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From YouTube: COVID Conversation: Faith Leaders Discuss the Vaccine
Description
Join us Monday night for a powerful discussion on the COVID-19 vaccine with faith leaders from the Arlington community.
Hosted by Board Member Christian Dorsey, the conversation focuses on challenges during COVID and the importance of the vaccine, with special guests:
- Imam Javid Bhaiyat, Education Director at the Bangladesh Islamic Center
- Rev. Amanda Poppei, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
- Rav Natan Freller, Rabbi at Congregation Etz Hayim
- Rev. Craig A. Harcum, Pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church
A
We
are
here
tonight
with
some
of
our
county's
faith
leaders
to
have
an
honest
and
open
conversation
about
the
impacts
of
coven
19
and
what
they're
hearing
about
the
vaccine,
I'm
board,
member
christian
dorsey
and
I'm
happy
to
be
joined
this
evening
by
imam
javid
bayat.
Who
is
the
director
of
education
at
the
bangladesh
islamic
center
here
in
the
green
valley,
neighborhood
rav
nathan
freller?
Who
is
the
rabbi
at
congregation
at
saeem?
A
We
also
have
reverend
craig
harkin,
who
is
the
senior
pastor
at
the
macedonia
baptist
church
and
reverend
reverend
amanda
poppy?
Who
is
the
senior
minister
at
the
unitarian
universalist
church
of
arlington?
Thank
you
all
for
being
here
with
us
tonight
now
before
we
begin
with
a
conversation
with
our
faith
leader
guest.
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
provide
a
quick
update
on
where
arlington
is
in
the
vaccination
process.
A
Now
our
department
of
public
health
is
pre-registering
to
ensure
individuals
that
live
and
or
work
in
arlington
are
going
to
receive
priority
for
receiving
the
vaccine,
appointments
which
are
made
available
through
our
government.
This
is
why
we're
asking
everyone
who
hasn't
done
so
already
to
register
themselves
at
vaccinate.virginia.
A
And
you
know,
as
we
think,
about
this
covet
pandemic,
that
we've
now
been
in
for
more
than
a
year.
The
results
are
looking
promising.
Cases
continue
to
inch
downward.
The
number
of
people
who
are
hospital
hospitalized
with
severe
cover
disease
continues
to
decrease,
and
fortunately
we
see
nowhere
near
the
rates
of
fatalities
for
people
who
do
become
sick
with
covet.
A
We
are
so
very
close
and
we
encourage
everybody
to
keep
the
faith
in
order
to
get
us
to
the
end
point
as
quickly
as
possible.
So
now,
let's
get
started
with
getting
to
know
our
guests
a
little
bit.
So
I'd
love
to
hear
from
each
of
you
so
that
you
could
share
a
little
bit
about
yourselves
and
your
faith
organization.
B
C
C
I
moved
here
about
six
years
ago
to
study
and
I
just
moved
to
arlington
over
this
last
year,
and
it
has
been
a
very
interesting
challenge
to
get
to
know
our
community
and
know
all
the
other
clergy
and
faith
leaders
in
the
area
and
be
able
to
connect
and
do
this
important
work.
Everyone
together,
I'm
the
rabbit,
congregation,
eighth
heim,
which
is
a
synagogue
on
route
50
and
we're
very,
very
happy
to
be
here
in
arlington.
Our
community
is
very,
very
engaged
in
so
many
areas
of
our
civic
and
social
act.
Action.
D
D
I
am
craig
harkin,
the
pastor
of
macedonia,
baptist
church
in
arlington
virginia,
and
I
am
here
to
say
we're
excited
to
be
a
part
of
this
conversation.
We
just
look
forward
to
serving
the
community
in
every
possible
way.
Our
aim
is
to
be
a
blessing
to
the
community,
and
so
we're
excited
to
do
that.
Terrific.
E
Thank
you
so
much.
Yes,
it
feels
like
we
have
a
lot
of
newbies
here,
we're
all
getting
to
know
the
the
arlington
community
and
our
congregations,
and
and
for
me
that
really
has
happened
virtually
I
began
as
senior
minister
at
uca
in
august
we
are
a
unitarian
universalist
congregation
and
we
say
we're
a
place
where
people
come
for
community,
find
inspiration
and
live
with
purpose
and
for
for
us
much
of
that
is
about
justice,
work
and
connection.
