Dear Bet Torah Community,
As of this morning, March 12, we have no known congregants or staff who have been tested for the COVID-19 virus. That said, we are all aware that this new virus is spreading quickly, and circumstances and recommendations are changing daily. We at Bet Torah must do our part to help reduce the spread of this virus as best we can. With this in mind, we will be following health department guidelines and recommendations from physicians within our community to reduce the number of large social gatherings at Bet Torah at this time.
Please note, it is critical that individuals in high risk categories take special care to guard against this virus.
Experts have identified certain high-risk groups that include elderly individuals, especially those older than age 70, those with underlying chronic health conditions, such as individuals with heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and undergoing conditions and treatments causing compromised immune systems. These individuals should consult their physicians or evolving health department recommendations for guidance and use extreme caution when joining large gatherings.
Bet Torah Cleaning – Thursday night, March 12
- The entire Bet Torah building will undergo an intense, deep cleaning with high-grade disinfectant tonight, Thursday, March 12. No individuals are allowed in the building during the cleaning, which is scheduled to begin after all staff and congregants leave the building tonight. To reiterate, we have not had any notice of any congregants or staff being tested for the virus; we have scheduled this cleaning to help stay ahead of potential infection and help protect our congregation.
Nursery School -- All Nursery School Classes & Programs Closed Today & Tomorrow
- With the guidance and support of several medical professionals in our Bet Torah community, we have decided to close Bet Torah Nursery School today, Thursday, March 12, and tomorrow, Friday, March 13. Our goal is to limit large groups of people from congregating in an effort to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus. We will continue monitoring the situation and have more information before Monday, March 16.
Daily Minyan – Evening and Tuesday Morning Services Will Continue
- Our regular Minyan service will continue as usual, daily at 7:30 p.m. Services will be held outdoors, weather permitting, in the garden located outside the Sanctuary. Otherwise, services will be held in the Main Sanctuary to allow for appropriate space between individuals.
- Our Tuesday morning Minyan service will continue as usual, weekly at 7:15 a.m. unless otherwise noted. We will not serve breakfast until further notice.
Sisterhood Shabbat – Share the Joy of Shabbat!
- Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a special catered dinner for individuals who have already RSVP’d. Participants are encouraged to wash hands after services and before joining us in the Social Hall for an individually plated and served dinner.
- Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 a.m. Please know there will be some minor changes to our normal rituals to avoid spreading germs as best as possible.
- We will NOT hold our traditional Saturday Kiddish luncheon. While we will all miss this joyful experience, we are reminded that this is a moment in time, not a forever change.
- Please stay at home to recover if you are coughing or not feeling well. Friday night and Saturday morning services can be viewed via Live Stream. Our weekly email blasts (click here for email blast) include a password and “stream service” information. You can also click here for (Live Streaming FAQ).
Purim Carnival – This Event is Postponed, Stay Tuned for Future Plans
- We also are NOT running our Carnival for Special Needs Guests from WJCS this Sunday but hope to host this special group later this spring.
Purimspiel – Morning & Evening Shows Are Postponed
- Stay tuned for revised dates for this wonderful Bet Torah tradition, and please plan to join us. The Purimspiel cast and creators look forward to an enthusiastic audience!
- There is still time to order Passover wine through our Men’s Club Wine Sale. Visit our website or click here to see a complete list of available wines to order. Final day for orders is Monday, March 16.; pick up will be on Sunday, March 29.
Kulanu – Next Update Will Be Sent Before Monda
y
- We will continue monitoring this public health situation and provide more information before Monday, March 16. As a reminder, there are no scheduled Kulanu classes on Thursdays or Fridays and no scheduled class this Sunday, March. 15.
- Our Kulanu teachers and Gina continue to explore and train for on-line learning options, should the need arise.
- Brtukan Ezra, our Young Israeli Emissary from the Jewish Agency, has returned to Israel. The Jewish Agency hopes that when the current health concerns improve Brtukan and the rest of Westchester’s visiting Shinshinim can return and finish their year of service.
- Resources for talking to your kids about the coronavirus:
We continue to base our decisions on best medical practices and not let fear guide us. Our main objective is to retain Bet Torah’s core mission as a Jewish institution and to do so with respect and kindness for our members and our broader community. To assist us in these efforts, we have convened a group of Bet Torah members, primarily physicians, who will help us make decisions based on our congregation’s individual and collective needs with deference to public health guidelines. We send our sincere appreciation to so many of you who have reacted with patience and consideration as we weave our way through this challenging time.
As always, please remember we all should be
washing our hands regularly
with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds; also,
it is imperative that we all stay home if we are sick
. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Please continue to follow personal and public health preventative actions recommended by the
CDC
. If you have travelled to any
CDC COVID-19 transmission countries
,
please follow the 14-day self-quarantine recommendation. If you self-quarantine or are directed to do so by health officials, please contact Seth, Carol or Rabbi Brusso as soon.
Carol Siege,
President
Seth Young,
Executive Director
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