It is 8 pm Thursday in Boston, New York and Florida.  It is 7 pm in Chicago and Minneapolis.  It is 5 pm in Los Angeles.  And it is….10 am in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia!  Welcome to the first Flying Foxes and Tikvah Ramah Dance Party—with tunes, lighting, and special surprises like the Flying TIkvah Game Show!  How fun to bring participants from two large disabilities programs—for a night/afternoon/morning of fun.  96 people had a blast—and we are already planning our next activity.

I was contacted a few years ago by Flying Foxes CEO Dean Cohen. We met in New York—and in Melbourne—to learn about the Tikvah Programs at Camp Ramah, and about the Flying Foxes socialization and camp programs for people with disabilities across Australia.  I have subsequently had numerous in person and Zoom meetings with such amazing members of the team as Tayla, Ricki, Bianca and other.  Now it was time to try out their “crazy” idea—an international dance party!    It worked!

Some Tikvah participants on the east coast were winding down, while some in Australia woke up the next morning and already had their porridge!  DJ Ben played tunes and our worlds were expanded.  Zach from Ramah New England gave a great overview of American overnight 4 and 8 week camping—since the Australians only go to camp for a few days at a time. 

The fun trivia game tested knowledge of each other’s faraway countries. No, Australians don’t have kangaroos as pets.  Yes, Donald Trump is US president.  No, New Zealand and Australia are not attached.  Vegemite?!  Not so well known in America.   And preferences for dogs vs. cats do not break down by country!    

Check out the happy faces of 96 participants, staff members, Tikvah directors, and lead staff of Flying Foxes. It may be 16,662 km and 10,353 miles from Melbourne to New York, and Melbourne may be 14 hours ahead of New York time—but for one wonderful hour, our worlds were one!  

Every August, I gear up for my favorite event of the year—the US Open.  For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of spending three weeks at the US Open—from the qualifying tournament through the finals. I have been a member of the media, covering the tournament for various Israeli publications.  This year is different.

In the era of Covid, being a credentialed US Open media member means being “in the loop” for all tournament communications—leading up to the tournament, and during the tournament.  My fellow journalists and I will be writing about tennis—from wherever we happen to be.  We will be given all the match coverage and important information we need.

This week, most communications have started “X withdraws from the US Open.  Y moves in to the main draw.”  Yesterday, for example: 

 Simona Halep (ROU) has withdrawn from the US Open.

 Irina Khromacheva (RUS) moves into the Main Draw.

 Usue Arconada (USA) is now the first player out.

And today: 

Yen Hsun Lu (TPE) has withdrawn from the US Open.

 Federico Gaio (ITA) moves into the main draw.

But these communications don’t capture the excitement and positive feel—and sense that this month of tennis planned for New York just might work!

There was a media conference call today on Health and Safety Protocols–for both the 2020 Western & Southern Open (to be held in NYC) and the US Open.  It was SO reassuring.  Three very informed, thoughtful, articulate, and caring individuals helped reassure members of the media that there is so much good news and so much to look forward to with these two tournaments about to start.  Michael Dowse, CEO and Executive Director of the USTA; Stacey Allaster, USTA Chief Executive of Professional Tennis and US Open Tournament Director; and Dr. Bernard Camins, Medical Director for Infection Prevention for the Mt. Sinai Health Systems, and Member of the USTA Medical Advisory Group were rock stars.  While none of the members of the media on the call will be physically present at this year’s tournament, we are in a great position to be ambassadors, and to be positive.

Some things which caught my attention:

– Despite some of the challenges we have faced, in the women's draws we have 10 former Grand Slam champions, seven former No. 1s, and 81 of the top 100 players competing.

-On the men's side, we have seven of the top-10 players playing, eight former Grand Slam finalists, and 90 of the top 100 players.

-As of this morning, almost 350 players have entered this centralized Western & Southern and US Open

environment. We will all remain in our environment for as long as we are competing and they are competing for that prestigious ATP Masters Series title, WTA Premier title andGrand Slam title.

