May 20, 2020
Dear TBBers,
All of you will have certainly heard the news that Governor Baker has authorized houses of worship to reopen under strict safety guidelines. The city of Somerville is taking a more cautious approach than the state, so TBB and all other houses of worship remain closed per Somerville regulations.
From the Somerville website:
“All additional reopening steps remain on temporary hold as the City assesses the State plan in order to make sure those phases of the reopening are practical and safe for our community. This includes, for example, hair salons, houses of worship, and playgrounds.”
The rabbi and staff and Executive Committee are continuing to monitor local and state information as it is released, and will formulate a plan for reopening when it is possible to do so safely. But right now, we are not anywhere near certainty as to what safety might look like, so while we know you are anxious to be back in our lovely building and together with friends, please be patient. It will be a while.
We are not alone in in our extreme caution about re-opening. Please see the statement released by the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis this afternoon in response below.
Although we remain physically-distanced, we are so happy to see all of you who are joining in our new normal of Zoom prayers and learning, and taking part in all that makes our community caring and vibrant.
We promise to keep you updated when plans begin to evolve.
Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz
Liz Perlman, President
Lisa Gregerman, Executive Director
Dear TBBers,
All of you will have certainly heard the news that Governor Baker has authorized houses of worship to reopen under strict safety guidelines. The city of Somerville is taking a more cautious approach than the state, so TBB and all other houses of worship remain closed per Somerville regulations.
From the Somerville website:
“All additional reopening steps remain on temporary hold as the City assesses the State plan in order to make sure those phases of the reopening are practical and safe for our community. This includes, for example, hair salons, houses of worship, and playgrounds.”
The rabbi and staff and Executive Committee are continuing to monitor local and state information as it is released, and will formulate a plan for reopening when it is possible to do so safely. But right now, we are not anywhere near certainty as to what safety might look like, so while we know you are anxious to be back in our lovely building and together with friends, please be patient. It will be a while.
We are not alone in in our extreme caution about re-opening. Please see the statement released by the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis this afternoon in response below.
Although we remain physically-distanced, we are so happy to see all of you who are joining in our new normal of Zoom prayers and learning, and taking part in all that makes our community caring and vibrant.
We promise to keep you updated when plans begin to evolve.
Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz
Liz Perlman, President
Lisa Gregerman, Executive Director
Statement from the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis Regarding
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Phase 1 Reopening Plan for Houses of Worship
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Phase 1 Reopening Plan for Houses of Worship
It is with great concern for human life that we share with you the following statement.
Jewish tradition teaches that the value of pikuach nefesh, saving a life, comes before all else. The state’s new safety standards raise many questions for clergy, lay leaders, and synagogues. We know our synagogue members are saddened that we cannot gather together for communal worship. We understand the disappointment when life cycle events cannot happen as planned. At the same time, the health and safety of synagogue members, clergy, and staff must be the preeminent Jewish value as we chart a new way forward.
In these days of yearning to be together, we recognize that in other states gathering to worship has hastened the spread of Covid-19 and could jeopardize the progress of these long weeks of being at home. Throughout history, the Jewish community has placed the needs of the kahal and the greater community above all else. Protecting those most vulnerable and ensuring there is no further spread of disease is of the utmost importance and a cornerstone of our Jewish values.
Therefore, the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis maintains that synagogues and Jewish institutions should only physically reopen their spaces when they can be assured of the well-being of their members, especially the most vulnerable amongst us. When the time does come to physically reopen, we are committed to implementing all health and safety best practices as guided by medical experts.
At this challenging moment, we also call upon our government officials to prioritize human life above all else. We do not want our family, friends and neighbors to become statistics. Just as we will rely on expert medical opinions as we proceed with extreme caution, we encourage the leaders of our Commonwealth to do the same.
Finally, we remain committed to all those in our community impacted by the shut-down and Covid-19. We will continue to care for and support those in need and to support our communal organizations.
We pray for the health and safety of our community and our friends and neighbors as we take the next steps forward in responding to this unprecedented communal crisis.
