We are pleased to reintroduce indoor minyanim at Etz Ahaim. We welcome you back into our shul with joy, gratitude, and some trepidation, and we recognize that not all of our Etz Ahaim family members are able to return at this time.
We once again ask for your patience and sensitivity as we adapt to some new shul behaviors and as we maintain our previous insistence on decorum and dignity during tefilah. Our primary objective is and will always be the safety of our members, friends and neighbors and we need to be extremely vigilant to ensure that our gathering in minyanim will not lead, chas v’shalom, to any compromise whatsoever in the health or safety of our community members. As such, all participants must continue to wear masks and maintain strict adherence to social distancing measures. The building’s HVAC ducts have been cleaned and filters replaced, touch points throughout the building will be sanitized frequently, and you will find hand sanitizer at both front and side entrances as well as disinfectant wipes for the Teva or other touch surfaces if needed.
Please carefully read and follow all of the guidelines set out below.
The fixed seats in the men’s section have been marked with blue tape indicating where one may sit in order to maintain eight (8) feet of distance between people, as recommended and enforced by all synagogues under the Vaad. See image #1 in the Appendix. Your “regular seat” is suspended for the time being.
Additional seats have been added throughout the social hall for men and women, positioned to maintain eight (8) feet of distance between people. There are a total of thirty-two (32) men’s seats and nine (9) women’s seats at this time. Each of the seats in the social hall are paired with a second chair facing backwards -- this second chair is not for sitting, but rather to allow for somewhere to place a Talit or Tefilin bag, Siddur, Chumash, etc. See image #2 in the Appendix.
Only one person at a time may use the restroom facilities, and soap or disinfectant will be provided. Please maintain social distancing while waiting for the restroom.
After tefilah, please do not linger but proceed directly out of the building, one person at a time. Allow the person(s) closer to the exit to leave the area completely before advancing toward the door to leave, to ensure proper distancing.
Absolutely no congregating or socializing in the lobby during or after tefilah.
There will be no learning sessions or shiurim inside the Etz Ahaim building yet. Those
will continue over Zoom.
Only those who have sign up in advance may attend. No exceptions. If all the slots are filled, you may not attend and you will need to register for another tefilah. Please read this entire detailed letter carefully before proceeding to our online sign-up. If you do sign up for a minyan, please recognize this is a commitment and make sure to attend and arrive on time.
In order to participate in a minyan, you must register online.
We need everyone’s utmost cooperation. Please note the following rules and policies which will be strictly enforced:
At this time, minyanim are for those who are Bar or Bat Mitzvah age or over. Those over the age of 65 are strongly discouraged from attending.
Each member of a household that registers (for example, father and son) must sign up separately.
No one may attend a minyan for which he is not pre-registered and if he does so he will be asked to leave. This will be strictly monitored and enforced to ensure the safety of our congregants in the limited space available, and to support contact tracing.
People who are at high risk for COVID-19 including those with asthma, emphysema/COPD, diabetes, cancer, heart disease or immunosuppression may not attend. Anyone whose physician has determined he is vulnerable to COVID-19 infection based on age or any other factor may not attend.
People who feel ill may not attend. Anyone who had COVID-19 (or strongly suspected that they had COVID-19) may not attend until they count three (3) days without symptoms plus an additional 14 days. Any person who had contact with someone who had COVID-19, may also not attend for a similar period.
Face masks which cover your mouth and nose must be worn the entire time that one is on premises until one returns home or into their car.
Each participant must bring his own Siddur and Chumash. Siddurim and Chumashim will not be provided. Communal talitot w ill not be provided.
We ask that each minyan participant remain in their pre-designated, socially distant space, and not walk around. Do NOT move chairs and do NOT take additional chairs from the stacks along the wall in the social hall.
Social distancing at a minimum distance of eight (8) feet must be practiced at all times including prior to, during and after your attendance at minyan until you return home or into your car. All forms of socializing are strongly discouraged. We ask that people not congregate on synagogue grounds after tefilah. Absolutely no food or drink is permitted.
Anyone who, after attending a minyan, discovers or suspects that he may have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19 must email health@etzahaim.org and/or notify Ray Morris immediately.
One member of each minyan will be designated as responsible to ensure that the social distancing guidelines are maintained. This individual will have the authority to ask anyone to leave or to terminate the minyan if there is non-compliance.
Anyone who reminds another regarding social distancing and masks, please do so gently and amicably. Anyone who needs reminding about social distancing and masks, please accept the correction in a spirit of friendship and appreciation.
We understand that this plan might not allow for everyone who wishes to participate in a minyan to do so. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work our way through this unprecedented challenge.
Note that although the degree of risk to congregate in this limited manner is considered to have diminished to an acceptable level with proper social distancing, it cannot be stated that the risk has been eliminated entirely. As expressed by the Vaad HaRabbanim, no one should feel obligated to attend any of these minyanim, and anyone who does not feel comfortable doing so is encouraged to not register for them. In short, there is no chiyuv to attend.
If you have any questions regarding the guidelines listed above or require assistance, please contact Ray Morris, Rabbi Hakakian, or a member of the shul re-opening committee.