September 2021

Dear B’ShERT Parents and Families,

I, along with our staff and teachers are so thrilled to welcome our students back to in-person Religious School on September 25th!

I hope that your High Holy Day season has been meaningful and rejuvenating, and we can’t wait to continue the holiday festivities with our opening day Family Sukkot Celebration.  As we look toward our 2021-2022 Religious School year, I wanted to send you some information and updates. This note is packed with important information, so please make sure to read all the way through!

We are cautiously moving forward with plans to hold Religious School in person this Fall. As mentioned, our opening day will be Saturday, September 25th with a welcome back family Sukkot celebration, and then lessons will officially begin on Saturday, October 2rd. Our Religious School day will run from 9:45am – 11:30am. Please see the attached link for our B’ShERT 2021-2022 Religious School Dates and calendar!

Safety:

With the safety of our community as our number one priority, our Religious School Committee has been working in conjunction with B’ShERT’s Reopening Committee as well as the temple’s Security Committee to come up with the safest plan for how to move forward this Fall. Our COVID protocols are as follows:

• All staff will be fully vaccinated

• Students 12+ must be vaccinated (As vaccination expands, this will likely extend to younger students as well)

• All students and staff are required to wear a mask during B’ShERT programming, regardless of vaccination status

  • (We will have extra adult and child-sized masks on-site, but ask you to send your student with a mask of their own that they are comfortable in)

• Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be widely available in all religious school spaces

• Each classroom will be equipped with large air purifiers that have HEPA filters as well as UV-light technology

We will continue to update these policies, and keep you informed as new information or recommendations come to light.

Registration:

If you have not yet registered for Religious School, the time is now! Please note that you will need to fill out a separate form for each of your children (we have streamlined the registration form to make it more user friendly).

To register, visit this link (https://forms.gle/ccS5ZpSHRpALJMgb6).

Hebrew Instruction:

Enrollment for students in 3rd-7th grades includes weekday Hebrew lessons. Hebrew instruction takes place “chevruta” style, a partnered model where 2 students of a similar level are paired with a teacher for private online instructional lessons. Follow this link (https://forms.gle/p71fKChSbbzPGSdJ6) to our form with more information, and to select a weekly Hebrew time slot.

Spread the word!

If you know anyone who might be interested in registering for our 2021-2022 school year, please feel free to pass on this information. You will also find a link to registration on our B’ShERT website bshert.org.

B’Shalom,

Rabbi Alexis Pinsky

Dear B’ShERT Community,

We are happy to announce that multi-access Shabbat Services—meaning both in-person and on Zoom—will be resuming Friday, September 24, 2021 at 8 PM.  Religious School will be reopening in person on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 9:45 AM.

Here are some of the details you need for this new beginning to run as smoothly as possible:

This Saturday only (9/25), Shabbat services will be on Zoom only so that congregants can participate in the 1 PM “Jews Across the Pond” event on Zoom.

On subsequent Saturdays, multi-access Minyan services will begin at 11:45 AM. Congregants will use the Marlborough Road entrance.

B’Yachad will continue on Zoom only on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 AM.

Friday night poetry discussions will continue on Zoom only, but they will be from 6:30 to 7:30 PM (note the new time) to allow congregants time to get to temple for services.

This Saturday’s Religious School opening and services will take place outdoors, weather permitting.  On subsequent Saturdays, Religious School will use the regular Marlborough Road entrance but will exit through the back of the sanctuary onto Church Avenue.

Each classroom will have air purifiers with HEPA filters.

The Saturday Religious School Tefilah Service is scheduled from 11 to 11:30 AM after instruction time (9:45 to 11 AM).

The following protocols continue to be in place:

Masks must be worn at all times while in the building and cover the mouth and nose.

Proof of vaccination is required for all who are currently eligible. No entry without proof.

Proof will be checked at the door. Congregants and children are encouraged to send a copy of their card to the office so a list can be generated.

If a congregant or child does not feel well, DO NOT come to in-person classes or services.

Your safety and the health of our community continues to be a priority. We hope to be able to continue with the re-opening plans described in this communication, but may need to make changes in the future.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone and wish all a safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Phyllis Schweiger (Chairperson) and the Re-opening Committee

Adrienne Knoll, President B’ShERT