Temple Shalom to hold High Holy Days celebrations virtually due to COVID-19

No matter what holiday you celebrate, they look different for everyone. Two of the biggest holidays of the Jewish year will be broadcast virtually instead of in person.

Family, friends and spending time together — that’s what most people think of when thinking about the holidays.

This year, celebrating may look different.

“You know what, we do the best we can,” said Janet Solot, a member of Temple Shalom.

“It’s going to be a much different experience this year for everyone,” said fellow member Becky Cornacchia.

The two most important Jewish holidays, the High Holy Days, are upon us. The ancient traditions of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will take on a 2020 feel because of COVID-19.

Instead of gathering in temple, “They’re going to be in their homes gathered around the TV or perhaps with some close family that they are spending time with, watching this together,” explained Temple Shalom Rabbi Adam Miller.

Temple Shalom in Naples will stream its services on its website and on Facebook starting with Rosh Hashanah next Friday night. That’s when Jewish people will ring in the year 5781.

To continue to keep the High Holy Days special, congregants will be coming into the temple ahead of time to record some prayers or sacred readings to share on the day of the service.

“I am doing the Prayer for Our Nation and I have the first part and it’s a wonderful experience to call out for justice,” Cornacchia said.

To make sure everyone has a sweet new year, the temple is giving people bags with prayer books, apples, honey and challah.

Next Saturday, the temple will invite families to listen to the blow of a ram’s horn, another Rosh Hashanah tradition.

To watch the livestreams on Temple Shalom’s website, click here, or head over to their Facebook page.

For more information on the High Holy Days at Temple Shalom, click here.