-The athletes have everything they need. They have comfortable housing, medical testing, transportation, practice facilities, trainers, physios, a variety of food services, and a number

of experiences for their off-time both on-site and in the official hotels. As we've seen the players come in, the energy has been really positive. They're excited to be back. They're happy to see each other. We've been thanked quite a bit by players for putting on these events. I think I would say there's a strong sense of community that we are all in this together for our sport and for our fans.

– The fundamentals of the plan are a multi-tiered system.  Ultimately that's limiting the amount of interaction, the different roles and responsibilities.

There are three tiers:

Tier one, that includes all the players, their guests, tournament off staff, officials and the medical teams,

approximately about a thousand people in the tier one group.

The tier two group includes broadcasters, people who may interact but have very, very, very little interaction and exposure.

Lastly, the third tier, includes staff, whether it be security, parking, vendors. Again, their limited interactions are even less.

-“ Together with ESPN and our international broadcasters, millions of fans in more than 200 countries will have the opportunity to be inspired by what I believe are the most amazing athletes to compete in sport at the highest of levels.”

– MIKE DOWSE concluded by saying: “As I said in my opening statement, we have 100% confidence we're doing this properly. Again, it was not a host at all costs. We were very disciplined in our approach. Again, that was health and well-being number one. Number two, in the best interests of tennis. Three,

does it financially make sense for the players, the USTA and the broader tennis ecosystem. The thing I'm most excited about is the energy, as I shared earlier, from the players as they've come in and the

broader tennis community. People are starved to see these great athletes competing in these two big

tournaments. I'm really optimistic that we're going to look back at this in a few months and really be proud of what everyone accomplished, what this has done for our sport of tennis.”

One super fun fact which caught my attention:   Recent reports from the tennis industry are showing the sales of entry level tennis racquets and the purchase of tennis balls have nearly doubled in May, June and July.  Players from all backgrounds are discovering that tennis is the perfect post-pandemic sport. It's safe, social, great exercise, and most importantly tennis is fun.

With gyms still closed in many parts of the country, outdoor tennis (along with biking) have become great ways to get exercise and fresh air, while still socializing, safely.  Hats off to the public courts which have welcomed me and various partners 3 times a week!

Let’s keep the tennis going—safely!

What in the world are Jewish people to do this Rosh Hashanah? Non-Orthodox synagogues in the United States have mostly decided to remain closed and to run traditional holiday services over Zoom. This is a relief to many people who still do not feel comfortable praying or even being in a building with many people who still do not feel comfortable being indoors for extended periods of time with large groups of people—even if social distancing is enforced.  Orthodox synagogues, which do not use technology on the Sabbath and holidays, are in a different situation.

I was pleased to read a recent JTA article which took a look at what Orthodox synagogue’s around the country are planning to do. Synagogues are working on “pacing and spacing,” (photo above is from JTA article–features an Atlanta shul), with services starting at Shaharit, and rabbis not to deliver sermons.   Some synagogues are even running services in different shifts. Some are exploring the use of outdoor spaces, though this is not so easy to find—and the weather in many parts of the country is not so cooperative in late September.

In these shuls, some cantor’s will be wearing masks or praying behind Plexiglas. And there is speculation about how the shofar will be blown.  Many synagogues are facing situations where older members will not attend due to health concerns and many younger members have left their home cities during the pandemic. 

I received an email survey today from a New York City Orthodox synagogue which I belong to.  Before launching in to a detailed questionnaire, the very kind letter begins by reminding members that the shul has always had an “open door” policy during the High Holidays, “offering all members of our community the opportunity to pray at our synagogue without reserving or paying for seats.”  It goes on: “Unfortunately, during these unprecedented times, we are forced to implement different procedures and will require that all attendees register for seats in advance of the holidays.” 

