July 2nd, 2020
י׳ תמוז תש״פ
Dear Community Members,
We are pleased and thankful that our community has moved into phase three and is on track to enter phase four of reopening on July 6. It is truly a blessing that we have maintained such low levels of the virus in our area and we pray that the positive medical trends continue. At the same time the official CDC and Infectious Diseases position in addition to the frum doctors and poskim we have been consulting with are all still strongly recommending caution as the possibility of a resurgence of disease remains very real. Indeed, many states are now encountering such an increase in COVID cases as a result of looseness with regards to masks and distancing. Very worrisome, there have been new cases identified in our area, and nearby metropolitan frum communities, related to travellers from endemic states and we must make renewed efforts to comply with expert opinions. As such we feel we are at a point where we can make a number of changes to our previous protocols while at the same time stress the importance of maintaining some of our restrictions.
Social Distancing Policies in Shul, Simchas and Shopping
As there are still many unknowns regarding COVID, we are maintaining our policy of requiring a mask at all times and a distance of 6-8 feet in shul, both for indoor and outdoor minyanim. All members of the community should do so as well in their respective backyard minyanim.
There are those who have suggested that not wearing a mask is an expression of emunah in Hashem that He will protect us. This is incorrect. The Torah’s requirement of “V’Chai Bahem” requires us to protect and preserve life under almost all circumstances, especially when danger is high. To take unnecessary health risks under the guise of emunah is simply wrong and could potentially harm all members of the community, especially those at greatest risk.
The inconvenience of wearing a mask in no way outweighs the benefit of protecting the lives of those around us.
As larger social gatherings have become legal, we have sadly seen many people become more lax in mask wearing and maintaining distance. Such large social gatherings with unmasked mixing are probably the most important risk to us as a community. In the past week, there have been numerous cases of the virus spreading at local social gatherings. We have thankfully reached a place where we can share Smachos with others, but we should be careful that these joyous occasions remain safe and do not become foci for spreading COVID. This can be accomplished by wearing masks and maintaining distance. Just as we are maintaining our requirement for everyone to wear a mask and to sit socially distanced in Shul, we strongly advise and encourage community members to maintain those policies in all areas of life especially when attending a simcha and shopping in stores. We know that this is difficult, especially as the weather gets warmer, but the mask and distancing are crucial elements in preventing the virus from spreading.
As indoor dining becomes a possibility we can thankfully begin to have some Seudos Mitzva around a Bris, a Pidyon HaBen, etc. These Seudos should be done in a socially distanced fashion, minimizing numbers of guests to allow each family to have 6-8 feet. Masks should be worn when not eating. Food should be plated and people should not be eating from a buffet or using the same utensils.
In our earlier protocols, we decided that children under the age of Bar and Bat Mitzva would not be allowed in Shul. We are now thankfully at a place where there could be safe ways to invite some of our children back into Shul. Space permitting, and assuming the child can sit masked by the parent for the entire davening, each Shul will decide for themselves how and when to invite children to return.
Our Torah learning programs which have been virtual since our shul’s closed, may slowly begin to return to in person settings in each shul as appropriate. All participants, including the Rabbis, should wear masks. Each Shul will decide which of its learning opportunities will be available. Ideally for the next two weeks beginning with short classes connected to a tefilah, such as learning between mincha and maariv or before and after Shacharis. Virtual streaming of shiurim will continue to allow people at home to continue to join.
Our Krias HaTorah protocols will remain unchanged at the present time, however, we can begin having two people perform a regular Hagba and Gelila with both the Magbia and the Golel sanitizing their hands before and after the Hagba and Gelila or wearing gloves.
Keilim Mikva
We have thankfully reached a place where we feel comfortable reopening the Keilim Mikva. Please take caution to maintain safe distance when using the Mikva. Only one family at a time should be in the Mikva and those waiting outside should stand at a safe distance from each other, wearing masks.
All preparations for the Keilim Mikva should be done at home, removing all packaging or stickers from the Keilim prior to entering the Mikva.
If anyone sold Keilim to a non-Jew or was Mafkir Keilim in order to use them while the Mikva was closed, those Keilim should now be reacquired and taken to the Mikva without a Bracha. Please contact your Rabbi with specific Mikva questions.
Women’s Mikva
Our previous protocols remain in place for the time being, and have been very successful and safe. Please contact your Rabbi with specific Mikva questions.
Travel
As restrictions continue to ease and many children are heading to camp, we want to stress that if a person travels to a high risk area, they should keep to a low level of contact with others upon their return for a period of 14 days, and should follow all government guidelines. Children coming to our community from high risk areas to attend camps (day camp or sleepaway) should wait a period of 14 days before joining with the other children at camp.
Shiva Asar B’Tamuz/Three Weeks
We do not foresee COVID having a significant effect on our ritual observance of Shiva Asar B’Tamuz or on our communal mourning during the Three Weeks. If anyone has specific questions or concerns about fasting or other mourning practices, they should reach out to their respective Rabbi.
It is our sincere hope that we will continue to see the decline of COVID in our area. By doing our part to maintain the public health of our community, we fulfill our sacred duty to protect and guard our lives. During these three weeks, when we mourn for a Temple destroyed by Sinas Chinam, baseless hatred of one Jew for another, let us demonstrate our concern for each other by doing all that we can to promote the health and wellness of our community. In so doing, may we merit to see the next stage of redemption for our people.
Rabbi Shalom Axelrod
Rabbi Hershel Billet
Rabbi Mordechai Benhaim
Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen
Rabbi Ira Ebbin
Rabbi Aaron Feigenbaum
Rabbi Dr. Aaron E. Glatt
Rabbi Kenneth Hain
Rabbi Simcha Hopkovitz
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz
Rabbi Jonathan Muskat
Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff
Rabbi Mordechai Prus
Rabbi Isaac Rice
Rabbi Shay Schachter
Rabbi Yehuda Septimus
Rabbi Steven Siegel
Rabbi Asher Stern
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum
Rabbi Ya’akov Trump
Rabbi Akiva Willig
Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf
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