Covid-19 Protocol Update

January 13, 2022

Dear Temple Partners,

We hope this communication finds you heathy and safe. While Temple Adat Elohim strives to provide opportunities for engagement and community, as the Omricon variant of COVID-19 continues to surge, we have decided to evaluate our programs.

The TAE COVID Task Force recently met to consider adjusting protocols. While we understand the importance of being together, we have a responsibility to balance togetherness with preventing the transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible.

Effective immediately and through the end of January 2022:

Services and Adult Education:

  • Friday evening Shabbat services will be virtual only at 7:00 p.m. Click here to view the service. This link is also available on the TAE website at www.adatelohim.com.
  • Saturday morning meditation services will be in-person and outdoors at 10:00 a.m. Masks required. Disposable masks such as KN95, KF94, and surgical are recommended. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours of the service is required.
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Saturday morning Talmud study at 8:00 a.m. and Torah study at 8:45 a.m. will be virtual via Zoom. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

B’nai Mitzvah:

  • Will be held in-person.​​​​​​​
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​All attendees must wear masks at all times. Disposable masks such as KN95, KF94, and surgical are recommended. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours of the service is required.
  • The b’nai mitzvah student may be unmasked only while leading and/or chanting.
  • Parents may be unmasked only for their Aliyah.
  • Private meetings with Rabbi and Cantor will be virtual.
  • The final run through will be in person with all participants fully masked. Disposable masks such as KN95, KF94 or surgical recommended.

Religious School:

  • Students will be offered the option of attending in-person or via Zoom (additional information will be sent by the Religious School).
  • ​​​​​​​Masks required. Teachers will be wearing KN95 or KF94 masks.
  • To keep students and ​​​​​​​staff as healthy as possible, it is highly recommended that students wear disposable masks such as KN95, KF94 or surgical.

Gallant-Schiff Infant Center and Early Childhood Center:

  • Classes will continue in person with all COVID-19 protocols enforced.​​​​​​ Parents have been informed of the specific protocol changes.​​​​​​​
  • Friday morning Tot Shabbat services will be held outdoors on the Courtyard. Classes will sit in designated zones and the service will be shorter.

Chorale and Band:

  • Shabbat Shira has been postponed until February 25, 2022. The task force will evaluate a possible additional postponement.
  • Rehearsals will be held virtually.

Miscellaneous Planned In-Person Events:

  • Please remember to check the TAE E-News that is emailed every Wednesday evening, the TAE Calendar, Facebook, or Instagram for updates. Some events will remain in-person.
  • Like all of you, we did not expect to enter 2022 with new COVID-19 restrictions. We have been told by our COVID Task Force that while highly contagious, the Omicron variant is less likely to cause the serious illnesses we’ve seen in the past, especially for those who are fully vaccinated and boosted.

We will continue to monitor and keep you informed about changes to our protocols.

We appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Barry Diamond
Juli Rycus, TAE President
Bryan Friedman, Executive Vice President