In a “typical” year, services begin 745 or 8 am and run until 1 or 1:30 pm.  This year, the synagogue is planning to offer two services during the day on Rosh Hashanah (subject to demand by worshippers). 

  1.  Full Service:  This slightly abridged service will last approximately 2 ½ hours and include Shacharit, Torah Reading, Rabbi’s Remarks, Shofar Blowing and Mussaf. Expected start time is 7:45AM.

  2.  Limited Service:  This shortened service will include Rabbi’s Remarks, Shofar Blowing and Mussaf. Expected start time is 11:15AM. 

Additional features of the Rosh Hashanah plan:    

* Total available seating will be limited to ensure social distancing.

* All seats will be assigned by the High Holiday Seating Committee.

* You may only enter the synagogue building if you received confirmation of a seating assignment and are on the security list.  As of now, NO WALK-INS will be permitted.

It is wonderful to see that synagogues are taking the pandemic very seriously—and are carefully and sensitively making some very tough decisions. The plan above will be useful for those willing to enter a synagogue this year. With exactly a month and two days to go before Rosh Hashanah (Rosh Chodesh Elul is this Thursday and Friday!), it would be nice to see other creative options creative and meaningful options in place for those who do not feel comfortable or safe entering the synagogue.  Hopefully, Orthodox synagogues will soon validate the concerns of those not attending and share info on “DIY Rosh Hashanah.”  What rituals can be done at home as a family?  Perhaps praying together as a family, blowing the shofar together, reading the Torah and Haftarah aloud in English, walking to tashlich, etc.   Please share other suggestions for making the holiday meaningful in the age of Covid!

Every summer when overnight camps are in session (please, let’s be in session next summer!), I look forward to teaching Tikvah (disabilities inclusion) staff about the differences between equality and equity.  There is a classic image that explains it quite simply—in order to see a baseball game from the outfield fence, three people of different heights don’t have equal access to the game.   One can see the game over the fence, one’s view is partially blocked and the 3^rd person can’t see at all as the fence is in the way!  They need different “things” in order to see the game—a tall person can see without any accommodation, while a shorter person needs a box or two to stand on.  Pretty straight forward.  Who could possibly argue that it is necessary to offer an accommodation?

Ellen Gutoskey in an article in mentalfloss.com offers an example by George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.  They point out that recognizing the difference between equality and equity is important in just about every sphere of life: public health, politics, education, racial justice, and more. If each public school in a certain county receives 150 new laptops, that’s technically equal. But it doesn’t factor in that some of those schools might be located in high-income districts where most of the students already have their own laptops. Instead, officials should allocate the devices according to which schools have the greatest need for them—that way, they can minimize the chance that dozens of laptops will end up gathering dust at one school, while another doesn't have enough to go around.  This is a very relevant example as the majority of students in the country—regardless of means—are learning virtually.

A recent USA Today article and a recent This American Life podcast made me think more of the issue of offering accommodations to ensure equity.  In the USA Today article, students in Virginia who are immunosuppressed were advocating that all—not some—college courses be offered virtually this semester.   If only some courses are offered in person, those who are immunosuppressed and not able to attend classes in person due to medical reasons, would be left out of certain courses.  If all courses are offered online, everybody will have access to all courses.

This American Life very skillfully and sensitively addressed the issue of timed presentations.   Most people would not object if told their presentation cannot exceed five minutes.  However, a very articulate person who stutters demonstrated that he has absolutely no control over how long it takes to deliver a speech.  He timed his speech while practicing, and it took 2-1/2 minutes, yet when performing on stage, it was five minutes long—way over the time limit.  Listeners began to understand that offering an untimed option would be a reasonable accommodation for those who stutter.

There are many wonderful images of equity vs. equality online—simply google it.  Some images go even further—they point out that the ideal third option is justice—removing systemic barriers so that the cause of the inequity is addressed.   May we strive to offer access for everyone—it is only fair!