With appreciation for all that you’re doing during these trying times,
The Massachusetts Board of Rabbis Executive Committee:
Rabbi Neal Gold, President
Rabbi Alison Adler
Rabbi Allison Berry
Rabbi Ron Fish
Rabbi Navah Levine
Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow
Rabbi Victor Reinstein
Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Jewish tradition teaches that the value of pikuach nefesh, saving a life, comes before all else. The state’s new safety standards raise many questions for clergy, lay leaders, and synagogues. We know our synagogue members are saddened that we cannot gather together for communal worship. We understand the disappointment when life cycle events cannot happen as planned. At the same time, the health and safety of synagogue members, clergy, and staff must be the preeminent Jewish value as we chart a new way forward.
In these days of yearning to be together, we recognize that in other states gathering to worship has hastened the spread of Covid-19 and could jeopardize the progress of these long weeks of being at home. Throughout history, the Jewish community has placed the needs of the kahal and the greater community above all else. Protecting those most vulnerable and ensuring there is no further spread of disease is of the utmost importance and a cornerstone of our Jewish values.
Therefore, the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis maintains that synagogues and Jewish institutions should only physically reopen their spaces when they can be assured of the well-being of their members, especially the most vulnerable amongst us. When the time does come to physically reopen, we are committed to implementing all health and safety best practices as guided by medical experts.
At this challenging moment, we also call upon our government officials to prioritize human life above all else. We do not want our family, friends and neighbors to become statistics. Just as we will rely on expert medical opinions as we proceed with extreme caution, we encourage the leaders of our Commonwealth to do the same.
Finally, we remain committed to all those in our community impacted by the shut-down and Covid-19. We will continue to care for and support those in need and to support our communal organizations.
We pray for the health and safety of our community and our friends and neighbors as we take the next steps forward in responding to this unprecedented communal crisis.
With appreciation for all that you’re doing during these trying times,
The Massachusetts Board of Rabbis Executive Committee:
Rabbi Neal Gold, President
Rabbi Alison Adler
Rabbi Allison Berry
Rabbi Ron Fish
Rabbi Navah Levine
Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow
Rabbi Victor Reinstein
Rabbi Toba Spitzer
March, 13 2020
Dear TBB community
We were alerted early this morning that one of the parents in our Children's school has tested positive for COVID-19. Her husband and child attended the Purim carnival at the synagogue on Sunday, although she herself did not. Her husband and child are not exhibiting symptoms and are feeling well. None of them attended the Megillah reading Monday night.
We consulted both medical professionals and city officials for guidance. The current recommendation for contact with contacts of a person who is sick is to wash your hands, refrain from touching your face, and practice social distancing.
The family is in 14-day quarantine. There is no requirement for you to self-quarantine, but limiting your contact with others as much as possible is recommended for everyone right now.
Because our building was not fully sanitized after the Purim carnival Sunday, we hope that everyone who came to shul Monday night will also try to limit interactions with others for 48 hours and monitor closely for symptoms.
Because of our limited capacity for cleaning and sanitizing the building, the shul will remain closed for now. We respectfully request that you not enter even if you have a key card or an entry code.
We thank Dr. Brian Green and Jeff Dwoskin, our Security Manager, for consulting with us.
Thank you,
Liz Perlman Eliana Jacobowitz
President Rabbi
March 11, 2020
רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד
“Only be careful and guard yourself very much”
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only be careful and guard yourself very much”
Deuteronomy 4:9
Dearest friends,
Out of an abundance of caution the executive committee, executive director and the religious leadership of our community decided to take the following steps to ensure the safety of all members of our community.
1. Taking effect immediately, classes at the Children’s School and Rabbi Eliana’s b’nai mitzvah class are cancelled. Rabbi Eliana, Shimrit and the teachers are working to create alternative content to keep our children engaged for the time being. More about this in a couple of days.
2. Tot Shabbat – We’ll do it online, and probably in a slightly different format.
3. All our currently scheduled adult ed classes are cancelled.
We will offer new learning opportunities for the coming weeks. These will be online and hopefully a way for us to stay in touch and see each other in what might be a time of relative isolation.
Torah at Panera and 929 (our Shabbat morning Tanach Bible study group) will continue as online classes. Our next meetings will be held at the usual times, and we can decide together if there is a better time for the group for online learning.
4. No in-person Shabbat services - Perhaps the most difficult decision to make was our decision to close the building and not hold Friday and Shabbat services for now. Phil and Rabbi Eliana with the help of Jeff Dwoskin (TBB member and our excellent tech, online meetings, and security person) are working on ways to have online services and we will communicate with you more about this soon.