A
E
Well
so
we
have
been
having
you
know,
just
virtual
worship,
services
since
really
things
closed
down
and
I
think,
with
the
year
anniversary.
A
lot
of
us
are
in
that
space
of
remembering
what
we
thought,
how
long
we
thought
we
might
be
shut
down,
how
long
we
might
be
apart
and
then
realizing
how
much
longer.
Perhaps
it
was,
and
it
does
take
a
lot
of
it-
takes
work
to
stay
connected
and
we've
been
very
grateful
for
technology
for
our
virtual
worship,
services
which
are
on
facebook
and
youtube.
E
And
you
know
people
use
the
chat
to
connect
and
share
what's
happening
in
their
lives.
And
then
we
go
over
to
a
zoom
coffee
hour
and
gonna
bring
your
own
coffee.
But
it
is
an
opportunity
for
people
to
still
remain
connected,
and
I
think
now
little
by
little
we're
starting
to
be
able
to
have.
We've
just
had
a
little
gathering
on
campus
for
people
to
just
even
come
home
and
visit
and
remember
what
it's
like
to
be
together
in
our
on
our
campus
and
our
space
and
to
start
connecting
with
the
community.
E
So
I
was
able
to
volunteer
with
the
complete
vaccination
committee.
We've
got
some
other
folks,
who've
done
the
same.
It
feels
so
good
to
to
be
inching
back
safely
thoughtfully
carefully,
and
for
me,
that's
the
real.
The
impulse
towards
the
vaccine
is
the
sooner
we
get
ourselves
the
whole
community
safe.
The
sooner
we
can
be
back
with
each
other
in
person.
So.
D
Well,
well,
it's
interesting
because
I
started
as
the
new
senior
pastor
in
january
of
2020
and
then
two
and
a
half
months
later
the
pandemic
hit,
and
so
I've
been
in
person
for
two
and
a
half
months
and
virtual
for
over
a
year,
and
so
you
can
imagine
the
joys
of
and
the
challenges
and
the
ups
and
downs
of
that.
But
through
it
all
we've
been
blessed
to
have
virtual
services.
We
are
currently
having
services
on
facebook
and
youtube
so
we're
using
both
of
those
platforms.
D
We
utilize
zoom,
like
everybody
else
that
is
almost
zoomed
out,
but
for
bible
study
and
special
meetings
and
we've
got
acclimated
to
the
processes.
So
it's
been.
You
know
interesting
and
a
challenge
at
the
beginning,
but
really
to
be
honest
with
you,
we've
really
been
able
to
reach
more
people
throughout
online
platforms,
and
so,
while
the
physical
doors
have
been
challenged,
the
virtual
world
have
opened
us
up
to
minister
to
more
people,
and
so
through
our
prayer
calls
and
our
virtual
time
we
have
quite
a
few
virtual
members.
D
That's
never
stepped
foot
in
the
building,
but
they're
on
our
prayer
calls
they're
worshiping
with
us
on
sundays
and
they're,
worshiping
and
spending
times
with
us
and
special
other
occasions,
and
so
we're
just
grateful
for
that.
And
so
we
just
have
great
praise
reports
that
really
we've
opened
up
to
be
able
to
minister
to
more
people
and
we're
making
the
adjustment
we're
pivoting
in
this
direction
and
and
we're
still
being
able
to
minister
to
the
community
as
well
with
other
special
events.
C
Well,
it's
a
very
interesting
dynamic
for
us
for
for
the
jewish
community,
because
we
need
a
quorum
of
10
people
together,
even
to
be
able
to
do
some
of
the
most
important
prayers
we
have
in
our
service
and
more
than
that
with
jews.
We
don't
really
know
how
to
pray
with
our
own
words.
I'll
tell
you
that
about
90
of
our
service
is
reading
through
scripture,
for
the
bible
and
from
tax
written
by
other
rabbis
throughout
history,
and
only
about
10
15.
C
We
actually
dedicate
to
our
own
words,
so
a
big
piece
of
our
service
is
singing
together
and
that's
something
that
the
online
world
cannot
recreate
in
the
same
way
that
we're
able
to
do
in
person.
So
that
has
been
a
very
interesting
challenge
for
us
to
try
to
overcome,
and
one
of
the
things
we've
been
doing.
Is
that
we're
exclusively
on
zoom?
We're
not
live
streaming
that
anywhere,
because
our
survey
is
not
meant
to
be
watched.
C
Our
service
meant
to
have
you
participating
so
instead
of
using
this
time
to
actually
reach
out
to
new
people,
we're
really
focusing
in
trying
to
respond
to
the
challenges
of
our
own
community.
In
that
sense,
I
want
to
see
you
there
with
me.
I
want
you
to
be
able
to
be
present
even
without
your
voice,
even
without
singing
together,
which
is
so
hard
for
us
to
not
hear
each
other's
voice
as
we
sing
together.
C
But
at
least
I
can
see
you
singing,
even
though
you're
muted,
on
your
end,
so
that
has
really
brought
a
really
nice
feeling
of
community
to
us
that
we
can
actually
see
everyone.
Some
people
come
earlier
on
purpose
because
some
people
come
to
synagogue,
to
talk
to
god,
and
some
people
come
to
cinderella
to
talk
to
the
people
who
talk
to
god
right.
C
So
it's
interesting
to
see
how
the
community
is
coming
together
before
searches
many
times
staying
after
for
half
an
hour,
an
hour
on
the
zoom
room
and
chatting
and
just
checking
in
with
each
other.
So
it's
really
nice
to
see
how
really
helped
us
bring
people
even
from
afar,
who
were
already
not
driving
to
come
here
every
week
and
now
online
can
actually
come
and
join
us
at
the
same
time
that
we
can't
wait
to
be
back
we're
right
now
in
in
the
preparations
to
be
able
to
safely
be
back
in
our
building.
C
Most
of
our
community
has
been
vaccinated
already
we're
very
proud
of
it
and
try
to
help
everyone
else
who
still
needs
to
get
their
cross
to
get
it.
So
we
are
starting
in
already
looking
forward
to
being
back
in
the
building
remaining
with
zoom
open.
If
anyone
is
not
comfortable
yet
or
doesn't
have
the
vaccine
doesn't
want
to
come
in.
Yet
we're
going
to
have
you
on
the
tv
inside
the
sanctuary
with
all
of
us
all.
B
Okay,
so
I
think
everybody
said
everything
that
I
I
needed
to
say
that
everybody
became
vert.
Everybody
went
online
and
everybody
started
using
zoom
and
youtube
and
we're
using
all
these
platforms.
Also,
all
our
services
are
on
zoom
youtube
and
on
facebook,
but
I
think
that
you
know
when
the
when
we
first
heard
about
the
pandemic,
it
was
really,
I
think,
people
in
our
communities
and
extended
communities-
maybe
they
probably
were
thinking
of
it
like
it's
going
to
be
like
the
tsars,
and
you
know
it's
eventually
going
to
be
under
control.
B
It's
going
to
disappear,
but
kovy
proved
us
wrong
right
and
suddenly
we
come
to
march
and
there's
an
entire.
I
mean
unprecedented
lockdown
people
never
been
in
their
homes
before,
like
people
never
been
in
this
situation,
children,
mothers,
children
all
in
one
place,
it
presented
a
lot
of
challenges
and
then
the
coffee
that
started
coming
in
and
people
we
started
losing
people,
the
hospitalizations
and
people
having
social
issues
by
because
they're
remaining
in
their
being
in
the
home
and
there's
counseling
being
done
and
all
that
virtual.
B
A
A
You
know,
speaking
of
it,
we're
now
at
the
stage
where
the
vaccine
does
provide
the
path
for
that,
but
not
everybody
is
taking
ready
to
take
us
up
on
the
offer
to
get
the
vaccine.
So
I'm
curious
as
to
what
you're
hearing
from
your
own
congregations
people
in
your
networks
about
the
vaccine
itself
and
their
willingness
to
take
it
rob
natan.
You
said
that
many
people
in
your
community
have
been
vaccine
eager.
