Long Beach Synagogue Expands Summer Outdoor Activities

LONG BEACH, NY — With infection rates dropping and COVID-19 vaccinations rising, this summer is likely to have more activity for people ready to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror.

Even the BACH Jewish Center is stepping up its outdoor events where chances for spreading the coronavirus are much lower.

"Summers in Long Beach are iconic, and our synagogue was the hub of activity in Long Beach," Rabbi Benny Berlin told Patch.

The rabbi joined the Jewish center in June 2020 as the area was reeling from COVID-19. So, he wasn't able to see the "normal" summer in the famed beachfront community.

Starting in May, the BACH will launch a "Sunday Funday" series of events, including a monthly gathering of members and young couples from throughout New York and New Jersey to participate in the morning prayers followed by a bagel breakfast and mid-afternoon barbeque.

A weekly Sunday morning event geared towards children is also on the calendar.

All programs will follow the CDC social distancing guidelines, the rabbi said.

While many people are enjoying coming together in small groups, the rabbi is still holding Zoom classes for members of the synagogue.

"For this summer I would like to do outside classes, but I'm still going to have my computer there and I'm still going to have a Zoom link, just in case someone might not still feel comfortable," Berlin said.

Despite the bleak situation last summer, the BACH Jewish Center actually saw a jump in membership by 10 percent.

"People were excited about Long Beach. People were excited about the community and people actually moved in, and people with young kids," Berlin said.