COVID-19 / Coronavirus Plan

Update 2022-11-06

COVID-19 Committee Guidelines

As we continue with a hybrid of in-person and remote services and Hebrew School, please be reminded of our health and safety guidelines, which were developed and updated by the Executive Board in collaboration with the COVID-19 Committee. The guidelines below will inform all future events at the synagogue until/unless other restrictions are imposed or reinstated by local, State or federal government agencies:

·For B’nai Mitzvahs, the family may decide if they want to impose social distancing, mask or other health-related requirements so long as they do not conflict with current CDC guidance

·For Temple services, masks and social distancing will be optional. We will continue live-streaming services on YouTube as well as monthly Zoom services for those who are unable to attend in person. Do not come to the synagogue if you are not feeling well (see last bullet)

·For Hebrew School: We will continue with the modified hybrid (virtual/in-person) schedule

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR ALL EVENTS:

IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME (whether or not you think you have COVID). DO NOT come to the Temple with a sore throat, cough, temperature, runny nose, or any symptoms of cold or flu. If you are EXPOSED to COVID, PLEASE STAY HOME and isolate/quarantine pursuant to CDC guidelines.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our community as safe as possible during these difficult times. We cannot eliminate all risk but, with these protocols, we can worship together while minimizing the risk to ourselves and to each other.

Update 2020-05-04

Congregation B'nai Abraham,

As we continue to operate only, we ask that you continue to check your emails for updates and the online calendar. Our current status is:

  • Our doors are closed, but the community still congregates online for services

  • Hebrew School will continue online until our last scheduled class on May 10th

  • We are hopeful that we will be allowed to congregate in person for our July service and High Holidays in September, but will follow the guidelines of our officials.

If you are having any issues, please feel free to contact us through regular methods.

Be well,

B'nai Abraham Board

Update 2020-04-02 17:00

Congregation B'nai Abraham,

Let us know if you have any needs as we all get through this difficult time. Please reach out, we are here for you. Although our Synagogue doors are closed, remote services and remote Hebrew school have been going well. We hope that you have a safe Passover, and hope you are able to connect with family and friends over the telephone, chat, or video conference. We strongly recommend that everybody continue to stay in place and not congregate for Passover as our government leaders are asking us to do.

Our prayers are with you and your families.

Shabbat Shalom

Update 2020-03-20 16:22

Congregation B'nai Abraham,

Please check your email for the connection details for Saturday's service. I'll have the video conference running at 9:30am to give you time to connect in and test out your setup. Note, this is a different link than the test link I had set up earlier. If you are joining by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you do not need the phone number. That is only for those that need to dial in with a regular telephone.

Make sure to use your name so that we recognize you and let you into the room.

We ask that you mute yourself unless you want to ask a question, or participate in a discussion. This will allow the Rabbi to focus on the prayers during prayer time, and questions, during question time. To mute yourself on the computer, simple hit the microphone button at the bottom of the screen. If you are on the telephone, you can dial *6 to mute or unmute yourself. If we find someone who isn't muted that is accidentally disrupting the service, we will mute your device for you. When you want to participate, simply unmute.

To disconnect, just hit the “leave call” (red telephone) button at the bottom of the screen.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and see you there.


Shabbat Shalom,

Brian

Update 2020-03-18 4:12pm

Congregation B'nai Abraham,


I'm sure everyone has been impacted in one way or another with the COVID-19 situation. Whether you are now working at home with your children, or having to work a double shift because you are needed, we all need time to reflect on our lives and center ourselves. We want you to know whatever your unique situation is, Temple B'nai Abraham is here for you.


In order to bring a small sense of normalcy to your lives, we are going to continue with our service schedule. We had a great remote service on Friday night, and even had enough present to make a minyan! You can connect to this service remotely using a computer, tablet, smartphone, or a regular dial-up telephone (for voice only).


Rabbi Julie will lead as normal of a service this Saturday as possible using Google Hangouts Meet. This application will allow you to see and hear what is going on, along with being able to interact with your fellow congregants. It will allow us to have the familiar friendly conversations we normally have, and keep us together as a community. Rabbi Julie also has the ability to display the text as we go, so if you don't have a Siddur, you can follow along.


