This year's High Holy Days will be nothing like before, with the traditional family and communal gatherings revamped entirely due to the soaring number of coronavirus patients and carriers in Israel.
This poses a particular challenge to prayer services, which usually include packed synagogues and throngs of worshippers at the Western Wall. Two organizations, the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization and Ohr Torah Stone's Yachad Program for Jewish Identity, have announced that they would "to take as many services as possible into public outdoor spaces. "
According to their statement, "the six-year-old 'Shofar in the Park' initiative has already seen over 230 locations sign up for the program, with more joining every day. In addition to the traditional shofar blasts, Rosh Hashanah-related programming for families will add to the holiday atmosphere."
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Tzohar Founder and Chair Rabbi David Stav said his organization sees this year's unique circumstances as a challenge, not an obstacle. "We recognize and respect that people are afraid to come out for lengthy and crowded services," he said. "Our goal, as always, is to make the services as accessible as possible and ensure that this time will be meaningful both for more observant and secular communities, for whom these days are a particularly important spiritual highlight of the year."
His counterpart at Ohr Torah Stone, President Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, concurred. "The Shofar in the Park initiative will enable hundreds of thousands of Israelis from all over the country to hear shofar blasts in the public sphere while safeguarding their health and the health of others," he said. "In particular now, during this time of pandemic, as there is so much strife and divisiveness between us, it's more important than ever to make connections between the various groups in Israeli society against the backdrop of the symbols that unite us. May this year bring health, unity, connection and understanding between us all."
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