGLY urges the Muslim Community not to offer congregational Friday prayers (Salatul Jumuah) this week in order to minimize the risk of COVID-19. In conjunction with scholarly consultation with the Board of Imams and medical discussions on this topic with a physician task force, all congregants are advised to pray the noon prayer (Salatuz Zuhr) at home or work. … Read the rest
“The world is a narrow bridge, the important thing is to not be afraid.” – Rav Nachman of Breslov
Today we learned of the first verified COVID-19 case in the State of Maine. After outbreaks in other parts of our country, it was inevitable that this virus would arrive in our backyard, and now we must respond in ways that are appropriate for our community.… Read the rest
Writing about events while they are happening is always a bit dangerous. It’s easy to encourage over-reactions and reinforce unhelpful panic in our hearts. That said, the COVID 19 coronavirus provides us with an opportunity to think about how we respond to anxiety.… Read the rest