I recognize that using technology might not be your expertise, but I promise it should be easy. I want to make sure you have time to test your setup. I'll set up a test meeting and leave it going during the day tonight and tomorrow. If you want to connect and test your setup, just let me know.


If I'm not available when you try, you should get a screen saying that you have connected. Just email me if you are having an issue.


Thanks!

Brian


--

Brian Epstein bnai-abraham.org

President facebook.com/tba.synagogue

Temple B'nai Abraham, a Reconstructionist Synagogue (609) 298-1527

Update 2020-03-14 9:25pm

Temple B'nai Abraham Hebrew School,

I appreciate everyone's patience as we figure out the plan for our Hebrew School lessons going forward. The Education Director, Maribeth, and I spoke about things tonight and came up with the following.

In order to continue with the same level of excellence that our Hebrew School has enjoyed this year, we have decided to use tomorrow as a planning day. We just want to make sure we get things right, and don't want to sacrifice quality in order to rush to get everything ready for tomorrow. So, no Hebrew School tomorrow.

The Education Director will send an update no later than 5pm on Wednesday on how Thursday's remote Hebrew School will commence.

At this point, I'm also going to ask you to send the Education Director your questions, and hand over communication to her about planning the rest of the year with Hebrew School. It is best to have a single point of contact on these things.

Lastly, for any questions concerning B'nai Mitzvah's, please contact the Rabbi or Luz directly.

Thank you again for your understanding as we get through this difficult, but necessary change to our normal routine.

Shalom,

Brian

--

Brian Epstein https://bnai-abraham.org

President (609) 298-1527

Temple B'nai Abraham, a Reconstructionist Synagogue

Update 2020-03-13 3:15pm

Congregation B'nai Abraham,

We have spent the day in meetings, seminars, watching the news and discussion. After hearing all the input, I believe it is in the best interest for our community to remain physically isolated.

But, that doesn't mean we can't stay connected. Show your support for Temple B'nai Abraham by joining us for services on your computer, tablet, or smartphone tonight. Rabbi Julie will be leading prayers and we are looking forward to your participation.

If you haven't already done so, please sign up for our streaming service and we'll send you the link later this evening before services. Click on the link below to sign up.

https://forms.gle/tXH6Z8dHcXo5nYFFA

We hope this will only be for 2 weeks, but will update you along the way.

For the Hebrew School, the Education Director is working on a remote learning solution for this Sunday. Stay tuned, more information to follow.

Shalom, and stay safe,

Brian

--

Brian Epstein https://bnai-abraham.org

President (609) 298-1527

Temple B'nai Abraham, a Reconstructionist Synagogue

Update 2020-03-12 12:51pm

Congregation B'nai Abraham,

I'm sure you have all been following the COVID-19 and Coronavirus pandemic in the news. I wanted to assure you that the board has been discussing it and coming up with contingency plans in the case that they are needed. In the meantime, here are the steps and procedures we are taking.

1. We are going to have our cleaning person, Patty, do a thorough cleaning of surfaces and spaces throughout the Synagogue and sanctuary. She is scheduled to do this tomorrow morning.

2. We are canceling Hebrew School for today only, Thursday, March 12, 2020. This is so that we can get the Synagogue cleaned before we return to normal functions.

3. We expect that our schedule will continue tomorrow night for Tot Shabbat and Services and into the future unless otherwise instructed.

4. We will follow the Bordentown School District's lead as far as closures go. At this point, things remain open.

5. We have instituted a social distancing policy at Temple. If you have any symptoms of a cold or fever, we request that you stay at home (self-quarantine). Please let us know if you self quarantining, if you need anything that we can help with, and if you have been at the Temple recently.

6. While at Temple, please refrain from physical contact, and try to keep a healthy distance from others to reduce the spread of infection. Remind your children to try to adhere to these policies as best they can.

7. If you are at home and are unable to come to the Temple for services, we have worked out a plan to stream services online or over the telephone. If you are interested, please fill out this form to RSVP. This service is only available to current members.

https://forms.gle/tXH6Z8dHcXo5nYFFA

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.

Thanks,

Brian

--

Brian Epstein https://bnai-abraham.org

President (609) 298-1527

Temple B'nai Abraham, a Reconstructionist Synagogue