Dear Sinai Temple Community,
We know that many of you have questions about the Coronavirus and how Sinai Temple and its schools are working to respond to potential threats. We want to assure you that we take the health and safety of our community very seriously. Our staff is working diligently alongside medical professionals and local health officials to monitor the spread of the virus and its local impacts.
Below are a few helpful resources and notes about community-wide safety measures and protocol.
Monitor Your Health & Stay Home If Sick
In addition to concern about Coronavirus, we have had a prolific flu season. We want to continue to do everything we can to avoid an outbreak in our schools and synagogue. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, a flushed appearance and/or sweating. Please be considerate of others and do not come to school/Temple if you feel ill or exhibit any of these symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that students stay home if they are sick with flu-like symptoms until at least 24 hours after they are fever-free without the use of an antipyretic medications (aspirin, acetaminophen/paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.).
Prevention & Treatment
We encourage you to review
this information
from the CDC on how to stay healthy and prevent illness. Things like regular hand-washing and covering your mouth when you sneeze are crucial.
Temple & School Protocols
We have consulted with several infectious disease doctors who have helped us develop a plan to help keep our community as healthy as possible. The building will continue to be cleaned diligently and we encourage regular hand washing throughout the day to prevent the spread of germs. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the building, including in offices, every classroom and in all the gymnasiums. As the news of the Coronavirus develops, we will continue to evaluate additional practices we may want to implement.
For this Shabbat and moving forward as needed, we will take the following precautions:
-Rather than greeting your friends “Shabbat Shalom” with a handshake, hug or kiss,
please greet with a spoken message only
.
-One of the ways germs are transferred is through touching something that others have already touched. Therefore,
we will not bring the Torah down into the pews
where people regularly kiss their fingers, touch the Torah, etc. So that you are still able to bless the Torah, immediately following services the ark will remain open and you may stand before it for private prayer.
These proactive measures are for the welfare of the entire community and we thank you in advance for your compliance and patience as we work together to keep our community safe. This is not a time for panic, but rather a time for prudence.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Temple or our schools directly. You may also reply to this e-mail.
Warmly,
Howard Lesner, Executive Director & COO
Betty Winn, Interim Head of Sinai Akiba Academy
Danielle Kassin, Religious School Director
