Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on March 24, 2020

(JTA) Delphine Horvilleur, Frances most famous female rabbi, normally spends significant portions of her day analyzing the Talmud and the writings of Marcel Proust. In addition to having published several books on theology and appearing frequently in French media, she is the editor-in-chief of the prestigious Tenoua Jewish magazine.

But on Monday, the government closed all schools in France to stop the spread of the coronavirus. President Emmanuel Macron said all of France would be placed under lockdown. Anyone caught in the street without a valid reason an emergency, a doctors appointment or a letter from a place of work deemed vital risked fines, detainment and arrest. Public transportation was halted and parks were locked up.

Horvilleur, a mother of three children aged 7, 11 and 14, and her husband began spending a lot more time doing puzzles and board games.

I cook more. Its an interesting experience, Horvilleur said.

When shes not with the children, Horvilleur, 45, is busy creating an online version of activities formerly held at the synagogues involved with her Judaism in Movement group, an umbrella of liberal Jewish groups.

Activity at Horvilleurs synagogue in Paris, which draws about 350 congregants to its weekly events, stopped Sunday, along with all other houses of worship in France, where about 500,000 Jews live.

France had about 11,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus by Friday and about 370 deaths slightly more than its neighbor, Germany. In that country, the government imposed a shutdown of all non-essential commerce and public gatherings, though it has not announced a lockdown as strict as the one in France.

Separated from her parish at least physically Horvilleur is enjoying the extra time with her family.

Its a moment for reflection, she said.

Over breakfast, as she sliced bread for her children, she told them these pieces of bread are separate but together belong to the same unit, the same thing. And theres a lesson in that for us.

Go here to read the rest:

From Proust to puzzles: The coronavirus is shifting the focus of France's star rabbi - JTA News

Category: Talmud
Tags: