Chava Mann was Denise Mann’s mother. She worked with Toras Emes Academy in Miami. She was a biomolecular engineer and lived in Miami. She had family all over the world and she was an orthodox Jew. She discussed precautions her family took to maintain their health, as well as changes to her opinion on the situation and her experience. She commented on her views of how the government and president went about the pandemic.

Interviewed by Denise Mann

Dr. Aliza Septimus was a psychologist, speaker, mindfulness trainer, and consultant. She lived in Hollywood Florida and was married with five children. Dr. Septimus had a PsyD, having practiced psychology for the last 20 years, with a psychotherapy practice in South Florida along with a virtual practice. She specialized in children, but treated all ages. Her expertise was in anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. Dr. Septimus addresses the psychological implications that COVID-19, a pandemic beginning in January 2020, has had on individuals along with her assessment of the mental health effects that the conditions of the virus have brought about. She discusses her opinions on the political response to the virus and the way in which it has impacted her political opinions. She mentions the effects the virus has had on her personal life, job, and children. Dr. Septimus discusses the way she has approached Coronavirus safety and precautions.

Interviewed by Eilat Berger

Tamar Brody is a current senior at Katz Yeshiva High School. She lives in North Miami Beach with her parents, brother, sister in law, and their newborn baby (when they would visit). She recalls the changes COVID has made in her life due to safety precautions, to not get her nephew or anyone sick. She discusses how this virus changed her life and school year, especially being a senior. She touches upon the positives and negatives of this crazy year and how life is getting back to normal because of the vaccine.

Interviewed by Alyssa Bugay

Susan Loberfeld lived in Hollywood, Florida and was a physical therapist. She was married and a mom of three. She expressed how COVID-19 changed and shaped her life. She spoke about how she had to adapt to change. She talked about what her family took into consideration regarding their lives. She discussed when her husband tested positive for COVID-19 and her thoughts on the vaccine.

Interviewed by Eliana Loberfeld

Jacob Cotter is owner of Krudo fish market. He is a 50-year-old male; lives in Sunny Isles beach, Florida; and has 4 children. Jacob finds out about COVID-19 around December 2019, where it was not yet a global pandemic and it was only in Wuhan, China. He discusses how COVID-19 affected him, how there is a new normal, and how he changed his policies in his store.

Interviewed by David Cotter

Dr. Eli Cohen was a dermatologist working at the Cohen Center for Dermatology when the pandemic hit. He was 50 years old and lived in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife and four children. Dr. Cohen explains his first impression of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020 and how he, his family, and his office responded to it. He discusses the precautions his office took to maintain the health of his patients, as well as changes to his family life, religious life, and social life, including the increase in his family bonding time. He reflects on his views of the pandemic initially, compared to his views a year later. He discusses his views regarding the government’s handling of the pandemic, and also mentions his expectations regarding the vaccine and the future of the world with this pandemic.

Interviewed by Alexandra Cohen

Amram Grynsztein is a businessman who lives in Aventura, Florida with his family. Amram recalls the COVID-19 pandemic and how masks and other precautionary went into play and what they affected. He also shared his remarks on how the pandemic affected the social life of his kids. He also recalled certain gatherings he attended and how they took into effect.

Interviewed by Eithan Grynsztein

Sara Nagler is a high school student at Katz Yeshiva High School in 2020. She was a 16-year-old female, lived in Hollywood, Florida, living with her parents and two older siblings .Sara recalls her growing awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in January 2020 and her corresponding anxiety. She discusses precautions her family took to maintain their health, as well as changes to her work, school, and social lifestyle, including her increase in TV viewing. She comments on the extent to which covid 19 affected her life and her mental well being, as well as how it affected her ability to learn and socialize.

Interviewed by Shmuel Mizrachi

Mr. Shekhter is the head of patient safety at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He lives in Hollywood, Fl with his wife and five kids. Mr. Shekhter found out about COVID in early 2020 and didn't think much about it. Once it got to America he got more anxious and was waiting for it to hit Florida. The quarantine drastically changed the way he worked and worked out as well as how he spent his time. Mr. Shekhter explains the things he realized he didn’t need over the past year and the ways his habits have changed over the year.

Interviewed by Avichai Shekhter

Dr. David Feigenblum was a cardiac electrophysiologist in Englewood, New Jersey in 2020 and 2021. He was a 53-year-old male, living in Teaneck, New Jersey, with his wife and four children. Dr. Feigenblum recalls his growing awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in January 2020 and watched as his job shifted to help patients with COVID-19. He discusses precautions his family took to maintain their health, as well as changes to his work, travel plans, and social lifestyle.

Interviewed by Emma Schenker