Introduction

At Congregation B’nai Tikvah we are more than just a group of people coming together to pray; we are a close-knit family. We offer each other support, friendship, and love in a unique way that we all depend upon as a staple in our lives.

In March of 2020, the quick spread of COVID-19 throughout New Jersey (as well as throughout the United States and around the world) caught us all off guard, and sadly forced us to face extremely difficult decisions that we never anticipated having to make. Protecting our clergy, staff and all those who consider B’nai Tikvah to be their second home (i.e. our congregants) became an imminent priority. We had to decide whether to close our building to our congregants and the public and whether to hold services virtually. Shortly after we made the decision to close the building, Governor Phil Murphy issued Executive Order No. 107, dated March 21, 2020, which effectively mandated that houses of worship close their doors for the foreseeable future.

As heartbreaking as this period away from each other has been, we at B’nai Tikvah have found fun and productive ways to continue to pray together and socialize, as well as ways to support each other through unprecedented times. We have all come together in a time of need and demonstrated tremendous strength and resilience. Since March, we continued to hold daily Minyan and weekly Shabbat services (albeit without being able to say Kaddish), we got together for Havdalah Happy Hours, we sang together with the Sons of Tikvah, we held virtual PJ Library programs for our youngest congregants, we continued with Bar and Bat Mitzvah lessons, and we held virtual and socially distanced in-person B’nai Mitzvot. Our youth groups continued to stay engaged through virtual meetings. We offered our condolences to grieving families through shiva over Zoom and through social distancing. We have endless gratitude and appreciation for our clergy, administrative staff, custodial staff, and the members of our congregation for a seemingly smooth transition from what was our “normal” to  what has become our “new normal.”

Recently, due to the slowing spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey, Governor Murphy has eased some of the restrictions previously placed on Houses of Worship, as well as the size of gatherings permitted in indoor spaces. He has left it up to each institution to determine how to best keep its congregation safe under what remains uncertain times.

While we are all anxious to come together again as a congregation in a more familiar way than we have been since the start of COVID-19, it remains incumbent upon us to continue to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and each other. In order to ensure the health and safety of the entire congregation, we have assembled a Task Force responsible for evaluating the current COVID-19 situation. The Task Force has been meeting weekly and has created protocols and procedures for how and when to reopen our building in a safe and judicious manner. Naturally, we will abide by any new executive orders by Governor Murphy.

We thank you for your patience up to this point and continue to ask for your patience going forward as we navigate these uncharted waters. The Task Force is working as diligently and as quickly as possible to ensure the safe reopening of our building. As you know, each day brings with it new challenges and we are putting forth our best effort. We will continue to keep you updated of all changes as we move forward together as one B’nai Tikvah family.

Also, we thank our Task Force for its hard work and dedication in making sure that safety is our first priority. Specifically, we extend our gratitude to the members of the Task Force:

  • Gordon Heit – Vice President, Ritual/Head of Task Force
  • Rabbi Robert Wolkoff
  • Cantor Bruce Rockman
  • Marty Abschutz – President
  • Dr. Neal Gittleman – Medical Consultant
  • Ben Gottesman – Technology Consultant
  • Melissa Kessler – Co-Vice President, School & Youth
  • Dr. Steven Levin – Medical Consultant
  • Kim Riemann –Trustee/Zoom Expert
  • Lori Sookerman – Co-President of Sisterhood/Medical Consultant
  • Amanda Uniman – Vice President, Ways & Means
  • Charlie Valan – Co-Vice President, Administration

We hope everyone remains healthy and safe, and we anxiously look forward to the day (hopefully sooner rather than later) when we can all come together again in our building.

Below please find the policies and protocols for the reopening of our building, as set forth by the Task Force. Please note that the policies and protocols will continue to change and evolve, as the COVID-19 situation remains fluid and as Governor Murphy eases restrictions. Please also note that if conditions begin to deteriorate (we sincerely hope this is not the case), we will adjust our policies and protocols accordingly.

Failure to adhere to the following guidelines and protocols will result in the non-compliant individual(s) being asked to leave the building. The non-compliant individual(s) may also be prohibited from attending future in-person services for a specified period of time. In order to keep each other healthy and safe, it is imperative that there be 100% compliance. Services will be canceled if the safety of the participants cannot be assured.

MASKS

Masks must be worn by all at all times while inside the building. There will be no exceptions. Any individual who refuses to wear a mask during services and who refuses to leave services will cause services to be ended. Community safety is paramount.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

In addition to wearing masks at all times while in the building, social distancing must also be maintained at all times. The only exception to social distancing is if you have come to a service with someone with whom you live, in which case you will be able to sit with that person during services.

