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At the March Board of Trustees meeting, the Board voted to amend the temple’s mask policy. Masks will now be optional in our building. This is a personal choice and if you wish to continue wearing a mask, please feel free to do so.

We are continuing to require full vaccination in order to attend activities in our building. Children younger than 5 are exempt from this requirement.

This change in policy follows extensive discussion among the Reopening Committee, Executive Board, Board of Trustees and Rabbi Hoover and Rabbi Pinsky. Most public venues and businesses across the city have relaxed their COVID protocols in response to declining infection rates. While the BA.2 subvariant has been gaining ground in the U.S., transmission in most New York City communities remains very low. And for those who do test positive for COVID, serious illness is rare among vaccinated people. As of March 29th, the most recent date for which statistics are available, only four people in Brooklyn were hospitalized for COVID.

Please note that we will continue to monitor the recommendations of city, state, and federal agencies and will revisit the temple’s COVID policies if necessary.

We will continue to offer a virtual option for those who cannot or would prefer not to attend temple activities in person. We are happy to have you in whatever manner you choose to join us, and we appreciate your presence and support.

If you have any questions or concerns about the amended policy, feel free to reach out to me at president@bshert.org or to Phyllis Schweiger, Reopening Committee Chair, at ps1003@aol.com.

Best,

Adrienne Knoll
President, B’ShERT

Phyllis Schweiger
Chair, Reopening Committee

——– March update below ——–

Dear B’ShERT Family,

We are pleased and excited to be able to resume in-person Shabbat Services beginning Friday, March 4th at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 5th at 11:45 a.m. All services will continue to be multi-access for those who prefer to participate via Zoom or YouTube.

In-person Religious School will resume on Saturday, March 5th at 9 45 a.m.

For those who have been missing their Entenmann’s fix, we will begin to use the Community Room again for our post-Shabbat services onegs.

Additionally, we will begin making the banquet hall available in April for use by our congregation and for rentals by temple members only. We are opting to reopen the banquet hall because of the sharp decline in COVID infections citywide. No ventilation upgrades have been made.

Please note that while we are resuming some pre-Omicron activities, all COVID guidelines will continue to be observed.

Proof of vaccination (including boosters, if eligible) is required for anyone entering the temple building. That includes members and all guests. For those who have not been inside our temple since before the pandemic, make sure to bring your proof of vaccination with you or send a copy to the office where it can be logged prior to your attendance.

Masks (KN95 or N95 suggested) must be worn at all times when in the building, except while eating or drinking.

Changes may be made to this scheduling as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Phyllis Schweiger, our Reopening Committee Chair, at ps1003@aol.com, or Adrienne Knoll, temple president, at president@bshert.org.

We look forward to seeing you.

Best,

Phyllis Schweiger
Chair, Reopening Committee

Adrienne Knoll
President, B’ShERT

original post below:

We hope you all are well and staying safe. As we approach the secular new year, we wanted to make sure that you’re aware of the following temporary adjustments to how we worship and learn together:

All Friday night services, including this Friday (December 31^st), will take place on Zoom only at 8 p.m. This change will continue through the first week in March, coinciding with Rabbi Hoover’s return from sabbatical. (Please note that poetry study will be held this Friday at 7 p.m. but will then be suspended until March.)

All Saturday services through the end of January will take place at 11 a.m. on Zoom.

Rabbi Pinsky will be leading Friday and Saturday services during Rabbi Hoover’s sabbatical.

When Religious School returns from break on January 4^th, classes will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Zoom through at least the end of January.

In mid-January, the Reopening Committee will re-evaluate the COVID data and decide whether Religious School and Saturday services can safely resume in-person in February.

B’Yachad will continue to take place on Zoom every Saturday at 10 a.m.

In addition to these changes, we have formalized a number of COVID protocols and notification procedures for anyone who enters our building, including members, guests, and staff. Some of these protocols, such as mandatory mask-wearing and required proof of vaccination, have been in place in our temple for some time. Others are common-sense protocols that most of us have encountered in our workplace, in medical offices and in other venues.

• Face coverings must be worn in the building at all times.
• Proof of full vaccination is required.That includes a booster for all who are eligible.
• Stay home if you are not well.
• Notify the temple office by phone AND email if you or your child have been in the building and then test positive for COVID. (We are requiring both phone and email to ensure that we receive the message promptly even when the Temple office is closed.) The date of the positive COVID test must be provided when reporting the case to the office.
• We will notify the congregation when a positive case is reported. A decision regarding logistical changes to Shabbat Services or Religious School will be made following consultation with the rabbis and temple leadership.
• Anyone who has tested positive for COVID must supply proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than one day before returning to the synagogue.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep our community safe. Here’s to a healthy, safe and less perilous 2022 for all of us.

Best,

Adrienne Knoll
President, B’ShERT

Phyllis Schweiger
Chair, Reopening Committee