Dear Friends,

Our COVID-19 Task Force (“Task Force”) has been meeting continuously throughout the pandemic to keep current with the constant changes and the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation. This has ensured and will continue to ensure that CBT operates in a way that protects the health and safety of all those who enter our building.

While we are all feeling COVID-19 fatigue and are anxious to return to some semblance of normalcy, COVID-19 very much remains a threat to our health and safety. Recently, the number of cases in New Jersey has been increasing again and there continues to be new and more dangerous variants that we cannot ignore. Therefore, while we are making plans to reopen, we are doing so with an abundance of caution and the utmost thought.

Considering the above, the Task Force has come up with the following protocols for services, which are subject to change without notice. As always, please contact Lesley in the office at (732) 297-0696 for the most up-to-date information.

    • Masks must be worn at all times while in the building and a social distance of at least six (6) feet must be maintained, regardless of your vaccination status. We also strongly encourage hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers.
    • While in the building, there will be no congregating in the hallways.
    • In-person services will be held as follows:
      • Effective April 3, 2021, Saturday morning Shabbat services will be held in-person. If you wish to attend a Shabbat service, you must contact either Lesley or Meryl in the office to let them know which service you plan to attend and how many people will be attending with you. This allows us to monitor the number of people attending any given service. Calls to attend an in-person service cannot be confirmed right before Shabbat begins.
      • Sunday evening minyan services will continue to be held in-person. If you wish to attend the Sunday evening minyan service, you must let us know via our WhatsApp group. If you are not a member of the WhatsApp group, please contact Cantor Rockman.
      • For those families with an upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, you must contact Lesley in the office to make arrangements for family and friends who you wish to attend the service in-person. Lesley will assist you in creating an assigned seating plan for your guests.
      • Morning services on Pesach Yom Tov will also be held in-person, including Yizkor on Sunday, April 4, 2021. As with all in-person services, if you plan to attend any of the Pesach services, you must contact the office to let them know you are coming. Calls to attend the Yom Tov service cannot be confirmed right before Yom Tov.
      • All other services will remain virtual at this time.
      • Any service that is held in-person will continue to also be available virtually via live streaming.
      • Please note that so long as there is a minyan in the sanctuary, you may say Kaddish from home when in mourning or observing a Yahrzeit if you are not comfortable attending services in-person.
      • When you enter the building for services, a greeter will take your temperature. If you have a temperature of 99.4 degrees or higher, we ask that you participate from home.
      • When attending an in-person service, you must cooperate with any assigned seating arrangements. This is for the health and safety of all those in attendance.

Please be advised that those attending in-person services may or may not have received the COVID-19 vaccination. As such, you should be guided accordingly based upon your comfort level as to whether you wish to attend an in-person service. Even those who have been fully vaccinated must adhere to all protocols outlined above. This is because the vaccine may not protect against all the COVID-19 variants, as well as the reality that those who have been completely vaccinated may still be able to transmit the virus. If these protocols are not respected and practiced by those attending in-person services, we will be forced to halt services until all are in compliance.

We thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we try to slowly reopen our building, while at the same time keeping everyone safe and protected from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Task Force