Dear TBA family,
As TBA continues to plan for the future, our staff and lay leadership is committed to providing opportunities for connection and meaning in the coming year. We are creating strategies for virtual, hybrid, and in-person experiences which provide us with the optimal flexibility based on the latest public health information and guidelines. Our Health and Safety Task Force is focused on protocols to safely resume in-person programming in a variety of areas.
We have created a set of
protocols for indoor and outdoor events
at Temple Beth Avodah. We wanted to share these guidelines with you so that you will know what to expect if and when we gather in-person in small groups. Events that potentially draw a larger group or that can be successfully done online will still be held virtually. These protocols will be
continuously updated throughout
the year.
Shabbat services will continue to be online and our High Holy Day experiences will be virtual. The science and data indicate that in person services are a higher risk activity. The risk of transmission in large group gatherings and the toxic role aerosols play, when produced by loud talking and singing, are troubling. It is not easy to accept these facts, but we know that our community will be equally as strong even as we experience prayer in a new and different way.
We are committed to supporting families through their life cycle events including baby naming, B’nai Mitzvah, weddings, and funerals. The protocols for events through the summer are being determined on an as needed basis. We are working on the guidelines for fall B’nai Mitzvah and will share those with the families involved when they are available.
Beginning the week of July 20, we will be opening our office on a limited basis using a set of guidelines and practices to maintain a safe working environment. Drop in visits to the office will not be permitted; however, you may call the office to speak to someone on the phone. Office hours will be posted on our website. We recommend you still
reach out to staff via email
. You and the staff member can determine if it is necessary and safe to meet in person or virtually. Our staff will primarily continue to work remotely.
Our education programs are being planned with the aim to do as much as is safely possible in person while planning for virtual options should they be needed. We know that children thrive best in an in-person setting. We are following the guidelines from the Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We are creating multiple scenarios and will determine our course of action based on the latest regulations in August. Once we know the structure, we will be able to adjust tuition according to the programs being offered. If you have any questions about the education programs for ELC through grade 12, please reach out to
Heidi Baker
.
Whether it be school, programs, life cycle events, services, or office operations, we know that things are ever-changing. We are committed to making our decisions based the most current guidelines from our state in order to support our community and our members. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we navigate this time together as a community. If you have any questions or thoughts, please reach out to us at
healthsafety@bethavodah.org
The Health and Safety Task Force
Jeremy Goldfarb, Chair
Josh Baumer
Neil Jacobs
Deb Poskanzer
Carolyn Snider
Rachel White
Stacy Schwartz, President
Becky Oliver, Executive Director
Rabbi Keith Stern
