Dear Friends,
I imagine that many of us saw and were excited by Governor Cuomo's announcement earlier this week allowing for religious gatherings of no more than ten people. Not only does this feel like a hopeful sign that life is slowly but surely inching towards some kind of a new normal, but it also allows us to start coming back together as a community to offer limited in-person religious services - something we have missed so deeply these last few months!
To be sure, the constraints that currently exist will likely remain for quite some time, even as they continue to gradually lessen. As such, we will be planning for a hybrid model of synagogue operations where we offer small, in-person gatherings where possible, augmented by simultaneous opportunities to connect to our synagogue virtually. We also recognize that the slow opening up of our building affects individuals differently and will take special care to think of those members who are particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus and unable to return to shul for perhaps a long while. It can be painful to remain at home as we watch others tentatively step back into the world.
While we are all eager to move forward as quickly as possible, the safety of our congregation remains our very top priority. Our Coronavirus Re-Opening Task Force has been working hard for the last few weeks to develop appropriate protocols, and we want to make sure that we have sufficient time to communicate these policies, prepare our building, train those who will be tasked with implementation, and test procedures effectively so as to ensure that we safeguard the health of our members. For that reason, we are planning on a phased approach to re-opening which will begin with the following:
Evening Minyan - June 4 target date for reopening
Being that evening minyan is our shortest service, contains the fewest high-touch rituals like Torah reading, and fulfills a vital need in our community by giving mourners a place to say Kaddish, we will begin our re-opening here. Our in-person minyan, likely taking place in our reception hall, will also broadcast over Zoom, allowing those who are not able to join us physically to participate virtually. As these are minyanim with ten individuals physically present in the same place (along with many more connecting online), they will allow us to recite a full service including Barkhu, Kedusha (at mincha), and all forms of the Kaddish.
Please watch your email for much more detailed information coming soon regarding safety protocols we have put in place for this service, logistics we have worked out, and how you can sign-up to join us for an upcoming evening minyan should you so wish.
Shabbat Morning - Mid-June target date for reopening
Provided that our experiences with evening minyan leave us confident that we are able to bring ten people together in our building safely, we hope to move towards re-opening for Shabbat morning services which will be livestreamed from the Milstein Sanctuary. Here, too, as we get closer to the date and are able to refine our plans with information gleaned from re-opening for minyan, we will circulate much more detailed information regarding both safety and logistics for this service. Until then, we will continue to meet on Shabbat mornings via Zoom as we have for the past two weeks.
We believe that this methodical, careful approach is the best way to balance our desire for ritual and community with our absolute commitment to the health and safety of our members. As we move towards re-opening we will also be consulting regularly with other synagogues, communal organizations, and government bodies to ensure that we are following best practices. We will continue to communicate often and welcome questions and feedback.
In Psalm 133, more popularly known as the opening verse of Ma Tovu, we read: "How good and pleasant it is for people to dwell together." Indeed it will be a tremendous blessing to sit (in socially distanced ways) once again in the same room, looking at one another's sweet (if also masked) faces!
Even while apart we remain TIC - Together In Community.
Shabbat Shalom,
