A time to sing and a time to refrain from singing

Several studies to date indicate that the kind of behaviours which promote spread of the virus include singing, shouting, projecting one's voice.

This is precisely the reason why for now most choirs are still not back to rehearsing even in areas which have opened up, or are doing so only outdoors and with masks.

In our schools however this is exactly what the kids and teachers are doing every day. We have received video clip after video clip from our kids' teachers of the kids singing in class, belting out davening, chanting times tables and so on. For the most part almost no one is wearing a mask.

The classrooms are closed up with the air conditioning running (a week of temps over 40C, understandable). And this is sustained contact, kids and teachers at school for a regular school day of several hours.

Hopefully numbers are low enough in Israel that in most cases this will not be a problem, but in theory, if anyone is sick, these are ideal spreading conditions.

It seems to me that the Ministry of Education hasn't briefed teachers about this issue, or maybe they themselves are not concerned, but if we are to learn to live with the potential danger of this virus then we need to understand what activities can be surprisingly risky and adapt behaviours accordingly.

I was just watching video from a local gan kabbalat Shabbat. The staff are dancing with the children and making a human train, everyone is touching, but what is probably more risky is that everyone is singing loudly, projecting their voices, encouraging the children to belt it out.

This is also a concern with the re-opening of synagogues and churches. Will congregants really be wearing masks? Even when it's hot? A closed room of people singing and chanting loudly together is problematic. I know of some synagogues who are re-opening but with a ban on singing and only quiet prayer. Unfortunately I have yet to see guidelines from the Rabbanut addressing this matter or instructing congregations how to conduct their prayer services.

Singing is fun and a useful educational tool, but right now might be the time to find alternatives and put the class singalongs and musical prayers on hold.

If we are to have schools and synagogues remain safely open it would seem the prudent thing to do.

Chocolate memories

In this age of corona virus many local businesses in Israel have realised that to survive the turmoil of uncertainty, lockdown and the suspension of tourism they need to adapt.

Many manufacturers and importers are delivering direct to private customers around the country so people don't have to go out to physical shops and to make up for the shortfall in vanishing export markets for items like cut flowers (the famous Dutch flower market has been suspended).

We've had flour straight from the mill, all kinds of fresh produce direct from farmers, kids' clothing and sandals to our door from local producers and our synagogue organised a bulk delivery of cut flowers for Pesah straight from a local grower.

And then there are the restaurants. Plenty of the eateries in our small town have realised that if they didn't offer delivery before now would be a good time to start, everything from cafes to ice-cream parlours to the hole in the wall falafel joint known as one of the best in the country which has been offering deconstructed fresh falafel kits to ensure freshness - customers get pita, assorted salads, hummous, tehina, chips and falafel balls to put together their own classic sandwich.

But what about the more upscale places in big cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem who rely so much on the tourist and special occasion crowd? What about the niche gourmet bakeries and fancy burger joints relying on business meals and local workers from now empty office buildings?

I have been inundated with ads for all kinds of restaurants I've never been to but often heard recommended offering special deliveries around the country, anything to get to their clientele and stay in business. Jerusalem's iconic Crave, a favourite of the English speaking community and the young and hip, Tel Aviv's Bodega burgers and Fika Swedish bakery, all venturing out of the big cities for the first time to offer delivery to dormitory suburbs and smaller towns.

How ironic then that our family have not ordered any take out despite the deluge of tempting promotions. We don't eat out much in normal times, now seems like an odd time to start. It's been fun looking at all the meals on offer though, browsing menus for inspiration of what to cook now that we're all home all the time and home economics is certainly a feature of our family's home study curriculum.

A few days ago I started receiving ads from the swank Leonidas chocolate shop in Tel Aviv. What can I say, we aren't big chocolate consumers, certainly not of expensive imported treats, but I did click on the ad and browse their site anyway. It brought back sweet memories of my brief visit to Brussels close to 25 years ago.

My grandmother had been hospitalised for a broken hip. Her eyes were deteriorating so she couldn't enjoy reading. Along with listening to hazzanut recordings on the CD player we bought for her, chocolate was one of her few remaining physical pleasures. I used to buy her Bendicks every Friday from the chocolate shop next to my college campus.

During our short sojourn in Brussels my husband and I bought her a massive box of Leonidas from their flagship shop, all wrapped in traditional gold paper and ribbons.

My Bubba was so pleased with the gift. She rationed herself two pralines a week to make it last. She timed it so she'd have from Rosh Hashana until almost Pesah. It really was a massive box.

She passed away well in to her 90s many years ago but I always feel like I should pick up a box for her when I see Leonidas advertise.