Dear Friends,
These past few weeks have shown quite clearly that wish as we might, COVID is still very much a part of our lives. We all know people who have tested positive for the Omicron variant and that trend is likely to continue until this spike in cases subsides. We ask of you to continue to be vigilant and careful even with the understanding that the contagious nature of this variant makes even the most careful amongst us susceptible to catching the virus. We, the Reopening Task Force, met earlier this week and are making the following adjustments to our policies.
For all entering the building at any time, our mask and vaccine requirements remain in place.
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We are asking that all those within our physical space please wear either an N95, KN95, KF94, or a surgical mask that you would receive when walking into a doctor’s office. These masks are more effective than cloth masks. We will have a supply available at the door to the synagogue for those who may not have this type of masking. Proper masking means covering both the nose and the mouth.
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Our vaccine requirement is that those 12 years old and older wishing to enter Tifereth Israel be fully vaccinated including booster shots as soon as they are eligible. If you are eligible for your booster shot and have not yet received it, please do by January 19. If you are not yet eligible for your booster shot, we ask that you do so within two weeks of your eligibility.
- We encourage in the strongest possible terms for parents to vaccinate any and all 5-11 year-olds in your household.
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We ask that EVERYONE bring their vaccine cards to services on a regular basis to serve as proof of vaccination including having received the booster shot.
Weekday Minyan Services
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Sunday Services will continue to be held on Zoom only, unless otherwise specified.
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Monday-Friday weekday services will continue to be held in person and livestreamed. Masks will again be required at all times (aside from the person leading services), and social distancing will be enforced.
Shabbat Services will continue to be held in person and livestreamed.
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We will be reopening the removable wall to the social hall to allow for even greater social distancing within the sanctuary during services.
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Please act responsibly and leave appropriate space between you and those sitting closest to you.
- Our kiddush remains strictly “to-go” and given the temperatures outside, we will be pausing our L’chayim table for the next several weeks.
- In an effort to prevent unnecessary crowding, the Torah procession around the sanctuary will be suspended for the time being.
Our previously scheduled Boker Tov service for this coming Shabbat has also been canceled.
Weekly classes will now require all participants to be masked. We will continue to offer hybrid classes on Zoom and in-person.
We look forward to welcoming back our Religious School students this coming Sunday morning and will continue with our COVID precautions. Our school continues to follow the most up-to-date CDC guidelines and isolation requirements due to exposure to a positive case. We will have child-sized surgical masks for any students who are not able to bring one from home. For any questions, please contact our Education Director, Miriam Berk.
With these enhanced precautions we are planning to move ahead with our in-person Scholar-in-Residence program and look forward to welcoming Dara Horn to our community. For more information about that upcoming program, please click here. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Looking ahead, we are planning on in-person Purim services and an in-person spiel! It’s still too soon to make any determinations about a Purim carnival this year, but we will keep you posted as soon as we are able to make any decisions.
Please continue to exercise good common sense and care for each other. When you are out in public, wear a mask and do so properly covering your mouth and nose. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 get tested and follow the CDC guidelines for staying at home. If you have not yet been vaccinated, we beg of you to please do so. If you know someone who has not yet been vaccinated, this is the moment to use the power of speech to convince them to get the shot.
Finally, we continue to be here to support each other during these times. If you have recently been in the building and then test positive, it is critical that you let us know which you can do by emailing either Rabbi Skolnik or Rabbi Braver. And even if you have not been in the building recently but are positive for Corona, please let one of our clergy know so that we can be here to help support you in any way that we are able.
Together we will weather this surge just as we have each challenging moment that has come before. We continue to pray for the speedy and complete healing of all those who have been afflicted with the virus as we do for the strength of those tasked with caring for them. This includes their families and the medical professionals in our community and around the world.
Wishing everyone good health,
The Congregation Tifereth Israel Reopening Task Force
