Throughout the last year, we have been navigating the effects of the coronavirus in our lives, and as the status of the pandemic continues to change, we are striving to update our policies and practices accordingly. In doing this, we also recognize that the pandemic is affecting members of our community in many different ways, based on a variety of factors. We are striving to serve the entire community safely, to the best of our ability.
We know that many members of the community yearn to return to the BJC building and daven in our beloved sanctuary. With the recent decrease in COVID-19 positivity rate, and in consideration of CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, the Reopening Committee has determined that we may begin making this opportunity available on a limited and carefully regulated basis.
The primary modes for attending Shabbat morning services will continue to be through Zoom and the Livestream. Services will continue being led from a variety of locations, both in the sanctuary and from people's homes, and Torah will continue to be read from the Etz Hayim Chumash, again both from congregants' homes via Zoom and from the sanctuary (the committee felt that at this point, we're not ready to read from the Sefer Torah itself - not all of our readers are prepared to be physically present, and it would allow those willing to do so with a kind of "special status" we'd like to avoid; it is also very difficult to do this in a way that maintains safe distancing).
For those who wish to be in the sanctuary for Shabbat services, we will be able to accommodate 35 people per service, with the sanctuary and social hall opened up together. Sign-up will be on a first-come basis, and congregants will not be allowed to attend a 2nd in-person service until everyone who wants to attend has done so. We will have more information on how to register for services in the coming weeks.
In order to ensure safety in our gatherings, we have some general rules for those attending in person:
1) Masks must always be worn at all times while in the building
2) Social distancing of at least 10 feet must occur
3) Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building and should be regularly used
4) Attendees cannot not be singing out loud during services, based on CDC guidelines
5) Use of the restroom is limited to one person at a time
6) Gathering in the “Hallway minyan” or any other small groups is currently off limits
7) People are expected to leave the building immediately after services
Our first opportunity to daven from the sanctuary will be Shabbat services on March 27, 2021 – which is Shabbat Hagadol for Pesach. We hope to continue offering this opportunity for Shabbat morning services in the following weeks. Daily morning minyan will remain a virtual gathering for now.
We are looking forward to a time when unrestricted shul services in our building are safe for all. As we adjust our practices to this changing situation, we extend a huge thank you to the staff and re-opening committee for their thoughtfulness and hard work in guiding Beth Jacob through the past year and making as many safe opportunities to connect available as possible in each new stage. May we continue to go from strength to strength over the coming months, and be allowed to hold larger groups safely inside.
Rabbi Adam Rubin
Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Morris J. Allen Chair in Rabbinics
Rabbi Tamar Grimm
Rabbi Educator
Neil Moses-Zirkes & Robert Goffman
Co-Presidents
