A woman blows a shofar outside of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after the president was admitted for treatment of Covid-19 on October 4, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland. Shofars were present at the pro-Trump “Jericho March” in DC on January 6 as well.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
In the midst of the January 6 chaos, a series of images emerged showing supporters of President Trump in Washington, DC, blowing shofars. The image was befuddling to many, especially since the shofars ram’s horns typically used in Jewish observance of specific holy days seemed to be in use among Christian groups who were there to support the president as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 election results.
This Yom Kippur, I mourned for myself. I mourned a part of me who, before this pandemic, felt much more connected to God. Being able to attend synagogue
Familiar holiday feelings remain despite limited options to gather theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
C
hristmas is difficult for Jews at the best of times. The forced bonhomie, avalanche of cards with sacred images, the endless parties and apparent obligation to sip sherry are all part of the holiday season experience but not our own. One of my office duties has been to order the office cards, fix the party venue and menu and make sure the Secret Santa is in hand.
It seemed to me that one of the few benefits of living through a pandemic was that social if not sacred Christmas would be cancelled and all these familiar rituals bypassed. That has now happened, but the clamour for Christmas normality before Tier 4 was intense.
In todayâs Covid environment, those of our loved ones living in a nursing home or hospitalized are bereft of visits from family and friends. Did you ever wonder how someone in such circumstances interacts with nurses, therapists, and staff when weâre not around? My wife, Rivka Elling,
aâh, was resident in King David Nursing and Rehabilitation Center this year, from March 11 until her passing, on September 29. Most of the conversations we had with her centered on matters mundane and routine, with one notable exception: she was very scrupulous in ensuring that the electric Shabbos lights were functional each