Dear Members of Our Community,
We are grateful to Hashem for His Siyata Dishmaya (Divine Assistance) throughout the coronavirus epidemic. Our community has responded to these unprecedented challenges with great faith, kindness, and generosity. In navigating this crisis we have received guidance from a team of top doctors in the community, and the largely positive results are a credit to their professionalism and sense of responsibility. We pray that we merit Hashem's protection in the future, near and distant.
In recent months, the Vaad has issued and re-issued guidelines on if and how minyanim may be held. The public's adherence to these guidelines has been truly commendable, and is a testament to the special community in which we live. Currently, it is the opinion of the medical professionals that the prevalence of the virus has diminished further and that we may now start to transition indoors in a limited fashion. The governor, as well, has just relaxed the limitations on shul capacity.
We caution the public that this wonderful progress does not mean that the risk of gatherings has been entirely eliminated. Rather, the risk has reached a level low enough to allow for moving indoors with proper precautions in place. We implore you to maintain your vigilance in following these protocols so we can continue to see positive momentum in our battle with this disease. Members of our shuls who are considered medically vulnerable must especially act with great caution and should not participate in indoor minyanim if it would jeopardize their health in any way.
At this point, we feel that each shul should set their own policies regarding shul activity, within the legal parameters and based on their respective circumstances. The Rabbonim of the Vaad remain in constant discussion about the community's needs in these unusual times, and are alert to any developments which may require further guidance.
May we merit Hashem's salvation, speedily,
Vaad Harabonim of Raritan Valley