Dear Havurahniks,

I wanted to reach out and let you know that the COVID-19 Response Committee we mentioned in our last email has begun to meet. Thank you so much to Sherry Israel, Mark Frydenberg, Johannah Lebow, Judith Geller, Jonathan Rubenstein, Jeremy Golding, Darius Sivin, Glenda McKinney, and Malkah Binah Klein for your volunteering and leadership.

Our goal is to balance our hopes for an in-person Institute with the costs of uncertainty and the benefits of having a clear decision that lets us best plan for supporting and building a virtual NHC community and Institute.

We are considering emerging information about the pandemic, the decision-making processes of similar organizations with summer meetings, and our own sense of our community. If you have information or insights that you would like to share, we welcome your input. Please email me (bognar@gmail.com), Sherry (israel@brandeis.edu), or Lauren (office@havurah.org).

The COVID-19 Response Committee’s aim is to make a recommendation to the NHC Board after considering all of these factors. The Board will meet to discuss and deliberate in mid-May, and then we will update the community.

Registration remains open for the time being, but in case of cancellation of in-person Institute, all registration payments would be fully refundable.

We are moving forward with gravity but also hope and commitment that whatever happens this summer, our community will only be stronger and more vibrant going forward.

 

Sincerely,

Tara Bognar