Bill Insert – May 2020 – Staying Connected
My Dear TRT Family,
Staying connected as our life continues…
I am uplifted by the resilience and shared collective of those volunteering to connect all of us while we settle into the new, but hopefully, short-lasting limitations of our day-to-day lives.
The impact of the economic trend is becoming clearer as our region fights the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We are measured not only in good times, but more so in difficult times.
Our core values now more than ever: Kindness, inclusion, and well-being are at the heart of TRT’s dedication to offer additional programming complementing our stay-at-home routines. Check trt.org for various online programs and see how they can enrich your life now.
These programs are available to you whether you live locally or far away. Last week I shared a virtual Zoom program with members from across four states! It warms my heart to see more and more families benefit from our online platform. And when I hear members saying, “ This was the highlight of my week”, I know we certainly have a purpose during these confusing times.
No one should feel alone through this crisis. TRT has always been a warm, caring, and supportive community. We still provide pastoral care and life-cycle events. As our volunteers make calls, please let them know if you need assistance. You can also reach out directly to any of our lay leaders or our clergy.
As we still have major financial obligations that must be met, we decided to apply for the government stimulus program – Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which is designed to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations continue meeting payroll obligations. This step shows that we have the utmost respect for our employees who help maintain the essence of our temple life.
If you have been significantly affected financially by this crisis and you cannot afford to pay membership for the short-term, understand that we will work within our means to help you stay members and enjoy the benefits of belonging to a caring community that provides you with a spiritual home and a safety network. Our Special Circumstances team confidentially took care of that in the past and is here to help you now.
Thank you to those families who showed generosity and helped us be the community that we are so proud of. Please consider an extra donation to help us sustain the level of caring that we want to provide others using trt.org/donation/.
I hope you, like me, appreciate our wonderful volunteers who call to check in with members and who creatively help our community utilize technology to feel connected. If you have any ideas or concerns, please reach out to me directly at tmimag@trt.org.
We all stay connected as a community despite the social distancing. Stay safe and healthy.
Warmly,
Tmima Grinvald, Temple President
Bill Insert – April 2020 – We Need Each Other
My Dear TRT Family,
The last few weeks must have felt like a sci-fi movie. Who could have imagined that we would not be able to meet with our own family members or get together with friends at our favorite restaurant or café? The concern for the health of our loved ones is at the top of our minds as we each must adjust our daily routines. The impact of the economic uncertainty is only unfolding.
The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) is forcing our congregation to confront unprecedented challenges. Our Board and our clergy are working together to ensure that each of our families feels connected, especially at this time of enforced isolation. We want to make sure that you don’t feel alone. Our response team has tried to reach each congregant to specifically check if they need any assistance. If you did not receive a call or a voicemail, it is very likely that the number we have on file is incorrect. At these critical times, it is important you update your contact information, so please email it to office@trt.org.
We are still your spiritual home! We have quickly moved all our programming to online platforms and our school has shifted to online learning, while adhering to social distancing and other regulations designed to keep us safe and healthy. Whether it’s watching trt.org/stream services on Fridays at 6:30pm, participating in the Zoom Shabbat 10AM Minyan at trt.org/saturday, or studying with Adult Education from the safety of your home, there are ways for all of us to stay connected.
Now that life has seemed to have stopped, know that we are still here with you and for you. Check trt.org for all our online programming and see how it can enrich your life now. If you are thinking of a specific group meeting and you need a virtual space, please contact our office. There are already some temple group meetings using our Zoom account.
At this time more than ever, we need each other. We are your safety network, and no one should feel alone through this crisis. TRT has always been a caring community and this time it’s not any different. We still provide pastoral care, and we are still here for all life-cycle events that we can be a part of.
As we enact contingency plans for situations we never dreamed of, we still have major financial obligations that must be met. As Reform Jews, we know how important it is to keep our employees, who are the lifeblood of our temple life, cared for as they continue to work mostly from their homes, using technology.
If you have been significantly affected financially by this crisis and you cannot afford to pay membership for the short term, please let us know, as we want to work within our means to help you stay members and enjoy the benefits of belonging to a caring community that provides you a spiritual home and a safety network. Our office and our Special Circumstances team have done that in the past in a confidential manner.
If your income is secure, we hope you can help our congregation to stay as one community supporting each other through tough times. Please consider an extra donation to help us sustain the level of caring that we want to provide others using trt.org/donation/. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
If you have any ideas or concerns, please reach out to me directly at tmimag@trt.org
My wishes for good health and peace of mind.
Warmly,
Tmima Grinvald, Temple President