March 21, 2020 “The 7^th shall be a day of complete rest for you”     Vayakhel  35:2
Covid-19. This extraordinary and existential interruption is a sabbath in our lives, disrupting routines, forcing new priorities. Before the pandemic subsides, we may find ourselves and our neighbors as vulnerable and destitute as our forebears in the wilderness. This moment calls for healthcare – for all, even those uninsured or undocumented – and not just for their sake, but also to protect ourselves. It’s a time to embrace and support those habituated to and, now, those suddenly new to impoverishment and food insecurity with our charity and with expansion and new insight into safety-net programs that, in the past, provoked our cynicism. Let us bolster our prayers for healing with compassion, grace, and, of course, with vigilance. Shabbat Shalom!