Rabbi Blog

Dear QJC Family,

עבדו את ה' ביראה, וגילו ברעדה
Worship Hashem with fear, and rejoice with trembling

As of now, we have exactly a minyan for weekdays for shacharis and mincha/maariv. With trepidation and excitement, there is some light at the end of the tunnel as we resume tefillah b'tzibbur be'ezras Hashem tomorrow morning.

Because of the government's regulations, we may only have exactly ten people in the building at a time, so nobody is permitted to attend without having registered in advance.
We will continue to take feedback as the process unfolds. If you would like to be on the "waiting list," feel free to let me know.

No decisions have been made regarding the way in and the time at which we will proceed with Shabbos minyanim. Please bear with us and we appreciate your patience.

With that said, there is a halachic ideal of davening at the same time the tzibbur davens. If you wish to have the merit of tefillah b'tzibbur but do not feel like you can safely participate at this time, the next best thing is to daven at the same time we daven. That will be at 6:30 every morning (starting from Rabbi Yishmael at that point), and mincha at 8:15 pm this week. Maariv should still be preferably davened after tzeis hakochavim (you can daven as early as 9:00 pm to fulfill your obligation for Shema).

It was reported to me this evening that Rav Hershel Schachter said that Avinu Malkeinu no longer needs to be said.

Primaries - the official primaries in New York State are on June 23. It is critical to vote in these elections, as in many cases the winner of the primary may win the entire election, as far as local politics are concerned. I will not share any specific opinions at this time, but there may be differences between various candidates regarding issues that are important to the Jewish community. Everyone may vote absentee because of COVID-19, and it's not too late to request a ballot. Please click here for more information.

Kol tuv,

Judah Kerbel