Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

mishpocha

Heartfelt Connections Blossom within AARC’s Mishpocha Groups

by

At the beginning of the pandemic, congregation members expressed a need to build connection while they were at home during quarantine. Thus ‘Mishpocha Groups’ were born! Mishpocha groups consist of 5-10 members each and represents AARC members of all stripes. Most groups meet weekly on zoom, though some meet every other week or monthly. The groups have been a profound source of support for most in this time of isolation. New friendships have blossomed and old friendships have grown stronger through the connections that have been built within the Mishpocha groups. As we enter into the darker and colder months of winter, let’s hear from members about how these groups have warmed their hearts.


“When the pandemic hit, I’d been attending services at AARC for just over a year, and had started seeing familiar faces and meeting people at Friday services, but hadn’t had time to form closer connections. Joining a mishpocha group seemed like a fun idea but I had no idea how it would go. I certainly didn’t expect that I would look forward to our calls every week, and miss them each time I couldn’t make it; I didn’t expect these people to go from vague acquaintances to some of the closest emotional connections in my life; I didn’t expect to have an hour every week to feel loved and supported and seen. It’s an aptly named group! They’re my family now.”


“As somebody who lives alone this mishpacha group means a lot.  The Wednesday night congregation gatherings at the start of the pandemic, with breakout rooms, were also fantastic, in the way they allowed personal interaction.  The process of getting to know one another and creating closeness can be profound and powerful.”
 


“We have made good friends. It’s a very interesting group of people. We have talked about a lot of things, including recipes, travel, misinformation, challenging issues happening at the University of Michigan, 9/11 memories and reflections.”


“The mishpacha group meeting every week was helpful in dealing with the isolation
at the start of the pandemic.  We got to know each other, and it’s been nice to check in every week.”


“The mishpacha group every Monday at 7:30pm became a point of stability during the week.”

There is a new Mishpocha group forming! If you would like to include this important ritual in your life this year, email us and we will connect you!

Capturing Learnings as the AARC enters the High Holiday Season

by

Written by Rebecca Kanner and Emily Eisbruch for the Washtenaw Jewish News

Hybrid Shabbat, July 2021

Lots changed during the COVID 19 pandemic, including, for many of us, how we worshiped and how we socialized.  What a joy to experience the happy reconnections in the summer of 2021, as vaccines enabled the resumption of many in-person events.  Now, on the brink of the New Year 5782, the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation (AARC) is taking stock of lessons learned during the pandemic and taking steps to capture and continue some of the positive innovations.

Aziza celebrating Tu B’Shvat

As one example, the pandemic inspired an increase in creative outdoor activities for the AARC Beit Sefer (religious school).  A Tu B’Shvat program centered on Ann Arbor’s champion trees and a bike/hike relay experience connecting Beit Sefer families are two examples.  “The healthy connection with the outdoors, and focus on Jewish environmental education is an emphasis we plan to continue,”  says Beit Sefer director Clare Kinberg. “For the upcoming school year we have plans for a monthly Beit Sefer program at The Farm on Jennings, a farm providing a diverse selection of certified naturally grown produce and flowers, owned and operated by AARC member Carole Caplan.”    

At the congregational worship level, we recently invested in state-of-the-art equipment to deliver hybrid worship experiences that are meaningful both for in-person and online participants.  According to Seth Kopald, who is a Board member and part of the AARC’s Tech Committee, “We bought quality equipment so everyone will hear and see things clearly, and hopefully it will help those on Zoom engage on a deeper level. We really want people to feel a part of the services and other events. We are together even when we are apart.”  In July, the AARC was pleased to convene an outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat service and to kick off using the new sound system, with the event streamed live on Facebook.  

In another innovation, color-coded name tags (using green, yellow or red circle stickers) were offered for those in-person at the July Kabbalat Shabbat. The colorful stickers were applied on name tags to indicate an individual’s comfort with hugs versus handshakes versus socially distanced smiles.  The stickers provide an easy mechanism for people to signal their level of readiness (or not) for friendly physical connection.   The congregation will decide whether to continue offering the stickers moving forward. 

Mishpocha groups, formed during COVID to facilitate AARC members keeping in touch, have proved highly successful.   AARC members serve as hosts for small groups that meet weekly or biweekly on Zoom, providing a cohort for check-in, support, and even sometimes for sharing music, poetry and short stories.  The friendships and new bonds continue as we emerge from the pandemic, and the Zoom check-ins may also continue.

Here’s a friendly reminder that High Holiday services are a great time to check out the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation. Our live-streamed services are open to all.   For more details, we invite you to visit the AARC website at https://aarecon.org/ or reach out to Gillian Jackson at aarcgillian@gmail.com. 

To see this article in the September 2021 Washtenaw Jewish News, scroll to Page 8 here.
https://washtenawjewishnews.org/PDFs/WJN-09-21-web.pdf