The Coronavirus and Purim here in the Bay Area

(This image is from the email I got from the Marin JCC canceling their Purim Palooza. Isn’t it delightful!)

The City of San Francisco has announced that due to ongoing public health concerns over COVID-19, all events at City-owned venues between March 7 and March 20 will be cancelled. This has included a number of Jewish events. Additionally, the SF Health Department is suggesting that all unnecessary public events be canceled – this has impacted a number of Purim shpiels scheduled to take place this week.

The J-weekly has a page that they are keeping updated listing the Jewish community events that are canceled.  Look for it HERE.  BEFORE YOU GO TO ANY EVENT please check the website site or call the office of the host organization to confirm that the activity will be taking place.

I had a museum trip scheduled for March 29th to the Contemporary Jewish Museum in SF to view the Levi Strauss exhibit, but I will be rescheduling it. The exhibit will continue into August; there is no need to risk anyone’s health.

The World Health Organization has emphasized that the number one way to avoid getting the virus is simple and free, wash your hands. They even posted a video on just how to do that thoroughly. Yes, their method takes a full minute, but think about how much more time you would spend in bed with a fever if you were to get sick.  See the video here.

The Orthodox Union, bless them, has sent out an email with some links to synagogues that are broadcasting their shpiel. The one in our time zone is Beth Jacob of Beverly Hills. I just went and liked them on Facebook so that I can tune it this evening.

I know that Temple Sinai in Oakland will be trying to stream as well. I’m told it will depend on their hardware.  They are on Facebook here.

Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland sent out an email saying, “we invite you to listen to the Rockn’Roll Purim through the TBA website. Click at the top right “click for live streaming”.

For the stay-at-home folks who are sad to miss out on Hamentashen I am sending a link to my favorite Hamentashen recipes here.  If you don’t have some of those ingredients then just mix up a simple Sugar Cookie recipe for the dough – or buy one – and fill them with jam or chocolate chips.

Now go wash your hands and have fun!