Necessity is the mother of invention, so the saying goes, and over the past few weeks we have all had to live different lives and learn how to adapt many of our most basic routines. Life in lockdown has been hard, and has caused immense suffering. In my professional life as a headteacher, I have witnessed at first hand the hardship and desperation into which many families have been pitched. Poverty has grown exponentially during this crisis.
And as a community, our thoughts and prayers are constantly with Annie, Jo and Adam as they mourn the loss of Stuart. And we grieve with them.
Yet we have adapted. Yesterday, Rabbi Gerson hosted our first online Coffee and Chat, and several of us came to together to chat via Zoom about ‘Life, the Universe and Everything’. We hope very much that this will become a regular weekly fixture.
And what about Zoom? Before the crisis, few of us had heard of it. For me, Zoom was an ice lolly that I enjoyed as a child. Now we are all becoming proficient in this wonderful technology. It has enhanced our family lives and given us the chance to connect more meaningfully. For those members of our community who find it difficult to travel, who live some distance away or who are having to self-isolate, the chance to connect online has been a huge benefit.
At NLJC, we held our April council meeting online, and are holding our next in the coming week. We have also rearranged the AGM to take place on 20 May.
Rabbi Gershon led the April service via Zoom, and will be leading the May service similarly on 9 May. Technology has also enabled us to join the Suffolk Liberal community for their services. If you have so far hesitated to join us like this, please give it a try. If you need help connecting, or understanding the technology, please get in touch and someone will help you out.
Just as importantly, we have tried to connect through more traditional means. Council members have been phoning to keep in touch, and I love the ‘Thought for the Week’ that gets sent out every Friday.
Thank you to all who have contributed and to all who have made suggestions or offered to help out.
And finally, we have been working with the NHC to create support mechanisms for members of the Jewish community across Norfolk, whether they are linked to either of our shuls or not. We have called the scheme, Jewish Communities Reach Out Norfolk. If you are in need, we will do what we can to help; perhaps by doing some shopping or collecting a prescription. If you are in a position to help others out, please let us know.
Kim wrote last Friday night about the need to search for the sparks in our existence. This awful crisis has undoubtedly cast darkness over our lives, but the selfless work and commitment of our wonderful NHS staff, of other key workers, and ordinary members of the public, have illuminated our society. I pray that we can hold on to at least some of this when our lives return to some sense of normality.
Best wishes to you all, and stay safe and well.
Peter Whear