So
why
don't
we
start
with
you?
What
are
you
hearing
on
the
ground
so.
C
As
I
was
mentioning
that,
before
and
after
services
people
stay
and
talk
for
about
a
month,
that's
all
they
talked
about
for
about
a
month.
You
rescue
were
you
able
to
register?
How
did
you
do
it?
Can
you
teach
me-
and
you
can
see-
really
the
word
spreading-
and
people
really
helping
each
other
people
who
are
74
years
old
and
really
hoping
that
they're
gonna
have
their
birthday
really
really
soon,
so
they
can
register,
could
only
open
for
this
75
years
old
and
up.
C
So
we
could
really
hear
from
all
of
our
members
that
they
know
that
the
vaccine
is
the
only
way
forward,
not
just
as
a
country
but
even
for
our
community
to
be
able
to
be
back
in
the
building
and
back
to
our
activities
be
back
to
our
lives
in
a
safe
way.
We
all
need
to
get
get
there
and
us
as
a
community.
We
kept
sharing
with
our
members
if
they
need
any
help
appointment.
C
C
We
have
a
preschool
here
in
the
building
as
well,
so
because
of
that
we
were
in
line
with
all
the
the
educators,
and
that
was
an
important
thing
to
protect
us
and
all
our
of
our
teachers
as
well
as
we
have
been
out
there
this
whole
time.
Our
preschool
is
running
outdoors,
which
is
great,
and
I
can't
that's
something
that
I
don't
really
want
us
to
come
back
completely.
C
I
think
the
kids
just
love
being
outdoors
and
we're
gonna
try
to
figure
out
ways
to
keep
using
more
of
the
outdoor
spaces
of
the
congregation
and
in
a
way
that
is
everyone's,
safe
and
protected,
and
the
school
can
keep
going
and
the
synagogue
can
keep
going.
So
I
really
encourage
everyone
to
do
the
same.
Beautiful.
A
B
We
have
a
a
fairly
old
congregation
and
a
lot
of
our
members
have
already
been
vaccinated
and
the
president,
the
vice
president,
they're
doing
a
great
job
they're.
You
know
actually
making
appointments
for
those
people
who
are
on
it,
who
not
internet
savvy
or
computer
savvy
they're,
actually
going
out
there
driving
them,
making
sure
they
get
to
the
appointments,
they're
actually
meeting
them
there
just
to
make
sure
that
they
get
there.
B
So
we
do
have
a
large
number
of
people
who
are
either
vaccinated
or
in
the
process
of
getting
being
become
being
vaccinated,
and
I
would
say
I
would
say
about
a
50
50
percent
approximately.
I
would,
if
you
were,
to
give
it
a
ratio,
we're
about
50
there
and
50.
You
know
about
50
50,
we're
nearly
there
and
it's
the
month
of
ramadan,
and
I
don't
know
if
you're
aware
of
it
with
the
in
the
holy
month
of
ramadan
and
we
all
have
to
get
together.
A
E
I
think
similarly
the
congregation
has
been
eager
for
vaccines.
I
know
folks
will
post
on
facebook
sometimes
right,
I
got
my
shot
and
it
for
me.
It
just
gives
me
a
lot
of
joy
to
see,
even
in
the
time
when
I
was
waiting.
I
didn't
I'm
done
now,
but
before
I
got
mine
I
was
still
celebrating
every
time
I
saw
someone
who
posted
that
they
got
a
shot.
You
know
it's
beautiful
for
them,
it's
beautiful
for
the
community
to
have
it
so.
E
Kind
of
thing,
as
rav
nathan
said
you
know
that
was
the
whole
poppy
hour
conversation
who
got
their
shot
and
a
big
celebration
every
time.
I
think
you
know
now
it's
the
younger
folks
in
the
congregation
that
are
starting
to
to
be
ready
and
to
get
lined
up
and
we've
really
been
pushing
the
pre-registration.
E
E
You
know
the
congregation
that
I
serve
has
a
real
heart
for
justice
and
and
we're
very
aware
that
the
that
covid
has
had
a
racial
disparity
in
its
effects
all
over
the
country
and
in
arlington
county
and
wanting
to
make
sure
that
the
vaccine
is
distributed
equitably
and
that
there's
special
special
effort
for
communities
that
have
been
hardest
hit
by
covid
in
arlington.