I know this is a confusing and surreal time for many. The Jewish thing in times of difficulty is to seek out one’s community – the place where we can go for comfort and to support each other. This current situation feels extra difficult because we are told that the safe and responsible thing to do is keep away.
Please know that we are a community even when we are not gathered together at 201 Central Street. You are not alone. We are making every possible effort to hold a sense of community for us as we try to get through the next couple of months. I know not everyone is living with family and that this can be a lonely time. I plan to make a few phone calls daily to chat with folk and see how you are all doing. If you would like a phone call, email and let me know. There will be online discussions and socializing opportunities, as well as opportunities to learn and to study Torah together. If you are unsure how to join or use the online tools we will be using, we have volunteers who will walk you through it.
The rabbis of old interpret Deut. 4:9 and Deut. 4:15 (“you shall guard your souls very much”) in this way: “these verses come to teach that a person must guard their body as to not bring oneself into a state of danger… and even though this is not the simple meaning of these verses in context, our rabbis, may their memory be a blessing, learned from these and created edicts and decrees to bar all the things that put a person in harm’s way. (Levush on shulchan aruch, YD, 116.)
None of us really knows what course this current pandemic will take. Not everyone agrees on the way to slow its progress. We are doing what we deem best while considering that a large part of our community is in the groups that are in heightened risk. We hope you understand and support our decision. Our president Liz and the members of the executive committee are happy to discuss our reasons for making these decisions with you personally if you feel the need.
Please stay safe,
To be continued.
Rabbi Eliana on behalf of all the people mentioned above
Out of an abundance of caution the executive committee, executive director and the religious leadership of our community decided to take the following steps to ensure the safety of all members of our community.
1. Taking effect immediately, classes at the Children’s School and Rabbi Eliana’s b’nai mitzvah class are cancelled. Rabbi Eliana, Shimrit and the teachers are working to create alternative content to keep our children engaged for the time being. More about this in a couple of days.
2. Tot Shabbat – We’ll do it online, and probably in a slightly different format.
3. All our currently scheduled adult ed classes are cancelled.
We will offer new learning opportunities for the coming weeks. These will be online and hopefully a way for us to stay in touch and see each other in what might be a time of relative isolation.
Torah at Panera and 929 (our Shabbat morning Tanach Bible study group) will continue as online classes. Our next meetings will be held at the usual times, and we can decide together if there is a better time for the group for online learning.
4. No in-person Shabbat services - Perhaps the most difficult decision to make was our decision to close the building and not hold Friday and Shabbat services for now. Phil and Rabbi Eliana with the help of Jeff Dwoskin (TBB member and our excellent tech, online meetings, and security person) are working on ways to have online services and we will communicate with you more about this soon.
I know this is a confusing and surreal time for many. The Jewish thing in times of difficulty is to seek out one’s community – the place where we can go for comfort and to support each other. This current situation feels extra difficult because we are told that the safe and responsible thing to do is keep away.
Please know that we are a community even when we are not gathered together at 201 Central Street. You are not alone. We are making every possible effort to hold a sense of community for us as we try to get through the next couple of months. I know not everyone is living with family and that this can be a lonely time. I plan to make a few phone calls daily to chat with folk and see how you are all doing. If you would like a phone call, email and let me know. There will be online discussions and socializing opportunities, as well as opportunities to learn and to study Torah together. If you are unsure how to join or use the online tools we will be using, we have volunteers who will walk you through it.
The rabbis of old interpret Deut. 4:9 and Deut. 4:15 (“you shall guard your souls very much”) in this way: “these verses come to teach that a person must guard their body as to not bring oneself into a state of danger… and even though this is not the simple meaning of these verses in context, our rabbis, may their memory be a blessing, learned from these and created edicts and decrees to bar all the things that put a person in harm’s way. (Levush on shulchan aruch, YD, 116.)
None of us really knows what course this current pandemic will take. Not everyone agrees on the way to slow its progress. We are doing what we deem best while considering that a large part of our community is in the groups that are in heightened risk. We hope you understand and support our decision. Our president Liz and the members of the executive committee are happy to discuss our reasons for making these decisions with you personally if you feel the need.
Please stay safe,
To be continued.
Rabbi Eliana on behalf of all the people mentioned above