Synagogue Updates

Friends,

Quick Shabbat updates followed by an updated letter about our masking policy. Tonight's services will be indoors in the Sanctuary. Tomorrow's Shabbat service will be coordinated and led by the Havurah in the Sanctuary. An outdoor kiddush lunch will be sponsored by the Havurah. The Cookie Minyan has been canceled tomorrow. 

Updated Masking Protocols based on the New CDC Guidelines

Earlier this week, the CDC released revised guidelines for masking of vaccinated individuals. The guidelines identified community levels of transmission as a deciding factor in whether to have vaccinated individuals mask in public spaces indoors. The threshold between a moderate level of community transmission and a substantial level was defined as a 7 day average of 50 cases a day per 100,000 residents. According to the Pennsylvania Department of health numbers, Montgomery County has just passed that threshold today, so we are now revising our policy to require masking indoors for all individuals whether vaccinated or not. 

Our aim throughout the pandemic has been to keep our congregants safe and to keep them connected. Coming back together at services has been an incredibly meaningful and moving experience, and we know that many in our community have taken advantage of the opportunity for vaccinated individuals to not wear a mask during services.

While we are not here to provide scientific and medical guidance, the CDC’s new guidance have strong connections to the Jewish values of Shmirat HaGuf, caring for ourselves physically, and of Pikuach Nefesh, saving our own lives or the life of another.  The current data overwhelmingly says that vaccinated individuals are protected from COVID-19, especially its more serious effects, except if they have weakened immune systems.  However, the latest data indicates that vaccinated individuals can acquire mild cases of the latest COVID-19 variant causing increased transmission. With community transmissions on the rise, this increases the probability that our vaccinated congregants could spread COVID-19 to members of our congregation that might be immunocompromised or not vaccinated.

The new CDC guidelines obviously will have an impact on our High Holiday COVID-19 protocols that the Board of Directors will be discussing on this upcoming Wednesday.  Our current plans include multiple options for indoor and outdoor services. We are exploring with our doctors the potential opportunity for service leaders, shofar blowers and others to have a COVID-19 test in advance of the holidays to enable them to go without masks. We will have a complete email with High Holiday opportunities and protocols shortly after the Board of Directors meeting. A survey will be included with that email to let us know which services you would like to attend so that we can plan accordingly.

As always, as the situation changes, we will make adjustments and communicate accordingly with you. We appreciate all of your feedback and support.

Thank you,

Barb Bookman and Ken Krivitzky