Covid-19 Response

Updated COVID-19 Guidelines 

Shalom, 
 
We hope you are doing well and looking forward to the spring. The MAC has continued to meet regularly and monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors to ensure the health and safety of our community. This email serves as an update to our current policies, particularly regarding masking.
 
In October 2022, Temple Israel pivoted to a mask-friendly environment, meaning that masking is a personal choice for each individual, including those involved in leading services.  However, we strongly encouraged congregants and Temple Israel employees to wear a mask while in the building due to the high rate of respiratory viruses circulating at that time (COVID-19, RSV, and influenza).

Although there was an increase in COVID-19 cases this winter, we fortunately did not see a large surge, especially in comparison to January 2022. Given this, we are now dropping our “strong” recommendation for masking while in the building. We will continue to follow a mask-friendly policy and respect each person’s choice to wear a mask for their own protection and/or out of courtesy to others around them.

We continue to encourage everyone to be vaccinated and to absent themselves from the Temple if there is any sign or symptom of infection, in which case we encourage you to join us online.

We remain grateful for your understanding and cooperation, as we now mark 3 years since the start of the pandemic. We wish you and your families all the best and good health.

L’shalom,
 
Medical Advisory Committee (MAC)                              Neil Aronson, President
Mark Popovsky, M.D., Chair                                          Karen Nahary, Executive Director           
Allie Hershey, NP, APRN
Rafi Kieval, M.D.
Ken Sperber, M.D.