Dear Friends:
We are creators, improvisers, innovators. We can’t control the nature of the coronavirus, but we can respond to it with imagination and determination.
We urge you to stay calm, take care of your and your family’s health! Fear and anxiety are natural responses in difficult times. Another human impulse is to come together as a community, solve problems, support one another, and make the most of it.
Our leadership is doing everything possible to maintain our normal activities while being prudent about everyone's safety and wellbeing. We are continuously monitoring the situation and making contingency plans for any changes that we need to make in our regular programming and activities. With your help and cooperation, we will overcome this latest challenge together.
Shabbat Observances This Weekend
There will be Shabbat Services at Kol Tikvah this evening at 7:30 pm led by Larry Schwartz.
If you are unable to come to services or are concerned about doing so tonight, you can watch the BART Shabbat Service from the comfort of your own home in your PJs with popcorn. The Service begins at 7:30 pm; Rabbi Boxman will be leading part of the Service.
Whether or not you come to synagogue, we encourage our families to celebrate Shabbat at home. Here are some ideas for making the experience meaningful.
We love to share food as a community. Please do your part to prevent the spread of germs by always using a utensil (tongs, spoon, or serving fork) to serve yourself or others at onegs or other events. Use a fresh plate if you take a little more food. Use a new cup every time you pour a drink, and do not share cups or eating utensils. Don't share cookies or bagels by breaking in half with your hands - please use a knife.
Sunday Night Activities
The Israel Trip Reunion and Book Club that were scheduled for this Sunday night have been cancelled.
Classes and Other Activities
At the moment, all our regular activities scheduled for next week are still taking place, with modifications as appropriate. For instance, youth group will not be taking field trips – activities will take place on campus. Classes that are in tight quarters (e.g., Jewish History, Bagels & Bible) may move to larger spaces where students can spread out more. The Schools have updated protocols – those have been emailed to parents under separate cover.
Social Distancing
Stress and fatigue lower our immune response. So let’s all stay as calm as possible, make thoughtful plans, and take care of ourselves on a daily basis.
While we pride ourselves on being a warm and embracing community, common sense precautionary measures dictate that we all engage in “social distancing.” We have a shared, communal space, with people of all ages - from the very young to the very old – who gather here. Please help us and the community protect the vulnerable in our midst by taking the steps below:
- Avoid handshakes, hugs, and even such things as touching/kissing the Torah, a Siddur or Mezzuzahs. These important guidelines are being implemented in shuls around the country.
- If you are sick or your immune system is compromised, have a fever or are not feeling well, please do not come to synagogue. Be sure to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to use the facilities or participate in any programs. This is to prevent further spread of germs that can pose a risk to you and others around you.
- Wash your hands often. See Rabbi’s Facebook post on handwashing.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- If you need to cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your arm or a tissue that is then thrown away. Follow that with handwashing. Please teach these practices to your children.
- If you have been travelling, please consider not returning to synagogue. Familiarize yourself with information about the areas where infection rates are high, and the chance for the disease is heightened. Local, state and national health agencies are recommending/mandating self quarantine for certain travelers.
Our maintenance staff are doing additional rounds of cleaning and sanitizing to help minimize the transmission of germs during any activities taking place in our facilities.
Interactions with Administrative Staff
Our staff are here to help our congregants and ECC families with whatever questions they may have. In this sensitive time, we encourage everyone to ask their questions via phone. If you wish to speak to staff in person, we will invite people into the office one at a time. We will use the breezeway as a waiting area.
Future Activities
Staff are making plans to conduct business virtually, should that become necessary. We also are making plans to be able to stay in contact with all of our families should we need to close so please don’t be surprised if a Kol Tikvah ambassador calls you.
As we have all learned in recent days, this situation is fluid and may require us to make additional decisions in the days and weeks ahead. Please continue to check your email, our website, and Facebook pages for updates.
We recognize that we are entering new and uncharted territory, and uncertainty can generate anxiety and fear. As a people, we have faced many frightening and uncertain moments. We are first and foremost a kehillah kedoshah (a sacred community) and Kol Tikvah (the Voice of Hope). Our spirit, at our best, has been to be positive, to innovate, to make the best of it all. Let’s work together to improvise and innovate. Let’s care for one another through these hard times.
We wish you all the best and can promise you that the team of leaders here is working hard to make the best decisions we can given the uncertainties that lie ahead. Thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding on this matter.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact any of us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bradd Boxman
President Barbara Weinstein
Executive Director Jennifer Levin-Tavares
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