So
it's
been
wonderful
that
work
through
the
cbc,
the
complete
vaccination
committee
and
to
be
involved
with
that
when
we
can
to
support
that.
D
Yes,
so
so
overwhelmingly,
our
congregation
has
been
eager
to
receive
the
vaccine.
I've
had
both
of
my
shots
and
I'm
always
happy
to
talk
to
congregants
about
that
fact,
and
you
know
we
spend
a
lot
of
time
sharing
stories
with
each
other.
You
know.
So
how
did
you
feel
and
what
happened?
What
was
your
experience?
D
And
so
people
are
eager
about
that,
and
so
I
think,
for
the
most
part,
majority
has
overcome
hesitancy,
but
then
the
challenge
was
availability
and
accessibility,
and
so
we're
excited
to
to
host
a
vaccine
clinic
here
at
macedonia,
baptist
church
and
that
helps
with
the
accessibility
it's
in
the
neighborhood.
This
is
a
trusted
area,
a
trusted
opportunity,
and
so
the
congregation
is
now
overwhelmingly
happy
the
community.
D
The
community
has
been
overwhelmingly
happy
that
they
can
come
to
a
place
that
they
trust
and
a
place
that
is
local
community
based
that
helps
with
the
whole
equity
process,
because
if
I
don't
have
proper
transportation,
if
I
don't
have
internet
access,
if,
if
there's
a
struggle
with
the
whole
concept
of
digital
divide,
then
how
do
I
get
to
the
place
where
I
can
get
the
vaccine?
And
so
we've
been
working
with
neighborhood
health,
which
is
a
federally
qualified
health
center.
D
That
offers
a
vaccine
right
here
and
so
we're
excited
to
work
with
our
community,
all
those
in
arlington
and
the
surrounding
counties
working
through
neighborhood
health
and
it's
been
a
blessing
and
so
we're
getting
an
overwhelming
response
from
individuals
who
are
coming
saying.
Thank
you
so
much
for
being
here.
This
is
a
community-based
effort
and
we're
here
you
see
us,
you
know
us,
they
trust
us,
and
so
it
it
eases
the
tension
and
it
makes
it
easy
because
they
can
come
right
in
the
door.
A
I'm
curious,
if
any
of
you
have
any
homilies,
that
you
relate
to
your
faith
tradition
to
to
to
maybe
reach
people
with
the
idea
of
getting
the
vaccine,
maybe
in
a
way
that
a
public
health
message
is
not
quite
as
effective
at
delivering
are
any
things
that
you
can
share
that
you've,
you've
kind
of
shared
with
your
congregations
and
anyone.
Please
don't
wait
for
an
order.
Anyone
who
has
something
that
they'd
like
to
say.
E
You
know,
I
I
think
for
me:
I
was
excited
to
receive
the
vaccine,
for
you
know
what
it
means
to
be
able
to
hug.
My
in-laws
and
you
know,
have
pastoral
repair
visits
right
with
folks
that
that
really
want
to
sit
with
me
and
be
with
me,
but
I
think
the
faith
piece
is
much
wider
than
what
the
vaccine
can
do
for
me.
It
really
is
about
the
way
we
are
interrelated
within
our
tradition.
E
We
believe
we
are
part
of
an
interdependent
web,
that
we
are
one
human
family
all
of
us
connected
and
we
just
don't.
You
know,
there's
no
real
existence,
that's
that's
just
alone.
We
can't
just
be
on
our
own.
We
are
connected
to
each
other
and,
and
so
the
vaccine
is
a
way
of
living
out
that
faith.
If
we
truly
believe
we
are
one
human
family,
we
want
to
take
care
of
everybody
in
our
family
and
getting
a
vaccine.
E
D
Thank
you.
I
must
agree
that
you
know
the
thinking
of
others.
You
know
think
more
of
others
than
you
think
of
yourself
and
so
thinking
of
your
grandkids
thinking
of
your
community
thinking
of
your
family
thinking
of
a
safe
way
to
come
back
together
together
again
in
fellowship
because
we
know
fellowship
is
so
important.
