Sign In Forgot Password

As of August 6, the following safety policies are pending as our safety task force reviews current conditions. Updates will follow.

Temple Sinai Welcome Forward Guidance for In-Person Events

The following policies and procedures are to be implemented and followed by all staff and congregants. As we move into the next phase of the pandemic and begin to gather in-person again, and as vaccination rates amongst our congregants continue to increase, we consider how to collaboratively prioritize the safety and security of our community.  We have elected to proceed cautiously as some in our congregation, including children, remain unvaccinated due to ineligibility, medical contraindications, or personal reasons. Others may be vaccinated but do not have adequate immunity due to medical conditions. Therefore, some of our policies are more conservative than the current national, state, and local guidelines. We appreciate your understanding and support in our efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.

The policies for our Preschool and Religious School are not included in full in the guidance below. Childcare and school settings have different considerations and guidelines. Those policies have been communicated to our preschool families and will be communicated to our Religious School and Youth Program families as those programs begin in the fall.

We will continue to reassess the situation. As long as transmission rates of Covid-19 remain low, we look forward to continued events and programs in person. We will update the website regularly.

  • Masking
    • Masks are optional for all outdoor events regardless of vaccination status.
    • Masks are required for all indoor events regardless of vaccination status.
    • Exceptions to masking in an indoor setting may be made in the follow situations:
      • Individuals leading services
        • In order to lead a service unmasked, the individual must be fully vaccinated (ie. 2 weeks past the second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series or 2 weeks past a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) or provide a negative COVID PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event
      • Individuals with disabilities for whom wearing a mask is difficult or dangerous
      • Children under the age of 2 years old
  • Physical Distancing

    • Physical distancing is no longer required by the state or county in both indoor and outdoor settings.
    • In order to ensure comfort of all community members at all events, services and programs, there should be a designated space for those who want to maintain physical distance in addition to non-distanced seating arrangements.
      • Distance is defined as at least 3 feet of space between households in outdoor seating areas.
      • Distance is defined as at least 6 feet of space between households in indoor seating areas.
    • For on-site activities at the synagogue, there will not be capacity limits for event, service or program attendance, but it may be limited by the need to provide a section for social distancing.
      • All Friday night Shabbat services will have an outdoor option.
      • Off-site activity capacity limits will be at the discretion of the site being used.
  • Health Checks
  • Attendees at all events will be assumed to be free of symptoms that can be associated with COVID-19 infection – fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, body aches, or change in sense of smell and taste.
  • It will also be assumed that attendees at all events can verify that no one in their household has COVID-19 and no one is quarantined because of exposure to COVID-19.
  • Event organizers may choose to have a sign-in sheet at events for purposes of self-attestation and contact tracing, but it is not required.

 

  •  Shared Items
    • Shared items may be used as appropriate during events, such as during the Havdalah or Hakafah services, using the following safety measures.
      • Good hand hygiene should be practiced by all involved.
      • One person should carry the shared item around for use by all participants instead of passing.
      • Contact of personal or shared items with eyes, noses, and mouths should be avoided.

For any additional questions or concerns not addressed in the general guidance above, please email Steve Shane (shanepro@sbcglobal.net), Lead of Temple Sinai Welcome Forward Reopening Taskforce.

 

Updates on Temple Programs
 
Worship Services

High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Evening and morning Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services will be held in-person at the Paramount. All services will be streamed live to Facebook and Vimeo as well. More information on capacity limits and other guidelines and restrictions will come as we get closer to the holy day celebrations.

The plans for S’lichot, the Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur Children’s Services, K-4th grade programming, the Youth Service and the Healing, Yizkor and Neilah services have yet to be finalized. We will share plans with the community as soon as possible.

Sukkot and Simchat Torah: Our Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrations will take place at the Temple. Service and celebration details will be determined later this summer.


Friday Shabbat Services: We will have in-person services twice a month in July and August. All Friday Shabbat Services will start at 6:30pm                      

  • August 6 — Upper Courtyard
  • August 20 — Upper Courtyard

All in-person services this summer will also be streamed to Facebook and Vimeo. All Shabbat services not held in-person will be held virtually.


Shabbat in the Woods: We will have Shabbat in the Woods Service on July 17 in Roberts Park.

Sababa Shabbat: We hope to have in-person Sababa Shabbat services in the Fall. Dates and details to come.

B’nei Mitzvah: All B’nei Mitzvah services will take place in the Chapel until further notice. B’nei Mitzvah services are not open to the entire community in-person, but everyone can continue to participate virtually. For the new, detailed protocols, please visit our b'nei mitzvah section.

B’nei Mitzvah tutoring and rehearsals will continue to remain virtual, unless otherwise arranged with the clergy.

Shabbat Minyan: The Shabbat Minyan will meet in-person on the second Shabbat of the month in July and August. The service will take place outside, in the upper courtyard.

Torah Study: Torah Study will remain virtual for now. We hope to move to meet in-person once a month after High Holy Days.

Tuesday Morning Minyan: The Minyan will be able to meet in-person in the chapel beginning in July.


Adult Education and Other Programming

Havdalah Hikes: Havdalah hikes will resume at the end of June and continue at it’s regular schedule through the summer season.

Adult Choir: The Adult Choir will begin to meet in-person in the fall. Because members of the Choir will lead services in the coming year, all members of the Choir must be vaccinated or provide regular negative Covid tests.

Committee Meetings: Committee Meetings will primarily remain virtual for now. Offsite in-person gatherings will be determined by committee leadership and members.

Adult Education: Adult Education classes will be virtual or in-person depending on the program. Please read descriptions carefully.


Religious School and Preschool

Preschool: We are fortunate that our preschoolers have been in-person since last July. Policies on parents in the building to visit classrooms and other gatherings are underway and will be announced before school begins again in the Fall.

Religious School and Youth Programs K-12: K-6th grade Religious School families will have the option of in-person classes as well as virtual classes in the coming year. Our 7-12th programs will take place in person. Registration materials will be sent in July.

We will continue to update you as plans are finalized for the fall. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch with any one of us.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784