Throughout the sanctuary, there will be markings (at least eight (8) feet apart) in the pews indicating where you may sit.

MINYAN SERVICES

At the current time, Minyan services will continue to take place virtually.

However, beginning on or about June 30, 2020, in-person Minyan services will resume as follows. There will be a total of up to twelve (12) people permitted to attend each Minyan service, including the leader. Attendance will be by invitation only as described below. During this time, we will continue to stream Minyan services, and provided that there is a minyan present at the service, anyone watching from home will be able to say Kaddish from their home.

1. Who Can Attend

The Ritual Committee will determine who is able to attend each Minyan service based upon those congregants needing to say the Mourner’s Kaddish, in addition to other factors. This will be done through a sign-up process organized and maintained by the Ritual Committee. Please note that if you have not been contacted to attend a Minyan service, then you may only watch the service virtually. Please do not come to the synagogue without prior registration. You will not be admitted. If you would like to attend a Minyan service, please contact the Main Office at (732) 297-0696 and you will be guided accordingly.

Before attending any service or coming into the building for any reason, we strongly recommend that you consider whether you or someone in your household falls under any of  the following eight (8) high risk categories, as identified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) including, but not limited to:

  1. Being over the age of 65 (speak to your medical provider about your risk factors);
  2. People who live in a nursing home or a long-term care facility;
  3. Having a chronic lung disease or asthma that is moderate to severe;
  4. People with serious heart conditions;
  5. People who are immunocompromised;
  6. People with severe obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher;
  7. People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; and
  8. People with diabetes.

If you or someone with whom you live falls under one of the eight (8) categories listed above, you are not precluded from entering the building, but we kindly urge you to assess the risk.

2. Who Cannot Attend

You cannot attend Minyan services, or otherwise enter the building, for the health and safety of our community if any of the following six(6) conditions apply to you:

  1. Fever of 100.4 or greater;
  2. Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing for any reason;
  3. If you’re coughing or sneezing, even if it’s due to allergies or the common cold;
  4. Loss of sense of taste and/or smell;
  5. If you have reason to believe that you were exposed to COVID-19, or if you have been notified that you were exposed to COVID-19 within the two (2) weeks prior to attending a Minyan service; or
  6. You have been exposed to anyone who had any of 1 through 4 above.

If you enter the building with any of these conditions, you will be asked to leave the building until such time as these conditions are no longer applicable to you.

3. How Do I Get Into the Building if I Am Invited to a Minyan Service?

If the Ritual Committee has informed you that you may attend a Minyan service and you have informed them that you accept their invitation, please make sure to arrive at least five (5) minutes prior to the start of the service, in order to be admitted into the building. There will be a Greeter at the door to meet you and to check off that you’re there for contact tracing purposes. The Greeter will be responsible for opening and closing the door, as well as for making sure it is locked once everyone expected to attend the service has arrived. At no time should the door be propped open.

4. What Do I Need to Bring With Me to a Minyan Service?

Until further notice, if you are attending minyan, please be sure to bring the following items with you, as they will not be provided by B’nai Tikvah at this time:

  1. Mask that you must wear;
  2. Siddur (if you do not have your own, please let us know prior to the service you are attending and we will make arrangements to provide you with one for you to take home, i.e., permanent loan of older edition siddurim)
  3. Kippah (head covering)

 

RESTROOMS

Only one (1) person will be permitted to use each restroom at a time so that we can ensure proper social distancing. If necessary, we will utilize all the restrooms throughout the building. Further, we will have a system in place so that it is clear whether a restroom is in use at any given time.

HAND SANITIZING STATIONS

At a minimum, there will be two (2) sanitizing stations with hand sanitizer. One station will be located when you enter the building from the main entrance and the other will be at the entrance to the sanctuary. Use these stations every time you enter or leave the building, and after using the restroom.

CLEANING AND SANITIZING THE BUILDING

Following each service, the parts of the building that were in use at the time of the service will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by our custodial staff.

What happens if someone who has been inside the building tests positive for COVID-19?

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been inside the building within the previous two (2) weeks, we strongly urge you to inform the Main Office (732- 297-0696) of your diagnosis. Doing so will enable us to advise all individuals who were in the building at the same time as you of their potential exposure. Your identity will be kept confidential (in keeping with HIPAA restrictions).

We will use contact tracing based on our daily attendance sheets to notify individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and encourage them to contact their health care provider for further guidance.