A
great
fellowship
leads
to
even
better
discipleship
and
so,
and
that
leads
to
even
better
worship,
and
so
we
we
want
to
make
sure
we
we're
thinking
of
others,
and
so
we
try
to
encourage
people.
D
Think
of
others,
even
if
you're
a
little
nervous,
a
little
afraid.
Take
the
extra
effort.
Look
at
your
grandchildren.
Look
at
your
children.
Look
at
your
family!
Look
at
your
mother,
your
father,
your
grandparents
and
think
of
them
and
take
the
leap
of
faith
and
then
also
in
addition
to
that
as
a
church.
We're
aiming
to
not
only
save
lives
spiritually,
but
we're
trying
to
save
lives
physically
as
well,
and
so
this
gives
us
an
opportunity
to
minister
in
that
way,.
B
Yeah,
well,
we
have
as
part
of
our
religion,
and
there
is
a
verse
of
the
of
the
quran
in
which
says
a
person
shouldn't
put
himself
in
a
place
of
destruction
in
where,
where
he
is
putting
himself
in
a
place
where
he
might
be
open
to
catching
covet,
or
he
might
so
what
we
do
and
through
our
lectures.
We
make
sure
that,
as
the
reverend
mentioned,
that
we're
not
just
spiritually
enlightening
our
our
congregation,
it's
also
important
that
everybody
remain
safe.
They
remain
in.
B
C
C
A
You
know
we
have.
I
could
keep
this
conversation
going,
I'm
so
incredibly
fascinated,
but
our
time
is
running
short
and
why
don't
we
have
each
of
you
just
deliver
a
final,
quick,
closing
message.
You
know
this
is
the
most
popular
program
in
arlington.
So
here's
your
opportunity.
Why
don't?
We
start
with
reverend
harkem.
D
E
You
know,
I
think,
through
this
whole
pandemic,
I
have
realized
even
more
deeply
how
important
relationship
and
connection
is,
and
so
my
hope
is
that
through
all
this,
we
are
going
to
go
not
back
to
normal,
but
back
to
something
better,
something
more
loving
something
more
just
that
we're
going
to
through
this
experience,
we've
all
had
with
each
other
and
individually.
The
way
it's
affected
us
we're
going
to
come
out
of
it,
treasuring
even
more,
the
connections
across
difference
and
the
connections
in
our
community.
C
C
C
D
B
Religious
sectors
throughout
the
united
states
of
america
and
the
dmv
area,
and
it
brought
a
lot
of
people
from
different
ethnicities
and
backgrounds
together
to
assist
and
contribute,
and
irrespective
of
race
and
religion,
and
it
just
proved
to
us
that
we
can
leave
all
our
differences
aside
when
it
truly
matters,
and
I
think
that
was
something
that
I
you
know.
That
was
that
I
have
learned
from
this
personally
that
if
we
really
want
to
set
differences
aside
and
and
americans
can
do
that
when
it
when
it
matters.
A
Well,
thank
you
very
much
and
ramadan
mubarak
to
you
and
to
everyone
else
in
our
islamic
community
and
we're
a
little
bit
past
the
the
easter
and
passock
periods
of
time,
but
to
everyone
in
this
period
of
spring
renewal.
We
are
so
close
to
being
at
the
the
end
of
this
very,
very
dark
tunnel
and
in
no
small
part
due
to
the
efforts
of
the
four
of
you
who
really
represent
the
best
of
our
community,
and
I
can't
thank
you
enough
for
all
that.
A
You
have
done
to
help
people
on
an
individual
and
a
community-wide
basis,
and
I'd
like
to
thank
everybody
for
joining
us
for
this
conversation
and
for
tuning
in
tonight.
Remember
that,
even
if
and
once
you
do
become
fully
vaccinated,
it's
important
that
we
continue
to
do
the
things
that
we
know
will
protect
us
against
all
of
the
variants
and
anything
else
that
covin
may
bring
wearing
a
mask,
maintaining
appropriate
physical,
distancing
and,
of
course,
the
hand,
hygiene
that
will
keep
everyone
safe.
Thanks.
A
lot.