Dear B’nai Jehudah Family,
Like so many of you, we have been looking forward to coming together again for the High Holy Days. At the same time, we - in conjunction with our Covid Task Force - have been watching with increasing concern as local Covid numbers have risen dramatically. Taking into account the increased number of local Covid cases, the new state mandates for quarantining after mass gatherings, and a deep concern for the health and safety of our members and our greater community, we have decided to shift from in-person services to virtual-only services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
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Indoor services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be available on Facebook and Vimeo;
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Outdoor worship opportunities (see below) will be held in person.*
We did not come to this decision lightly. We know this has been a difficult year: many of us suffered losses, many find ourselves feeling lonely and in need of human connection, many of us are simply ready to get back to normal.
In recognition that we still need our B’nai Jehudah community, this decision only applies to our indoor Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at this time.** Our building will remain open, and B’nai Jehudah will continue to hold in person Shabbat services, Religious School and Preschool classes, and other smaller indoor and outdoor events. We will continue to require registration so we can allow for physical distancing, and all individuals in our building are required to wear a mask.
Jewish law teaches us pikuach nefesh - the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration. With that in mind, we invite your attendance and participation in our virtual services as well as our outdoor, in-person worship opportunities.
Above all, we are here for you. If you are in need of support or guidance, we invite you to contact any of our clergy by calling 913.663.4050.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we navigate the challenges of life in a pandemic. We will follow up early next week with logistical information related to the change to virtual worship.
Sincerely,