Dear Members,
Thank you for being patient regarding our plans for the High Holy Days. We have been updating our plans due to the COVID delta variant and the accompanying upswing in infection rates (which continues at this writing). Our goal is to make the holidays as normal as possible, while keeping everyone safe. Here is where we are right now. We are planning on having in person services and streaming services. We also are planning on outside services for Families/Junior Congregation and Torah for Tots.
Only vaccinated people can attend inside in person services. Proof of vaccination must be sent to the office or brought with you. Guests will have to show proof of vaccination. Everyone will be required to always wear masks and the sanctuary will be set-up to promote social distancing. The length of the indoor services has been reduced to 2 ½ hours or shorter. We are expecting between 100 and 200 people to attend in-person services (based on our August 2021 HHD survey). Streaming services will be available on Zoom, StreamSpot and Facebook for those of you who will be attending services remotely.
On each day of Rosh Hashanah just after 12 noon, the Shofar service will be held outside. Please join us in the parking lot, even if you’re attending services remotely. You also can hear the shofar during Tashlich, in the evening of the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
For the Family/Junior Congregation service, we have rented tents and are placing them in the parking lot. You are welcome to join Barry Safeer on all three days, Rosh Hashanah Day one, Rosh Hashanah Day two, and Yom Kippur, from 10:30-noon. If it is raining, we will cancel ALL outdoor services (including the outdoor shofar service – see above); we will use Zoom to stream the service instead.
The Torah for Tots program will be led by Bashe Rockman from 9:30-10:15 in the tent (same tent used for the Family Service).
In order shorten the service, we will be giving out fewer honors than usual. We will be sending out emails to those members who receive specific aliyot honors (Torah, Haftarah). Please respond to the Honors email so we will know if you plan on accepting them. For all the other honors, e.g., ark openings, Torah holds and responsive readings, we will be sending out non-specific emails to those members who will receive these honors. Further, we will assign these honors at the honors desk, when recipients come to services on a first-come, first-served basis.
Last year we distributed the HHD books to members. If you still have the books you can use them at home to watch the services. Please bring the books with you if you plan on attending services. Please arrange with the office to pick up additional books, if you need them. In addition, we have mailed one copy of the Yizkor book to each member address. If you are attending in person, please bring the Yizkor book with you.
Please send me an email at if you have any questions regarding the High Holiday services. Have a happy and health new year.
Sincerely,
Gordon Heit
Vice President, Ritual Activities