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November 25th, 2021

25 Kislev, 5782

Dear Friends and Congregants,

Island Synagogue plans to restart weekly Kiddushim starting on Chanukah Shabbat Dec 4. In order to keep our congregants safe, we are requiring vaccine verification, similar to many other congregations. Only verified fully vaccinated congregants may attend Kiddush in the Social Hall. Also, beginning December 4, those not verified to be fully vaccinated will be asked to follow the procedures for unvaccinated congregants during services and other synagogue activities. [For those who have had COVID-19, have fully recovered, and are not yet fully vaccinated special consideration on a case-by-case basis can be requested with submission of supporting documentation to office@islandsynagogue.org.]

Thank you to those congregants who already submitted copies of their vaccination cards before the High Holidays. For those who have not, please send photos of your cards to Keith at office@islandsynagogue.org. Include all family members likely to come to services and/or Kiddush. Please encourage guests to submit photos of their cards before services, or by noon on Friday; otherwise we will deal with unexpected guests on a case-by-case basis.

Our rabbis and medical experts strongly recommend getting vaccinated against COVID as soon as possible (unless your physician says otherwise). The great majority of our congregants have wisely obtained COVID vaccination, helping protect themselves and all of us.

Sadly, the COVID pandemic has proven more persistent than we had hoped or expected. Many of us have unfortunately lost friends and loved ones to this disease. Island Synagogue is committed to remain vigilant in protecting the health of our community, and continues to strongly recommend vaccination. The approved COVID vaccines have been proven highly effective with an impressive safety profile over many hundreds of millions of injections. There are no confirmed cases of severe vaccine side effects in our community.

Also note that COVID boosters are now widely available to adults who completed their vaccination at least 6 months ago (2 months ago for J&J). This is an important step to protect yourself, your family, and our shared community. Our guidance, and that of the poskim of the Orthodox Union, is to strongly consider getting boosters. Vaccination is now also available for your children aged 5-11, consult with your physician.

We are praying with all of you for the health of our congregation, the entire Jewish people, and all of humanity.

Rabbi Yehezkel Kornfeld, Island Synagogue

Jon Newman, President, Island Synagogue

HEALTHY COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES

TAKE THE COVID-19 VACCINE (UNLESS YOUR PHYSICIAN ADVISES OTHERWISE) AND VERIFY YOUR VACCINATION STATUS WITH OUR OFFICE

PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE COLD, FLU, FEVER, OR COUGH SYMPTOMS
PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN THE PAST 14 DAYS
WEAR A MASK WHILE YOU ARE ON THE PREMISES OR IN PUBLIC AREAS
PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING BY MAINTAINING A MINIMUM OF 6 FEET SEPARATION FROM EVERYONE ELSE (except members of the same household)
USE HAND SANITIZER OR WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY
PLEASE STAY HOME (EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS) IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND:
YOU HAVE A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OR YOU HAVE HAD EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS IN THE PAST 14 DAYS, or
YOU HAVE TRAVELED OUT-OF-STATE IN THE PAST 10 DAYS.
CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MASK COVERINGS OVER BOTH THEIR MOUTH AND NOSE SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE BUILDING
UNIMMUNIZED CHILDREN SHOULD BE UNDER AN ADULT'S SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES