The Voice | June-July 2020

REFLECTIONS &

PERSPECTIVES FROM OUR STAFF

My thoughts on the pandemic… I remember thinking at one point over the winter, how much I would love a snow day. Just ONE day at home to get my house in order! I wanted ONE day… I left my office after 6 pm on Friday, March 13. Nine weeks have passed. 63 days. Instead of focusing on the things that are lost, high school sports season, junior prom, events with extended family, a quarantine birthday, seeing the children at Beth El every day… we decided to focus on what we will gain during this time. I have always been a “glass is half full” person, as is my husband and our 17-year-old sons. My family decided on day one that we were going to embrace this time together. Dinner together 7 nights a week, home cooked meals (6 nights a week, I am not perfect). Binge watching shows we’ve wanted to watch for years, doing puzzles, Zentangling, new art projects, daily walks with my family, connecting with neighbors as they walk by, Facetimes and Zooms with families in the infant toddler program and preschool, drive-by visits with students, Zoom happy hours with coworkers and old friends, volunteer opportunities. Without a doubt, the extra time with my children, so close to them being on the brink of adulthood, is a gift that I will be forever grateful for. The list could go on and on and each thing has brought joy into my world during a very strange time. I recognize that I am lucky and I don’t take that luck for granted. I am aware that many people in our community have faced terrible sadness, pain and unimaginable difficulties during this time. I hope with everything inside me that I can continue to keep my glass half full! Jill Suffel Early Childhood Programs Coordinator How has COVID affected me? As many people may know, I am not Jewish. But during this time, Beth El, which already felt like a second-home, became my sanctuary. It has also presented me with the opportunity to help. Whether a phone call, an email, or even a Zoom call I’ll try my hardest to assist if I can. Even though we are further apart than ever I have never felt closer to Beth El. Josh Powell Accounting/IT Associate My Experience Maternity leave 2.0 that’s what my husband Pete and I are calling quarantine life. We had our first child, Ellie in September and she’s been the greatest gift we have ever received. I had so many plans for our maternity leave 1.0 with Ellie but the realities of having a newborn made what I thought would be days full of walking around the neighborhood and snuggling and laughing was really exhaustion and learning how to care for a newborn. Don’t get me wrong, my maternity leave was wonderful and the bonding with our daughter was amazing, just not exactly what I thought it would be and it also went by way too fast. This time around maternity leave 2.0 has been full of morning snuggles after Ellie wakes up, no rushing to get out the door and passing her off to one another. We have breakfast every morning at the table and enjoy an afternoon walk around our neighborhood every day that the weather allows. Watching our daughter grow who is now almost 8 months old and spending every minute of every day with her has taught us as parents a new way of being patient and appreciating the slower pace of life that maternity leave 2.0 has given us. While we deeply miss the hugs and kisses from our families and friends, we will always remember and cherish this time with our little girl. Amanda Beitman Director of Development

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The Voice of Beth El Congregation