Dear Emanuel Family:
This week marks the second anniversary of our having to take extreme action to keep ourselves as safe as possible from COVID-19. We are proud that no Emanuel-sanctioned event resulted in COVID spread. At the same time, we realize many of our congregants, families and friends have been sickened by this awful illness. Countless others have been indirectly affected. While this scourge has waned in the last months and days, it appears the best we can say is it will change from pandemic to endemic. That is, we hope it will be something we can live with thanks to the tools we have (vaccination and many drugs now available, at-home testing, etc). This is not the time to throw all caution to the wind but a time to reflect and reorganize ourselves in light of our highest values, especially the sanctity of life (pikuach nefesh). At Emanuel, we always put the safety and health of our people first.
Two years ago, our COVID-19 Task Force devised guidelines that worked to keep us safe. I thank all those who served on our Task Force as well as our medical subcommittee professionals who have given so much guidance in these last two years. We always said the CDC would provide us with a baseline. The Emanuel Synagogue Board of Trustees voted to empower the Rabbi, Executive Director and the President, in consultation with the Medical Subcommittee of our Task Force, to make changes to our COVID policies as circumstances would dictate which would be safe and appropriate.
The last week in February, we were still in a “County (Hartford) of High Transmission,” according to CDC guidelines (hence, mask wearing inside public spaces was advised). By that Friday, the CDC published new guidelines indicating they had changed the metrics by which they determined the level of transmission. Less import was placed on the percentage of positive cases and more emphasis was placed on the rate of hospitalizations and deaths. As a result, transmission in Hartford County was deemed to be “Low Transmission” and the mask advisory was dropped. This continues to be the case today; and therefore, The Emanuel will adhere to these guidelines.
• Masking will be optional INSIDE our building as of: Saturday, March 19.
• Daily Minyan will resume ON SITE, AM & PM as of: Sunday, March 20.
• The Religious School will be MASK OPTIONAL beginning: March 20.
We understand this decision may not please everyone. We realize some people will choose to stay home and enjoy services through Zoom/Livestream. We will continue to provide these Zoom and Livestream services for the forseeable future. Some people will choose not to eat in a room filled with unmasked guests. We all make choices and we fully respect your choices.
Rabbi Small, Hazzan Risman, Hazzan Pinchover and our gabbayim will reintroduce lay honors that have been limited during the last two years, such as opening the Ark and carrying the Torah. We have begun to open Koret Hall as well as the Main Sanctuary for seating during Saturday morning services. There is ample seating there for anyone who needs more space than our Sanctuary affords.
Please respect our custodial staff and our office staff and allow them their personal space. The Religious School will continue to use their discretion in setting COVID policies. We will continue to monitor CDC guidelines as optional masking applies only to “Counties of Low Transmission,” as Hartford County is currently. If necessary, as in the past, we will change our guidelines when appropriate. We encourage you to read the CDC guidelines. Masking is still suggested for unvaccinated persons and the elderly and immunocompromised as well as for those who simply prefer to wear a mask.
Please note:
• It is more important than ever for those who are experiencing COVID-related health symptoms not to enter The Emanuel. Do not come into the building if you are ill (including Positive Test), have any symptoms, fevers or have been in the presence of someone known to have COVID.
• Do continue good health practices such as distancing and hand washing.
• Do closely monitor your health. Stay home, test, and quarantine, if necessary.
• Let’s all take care of ourselves and each other as we hopefully turn this page and gather in greater numbers for joyous celebrations, as we just did for a wonderful Purim celebration.
We have already resumed in person Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat Services. We are resuming in person prayer services seven days a week, morning and evening. We are planning a Shabbat of Gratitude for June 18 in the hope this June will be a time for us to give thanks for having come through this time together. And let us not forget as we move forward that we are, sadly, in a time of war (even if not on our shores) and keep the people of Ukraine, with whom we have many ties, in our hearts and pray for an early cessation of the fighting.
In Peace and Health,
Ken Simon
President, Emanuel Board of Trustees
