By Mica Soffer – Publisher and Editor of COLlive.com & COLlive Magazine
It wasn’t an obvious (or simple) decision to publish this Pesach Edition of the COLlive Magazine.
Just last month, the streets of Crown Heights were filled with children and adults joyfully wearing Purim costumes and masks. Now, our streets are mostly bare, and the masks we wear are because of the medical threat of coronavirus.
It seems like there isn’t a home in the neighborhood that hasn’t been hit by the infectious disease in one way or another. In the true nature of our shechuna, the dedicated volunteers of Hatzalah, community physicians, chesed organizations and good people with golden hearts are doing their best to help those who have been hit the worst.
As I was confined in my home working round-the-clock to update the community via COLlive.com about this pandemic, a request was shared. My neighbor’s daughter, Fraida Jacobson, was getting married to JJ Deitsch in what would be a downsized wedding because of the limit on crowd sizes in New York.
While the community was invited to cheer the new couple later with a street parade. First, her neighbors wanted to do something special for the new bride. The idea was that as the kallah steps out of her house and heads towards the chuppah, we all stand outside and celebrate from a safe distance.
Each neighbor had another task, and when the moment came, there was joyous music, cheers, and even a few tears as we displayed simcha amidst illness and heartbreak.
It was that episode that led me to decide to publish this 4th edition of the magazine in honor of Pesach 5780. It follows our Tishrei, Chanukah and Purim editions which were well received by all.
With many of us who are being confined in homes, we can use an uplifting thought (read the letter from the Rebbe about liberation “from existing and potential harm”), positive stories (like the transformation of a couple from Ohio), sound advice (anxiety during COVID-19), useful tips (for calmer Pesach cleaning and productive homeschooling), and yes, a bit of humor (by Mordechai Schmutter).
I hope you find it an uplifting read, and with prayers that all who need a refuah shelaima be healed immediately. Wishing you a Kosher and happy Pesach.
COLlive Magazine – Issue 4 is being distributed in Crown Heights grocery stores and online.
PDF version
COLlive Magazine - Pesach 2020
To read previous issues, click here
