News and Updates from the Community

Greetings Friends,

As many of you know, this Shabbat we will begin our slow return to our beloved sanctuary. We have waited a bit longer than other synagogues to reopen, exploring the safety precautions others are taking, making the necessary ritual changes we shall be implementing, and monitoring the local rates of infection. The durability of our return will in many ways depend upon local rates of infection, as well as our community’s ability to abide by our standards to create and maintain a safe environment for all of us.

The below represent our set of Practices & Community Expectations. Over time, we expect these could be modified, updated, or extended.  

Practices & Community Expectations

Version Number: 1 

Effective Date: July 10th, 2020.

When to stay home

• Stay home if you have tested positive or have been recently exposed to someone who has tested positive. Consult your physician as to when you are no longer contagious, or at risk of having and/or spreading SARS-CoV2.
• Stay home if you are immunocompromised, not feeling well, or simply uncomfortable attending. Contact us with any concerns or with any specific medical needs.
   

Adherence to Practices & Community Expectations

• Stay home if you feel you cannot agree to any of the practices and community expectations listed here that we feel aid in providing a safe environment for all of us. 
• If problems arise, please address people directly, and quietly. If there is a disruption, or an issue surrounding non-adherence, individuals will be politely asked to leave the building by the Rabbi, the Board President, or building staff including security.
• We expect people to take things slow, be kind, maintain a calm and helpful demeanor, and demonstrate compassion towards others and a commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all of us.
• We expect people to listen to and respect the requests of others as it relates to these practices and community expectations. 
• Arguing, a lack of courteousness, or aggression towards others is unacceptable. If you, or others get upset for any reason, please exit the building and re-enter when appropriate to do so.

Mask & Distancing Requirements

• Masks are required to enter the building, and to be worn at all times inside - including during your participation in services - by every individual in attendance, including children.  There are no exceptions.
• We will have extra masks available, if there is a problem with your mask, or you need an additional mask.
• Masks must be worn properly. It is ok to ask others to put on their mask, or fix how they are wearing their mask, and for others to ask the same of you. 
• Distance of 6ft  from one another must be maintained. It is expected that all people remain 6ft apart from others they did not attend with at all times. It is ok to ask others to move further away from you, and for others to ask that of you. 

Entering & Exiting the Building

• Enter the building through the main doors of the sanctuary only. Do not use the lower entrance unless you are bringing in a stroller. 
• You may be asked to answer questions about your recent health, or to put on or properly adjust your mask before entry. 
• If someone is exiting the building, please wait for them before entering in order to avoid collision.
• Provide those in front of you, and behind you, adequate space as you move around inside.
• You may exit using any door, but please be mindful of congestion.
• Please bring your jackets/raincoats/bags etc. in the sanctuary and keep them at your seat with you.

Sanitizing & Hand Washing

• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building. Please use it upon entering and exiting, and before or after obtaining or returning a Siddur as you see fit.
• Please wash your hands vigorously when using the restroom.
• If you see an unclean area, please notify the building staff, the Rabbi, or the Board President so that we may address it.

Seating in the Sanctuary

• Available seats are marked with orange post-it notes. Please sit only in those seats. Do not remove the stickers.
• If someone is seated in a seat you prefer, roll with it, and find another seat. 
• Be sure that you remain six ft away from everyone else. Families may sit together, but those around them should be careful to maintain 6 ft of distance. 
• Please do not wander or pace throughout the sanctuary or the rest of the building. 

Attendance of Children

• Children should remain with a parent at all times while in the building. No exceptions.
• At this time, there is no play-area for children. We may, in the coming weeks, resume this and use the social hall. Stay tuned.
• Strollers may be stored downstairs.

Synagogue Ritual Practices

• We hope to begin at 9:00 AM and intend for services to be shorter in duration.
• The bimah will be occupied by one person at a time. Please do not approach the bimah.
• All Aliyot to the Torah will be taken by the person who is reading.
• Hagbah/Gelilah will be adjusted.
• Be sure that when you speak or sing indoors that you do so more softly than normal, without loudly projecting and without much effort.
• Since it has been some time since we have been together, people may want to speak to one another.  Please exit the building to do so, and refrain from disrupting the service. 

Restroom Use

• If you need to use the restrooms, to avoid collisions, please descend down the main (eastern) staircase. This staircase will be clearly marked as “DOWN ONLY”. To return to the sanctuary please ascend using the “back (western) staircase. This staircase will be clearly marked as “UP ONLY.”
• The restrooms will be cleaned several times throughout the morning.  Please wait patiently if the restroom is in the process of being cleaned.
• The restrooms will be single-occupancy. Lock the door when you are using it, and knock to check if others are using it before entering.

Anti Social Kiddush Club (To-Go Kiddush)

• Weather permitting, there will be a to-go kiddush outside the building. Please do not crowd around the table, but carefully line up, maintaining social distance, and waiting patiently for the person in front of you to finish. 
• To avoid congestion, people attending together should have one person collect things from the to-go table.
• If it’s raining, the table will be in the lobby and you can take your treats as you leave.

Prohibited Areas

• Please do not go into the social hall at any time. We may, in time, use this space for children who are supervised by a parent. 
• Please do not go into the kitchen at any time.
• Please do not use the rear stairwell to the side of the sanctuary.
• Please do not use the Beit Midrash at any time.
• Please do not use any of the toys in the toy-closets.

Optimistically,

Your friends on Sixth Street