Friday Night Services (Registration REQUIRED by Noon on Fridays for IN-PERSON)

December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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CLICK HERE: REGISTATION REQUIRED for In-Person Friday Shabbat Services by NOON 

Note: No in-person service on Friday(s), November 27th or December 4th.
Only on-line viewing available.

Wellness Form (to be submitted the morning of registered service)

We are very excited to announce that Friday Shabbat evening services will resume in our sanctuary. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been our greatest desire to return to the synagogue so that we can celebrate Shabbat as a community. 

The following guidelines outline the steps we are taking and detail our expectations for attendees.

The sanctuary layout will be very different from what we were used to pre-COVID. The only seats in the sanctuary will be those provided for those registered to attend services. Seat groupings will be separated by at least 12 feet. Each family group will be seated together as a pod. The clergy will be distanced from you and behind plexiglass. There will be a designated section of the sanctuary for the technology required to livestream and provide for ZOOM participation. The sanctuary will be cleaned before the service and, when possible, doors to the outside will be left open to maximize air ventilation.

In addition to the above, the following guidelines have been established to provide for maximum safety for participants.

  • Services will be limited to 20 people.
  • No one will be granted entry to the temple without a mask. A mask covering the mouth and nose must be worn at all times while inside the temple.
  • Each attendee will be asked to complete a COVID screening form available at registration. Additionally, we ask that each attendee take their temperature. Anyone with a temperature of 100 degrees or above will not be permitted to enter the synagogue.
  • Anyone who has visited one of the states listed on New York’s Quarantine List must quarantine for 14 days in New York in order to be permitted into the temple. 
  • All attendees will enter through the main doors. If there is a group entering ahead of you, please wait until that group has checked in before you enter.
  • When arriving, you must identify yourself to the temple representative at the door and verify that you submitted the wellness form the day of the registered service (see registration button above), and that your temperature is below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Only those who have pre-registered will be permitted into the building.
  • Upon entry into the building, each individual must clean his/her hands with the alcohol-based sanitizer that is available at the entrance.
  • Seats in the sanctuary will be reserved by name. Prayer books and any additional handouts will be placed on the seats ahead of time and should be left on the seats at the end of the service.
  • Because doors to the sanctuary will likely remain open, please encourage guests to dress accordingly.
  • Restrooms and the coatroom will be limited to use by one person at a time.
  • Kippot and Tallitot will not be supplied by the synagogue.
  • Water fountains will not be in use.
  • In an effort to stagger departures from the sanctuary, the usher will dismiss attendees by group.

Despite all of these efforts, please know that we cannot guarantee a COVID free environment. If you or any of your guests are at HIGH RISK from the virus, we recommend you not attend. The Centers for Disease Control defines “high risk” on its website here. Please remember that our ability to continue to welcome people into our sanctuary is contingent upon county and state guidelines.

Lastly and very importantly, if anyone who has attended a shabbat service, develops any symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19 in the 14-days following, it is imperative that they immediately call the Temple Israel of New Rochelle office and leave a detailed message for Executive Director, Anita Aronoff at (914) 235.1800, ext. 214.

The importance of full compliance with these measures cannot be overstated. We appreciate your cooperation, support, flexibility, and patience.

We look forward to working with you to make these Friday services as safe and meaningful as possible.

Rich Alter, President
Anita Aronoff, Executive Director
Deborah Hirsch, Interim
Randall Schloss, Cantor