Dear Friends,

Our Torah teaches us that we are to “live by the commandments.” To which the rabbis add, “but not die by them.” As we all grapple with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, our congregational Executive Committee has come together to examine how we can best provide for the spiritual well-being of our community while at the same time providing for our physical well-being. The purpose of this letter is to share with you our conclusions.

In making our decisions, we have been guided by the information available through federal, state, and county public health officials. We also have been privileged to act in consultation with two of our members, Dr. Brad Cohen and Dr. Steve Levin, each of whom are, in different ways, “on the front lines” in this effort. We also note that information about the virus is constantly being updated; the decisions we are making now will be updated continually by our leadership based on the best and latest findings.

To date, we have made the following decisions:

  1. Our gala, and other similar large gatherings like the JNF breakfast, will be postponed. Large numbers of people who cannot keep appropriate social distance (about six feet) generates too high a risk.
  2. All services will be in the main sanctuary, and all are urged to sit at appropriate social distance. No food will be served because of the transmission danger of people touching the same serving utensils.

 

Please note: if you are showing any signs of illness (even mild ones) like coughing or sneezing, please do not come to services. No mitzvah, up to and including saying kaddish for a loved one, is worth endangering the health of others.

Similarly, if you are in a high risk group because of age (60 & over) or have an underlying  complicating condition (for example diabetes, asthma, COPD, high blood pressure, any heart or respiratory condition, any immune deficiency, etc.), please consider protecting yourself by watching the livestream of services. As long as we have a minyan in the sanctuary, you may recite kaddish with us from home.

We will use our whatsapp system to ensure a minyan, if possible.

  1. The religious school will be closed until such time as the local public schools reopen. In the meantime, Cantor Rockman is arranging for distance learning opportunities for the children.
  2. Adult education lectures will be offered online only. (Rabbi Wolkoff is said to give lectures “to die for.” Not.)
  3. The office will remain open, but we urge you to call or email, rather than visit, if possible. Obviously, many questions about the current situation remain unanswered, and you should feel free to contact us.
  4. Sensitive sites in the building, like doorknobs and water faucets, will be rigorously sanitized. As it becomes available, hand sanitizer will be available at strategic locations in the building. Feel free to bring your own portable version with you.
  5. We will call on our wonderful bikkur cholim committee to touch base with our seniors. If needed, we will arrange for grocery shopping and similar errands for those whose mobility is limited by the virus.
  6. Finally, we urge all our congregational family to take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others (handwashing, covering well when coughing or sneezing…inside crook of the elbow or into a tissue that you dispose of immediately…, social distance, etc.)

 

We do not know when all of this will be over, but we have complete faith that it will be over, someday; in the meantime, the more prudent we can be, the faster that day will come. We pray for the continued health of the congregation and our loved ones wherever they may be.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Robert L. Wolkoff                                    President Marty Abschutz