News from the Re-Entry Task Force: Preparing the Road to Re-Opening. 

We still don’t know when CBS will re-open for Shabbat services, but we are making sure we will be ready when the time comes. 

Supplies
We have been working hard to identify the supplies we will need to re-open and where we will get them. Our focus here is on maintaining social distancing and minimizing opportunities for transmission of the coronavirus. 

This week, the Board of Trustees authorized us to move forward with acquiring materials for: 

Building Readiness (Acrylic shields, air purifiers, extra trash cans, etc.) Personal Protective Equipment (Masks, gloves, sanitizer stations, etc.) Movement Control (Barriers, carts, signage, etc.) 

We believe that when we do re-open (whether it is soon or in several months), we will need all of these items, so there is no downside in acquiring them now, while supplies are available. In fact, some are already on backorder, so we will have to get in line. 

Procedures
In keeping with our focus on social distancing and minimizing transmission, we are also developing procedures for determining how many people we can safely accommodate for a Shabbat service and defining limitations on activities in the sanctuary and parking lot. As we mentioned two weeks ago in a previous Task Force update (available, along with other past Updates, at the Re-Entry Task Force page on the CBS website), these restrictions will probably include the following: 

  • In order to maintain the required social distancing, only a limited number of people will be able to attend on any given Shabbat. 
  • Those who come to services will be required to register in advance so that we can control the attendance levels. 
  • On arrival, attendees will be asked to wait in their cars before joining a line for screening. 
  • To prevent spread of the disease, attendees will be asked not to interact with their friends, except from a distance of six feet or more. 
  • Because the disease spreads primarily through the air, no singing or chanting will be allowed, except by prayer leaders. 
  • Attendees will be asked to leave right after the service ends. 

We realize that all of these restrictions detract from the Shabbat experience, but they are consistent with CDC guidelines and are necessary to hold down the spread of COVID-19. 

We will be in touch again next week with another update. 

Steve Shepard
Re-Entry Task Force Chair