Dear Temple Shalom Family and Friends,

Shanah Tovah!  We are pleased to share that the following change will take place following Simchat Torah, which marks the end to the High Holy Days.  As of Tuesday, October 18th, masks will be optional at Temple Shalom.  We have chosen not to make any changes during the holidays, as these are times of high density attendance within the building.  We seek to minimize the risk of illness during this important holiday season so we can provide the congregation with meaningful worship and programming.

In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks will be required of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 and who are returning to the synagogue after their five day isolation period until they are ten days past the start of their symptoms or positive test.  In addition, members and guests who are aware of a close contact should mask for ten days post-exposure.  Temple Shalom still requires that all members and guests stay up to date with all Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters for their age group, as recommended by the CDC.  And, as we did before the pandemic, please stay home if you are ill or are not feeling well, including if you have had a fever within the previous 24 hours, to prevent the spread of disease and to allow yourself time to rest and heal.

The current conditions, vaccines, and effective treatments for Covid-19 allow us to reduce mandatory mitigation methods.  We are pleased to be able to allow individuals to make choices about masking.  If a new variant of concern emerges or conditions  worsen significantly the Advisory Task Force on Continuing Operations may need to make the recommendation to reintroduce masking or other mitigation measures.  Please note that these changes apply to all synagogue programs except the Temple Shalom Early Learning Center.  Please refer to the Welcome Back letter and manual for ELC practices.

We would like to extend a deep thank you to Shana Jacobs, Lisa Rider, Alison Ehrlich, David Kornbluth, Marty Shargel, Marilyn Ripin, Peter Howard, Missy Mandell, Rabbi Gischner, Lisa Heiser-Polin, and Andrea Mark, who are the members of our Advisory Task Force for their dedication, expertise, and thoughtfulness over the past two and half years as they wrestled with balancing the public health needs of the congregation, staff, and clergy and our need to connect as a community.

We look forward to gathering as a community for a meaningful High Holiday season at Temple Shalom in the coming weeks.

L’Shalom (In Peace),

Jeff Steger, President

Rabbi Rachel Ackerman

Andrew Maayan, Executive Director

Karen Miller, Vice President & Chair, Advisory Task Force on Continuing Operations