Important Update

Dear friends,
In an effort to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Wandering Jews of Astoria is suspending its activities. This follows the lead of many Jewish organizations and shuls in New York City, but it’s a decision not made easily. We all love this community for its friendships, spirituality, learning, and much more. During these challenging times, we want to see you all more than ever. But public health comes first. 

Shabbat dinner on March 27 and Meditating the Way Forward on March 29 are postponed. We’ll reschedule as soon as we’re able to. For Book Club on April 19, we’ll monitor the situation and reevaluate as the date gets closer. On the plus side, we’ve all got plenty of time to read the book! 

In the meantime, here are a few suggestions of things we can do from home:

1. Call our neighbors—Wandering Jews or not—to make sure they’re OK. 
   
2. Livestream Shabbat services on Friday night or Saturday morning. Three excellent options are Central Synagogue, Romemu, and B’nai Jeshurun. BJ also livestreams its kids’ program on Shabbat and has weekday morning and evening services via Zoom. (You can request a free PDF of Siddur Lev Shalem from the Rabbincal Assembly.)
   
3. Share an inspiring thought or a funny video on our Jews of Queens Facebook group.
   
4. Read Tehillim. The Psalms of David are divided into 150 short but beautiful poems, and they’re a frequent source of inspiration during times of despair. (You’ll recognize some of them from the Shabbat liturgy.) They are all on Sefaria in Hebrew and English.
   
5. Listen to Nasrin or Idan Raichel from today. Listen to Allan Sherman or the 2,000 Year Old Man from yesterday. Watch The Plot Against America on HBO. 
   
6. Start a Google Hangout with some Wandering Jews for kibitzing and joke telling. 
   
7. Pick a Haggadah that inspires you, and start planning your family’s Seder.
   
8. Think about the Wandering Jews events you want to see this spring and summer, IY”H.
   

The Jewish people have survived 5,000 years, sustained by our faith and our community. That’s what will get us through the coming weeks.

B’shalom,
WJoA board