Dear CBST Community,
Over the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clergy, leadership and Medical Advisory Team, have carefully followed rapidly changing medical and scientific information and guidance. The goals are two-fold: to keep our community safe, and to hold fast to the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh/ פקוח נפש, the preservation and sanctity of human life. This often meant making difficult decisions to gather online rather than in person.
Now, with the dramatic lessening of new cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations in New York City, changing government guidelines, and the evolving policies of other synagogues in Manhattan, CBST is pleased to announce changes to our COVID policies for in-person gathering. We remain vigilant to all new Covid information, and we request that you join us in being flexible and understanding of course-corrections as we continue to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
We will continue to require proof of vaccination for everyone entering the building and – for the present – require masking on the main level which includes the lobby, hallways, sanctuary, stairs and while moving through the building.
We have increased our capacity limit to 150 people in the Wine Family Sanctuary for services and programs, and replaced most of the pews removed when we were operating at reduced capacity.
Pre-registration for Shabbat and Yom Tov services is now requested, not required. Pre-registration will remain available and is encouraged for ease of entry. If you are pre-registered, you don’t need to wait in line to show documentation and complete an attestation of your health, exposure and travel status. Your name will be checked off a list. Additionally, we now welcome walk ins. All you need to do is provide proof of vaccination (including a booster for all eligible) and complete an attestation in order to gain entrance to CBST. We have added QR codes at the door to speed entry of all those who do not preregister.
In an effort to welcome everyone in our community, we will maintain a section for distanced seating on both the main floor and the mezzanine of the sanctuary for all who, for any number of reasons, might wish to sit more physically distant from others.
Oneg after Friday evening services and Kiddush after select Saturday morning services will return. Masking will be optional downstairs to enable eating and drinking. As mentioned above, we will still require masking on the main level which includes the sanctuary, lobby, hallways and stairs so anyone who is observing tighter protocols can feel safe in continuing to participate in person.
We would like to hear about your experience in coming weeks. Do the new guidelines and their implementation meet your expectations for a diverse community with varying needs? Please email
info@cbst.org
We will continue to offer high-quality streaming and Zoom for services, but we invite those of you for whom it is an option to come back to CBST in person to fill our beautiful home with song, prayer and the warmth of in-person to person contact.
