Reopening update from the President
09/01/2021 09:50:03 AM
Dear Congregants,
I wanted to use this Voice piece to let you know what our reopening plans are through the end of 2021.
As many of you know, we held our High Holiday services under an 8000 square foot canopy in the CBJ parking lot. We had wonderful levels of attendance on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, not just about the steps we took to make worshippers feel safe, but also the magical experience of worshipping outdoors!
The High Holidays is a time for friends to reconnect with each other and getting together after a two-year interval was wonderful. Watching the sunset while sitting under the canopy on Kol Nidrei was an experience that I will not soon forget! From our knowledge of the High Holiday activities of other shuls in the Bay Area, we can tell you that CBJ’s High Holiday arrangements were truly groundbreaking in the way in which we accomplished bringing a large number of people together while keeping them safe.
The plan post-high holidays is to retain a 4,000 square foot canopy in the parking lot that can be used for outdoor services, classrooms for our schools and a variety of other outdoor functions.
However, we realize that the weather may not be as cooperative as we approach the winter months, and we also realize that indoor services are becoming more feasible as the COVID news improves.
After extensive discussion with both the COVID committee and the board, our short-term policy is to hold services outdoors, with a capability to move indoors, due to inclement weather, at short notice.
To be able to do this, we need to implement a protocol that can work for both outdoors and indoors, to minimize disruption for our clergy, staff, and congregants.
To summarize, our goals for this policy are:
The Near-Term policies are as follows:
Masking will remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors.
The Traditional Service will be outdoors under the Canopy, and if moved indoors will be in the Sanctuary.
Kiddish lunches will remain outside on patios at all times.
Service Leaders and B’nei Mitzvah Celebrants:
To attend in person all congregants and guests must be vaccinated or submit to a rapid antigen test provided by CBJ upon arrival. This policy applies to everyone old enough to receive a vaccine.
Longer Term
We appreciate any and all feedback you wish to provide.
With gratitude,