Re-Opening Procedures

As of July 30, 2020

In consideration of our return to in person gatherings we will be following the recommendations of the New City Jewish Center Reopening Task Force, which is developing an evolving plan for reopening for services based on:

1. Health Science. We continue to learn more about transmission, protection, safe gathering practiced from health specialists, specifically from the CDC, who have offered both general and specific guidelines impacting religious institutions.

2. Federal, State, and Local regulations and guidelines. We will adhere to all legal requirements around gathering. NCJC will not adopt any practices less restrictive than the law allows, even as the legality of gatherings is less restrictive, NCJC will prioritize the health and wellness of our entire congregational family, with special concern for those who are most vulnerable, over legal allowances.

3. Jewish values and specifically New City Jewish Center’s values and mission.

PHASE ONE

● All worship and programming will continue virtually to allow vulnerable members to remain active participants in synagogue life. Adult education, committee meetings as well Youth Group activities will take place exclusively through "virtual" teleconferencing.

●  If the situation allows, some services and family programs may be held outdoors.

●  Rescheduled Bar/Bat Mitzvah services will begin August 15th.

●  At this time, all other services will continue to take place virtually.

Preparation

●  The building will be cleaned and sanitized before each service with approved cleaners for COVID-19. Hand Sanitizing stations will be provided at the entrance to the Synagogue, Sanctuary, bathroom Hallway and center of Langerman, both podiums and Torah reading table.

●  Everyone will enter the building through the main building doors. All individuals entering the building must wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth. Masks must be worn at all times while inside our building!

●  At the conclusion of the service all participants will be directed how and when to exit the building so that the number of people exiting at one time can be controlled safely. The exit instructions will come from our clergy on the bimah.

Attendance
By attending a service at NCJC you do so at your own risk and agree to follow all rules and instructions:

●  The maximum building capacity for any service may be as low as 50 people, including clergy and staff. This number may be adjusted as CDC protocols evolve.

●  Pre-Registration is required to attend any "in person service". An online form will be published on the NCJC website to register for the Service (at the present time Shabbat morning only). Registration will be closed after reaching capacity. Please wait for a confirmation to acknowledge your participation in the service. Please note: Registration is per person and NOT per family.

●  Bar/Bat Mitzvah families have priority over the spaces allotted for attendance. Registration for all B’nai Mitzvah guests must be submitted to the NCJC office by 5:00pm the Sunday before the Simcha.

●  Unaccounted-for spaces will be available to our NCJC members for registration beginning the next day, Monday. Registration information and forms will be published on the NCJC website. Priority will be given to NCJC members who are saying kaddish in a period of mourning or observing a yahrzeit. Guests will be asked for contact information and will also need to sign a COVID-19 waiver.

●  All Contact and registration information will only be used for contact tracing should someone become ill with COVID-19 after attending any service.

●  All service participants will be asked to sign a COVID-19 waiver prior to entering the building. You are only required to sign the waiver once.

●  It is essential that anyone with signs of COVID-19, as defined by the CDC, not attend any service.

o  If you registered and subsequently develop any signs or symptoms, please withdraw from attendance out of respect to the other worshipers.

o  Please do not convince yourself that you will “socially distance” sufficiently to avoid creating a danger or that your symptoms are NOT Covid-19.

o  Please see the CDC list of symptoms below.

o  Please see the CDC website for more information with regards to those who are most at risk: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html.

Protocols and Requirements

●  As per CDC guidelines, everyone entering the building will be required to wear a face mask that covers both the mouth and nose.

●  The mask must be worn at all times while on the NCJC premises, including during the service. There are no exceptions!

●  Individuals who cannot wear masks due to medical conditions will be asked to enjoy the service via zoom or live stream.

●  Greeters will be stationed outside our building checking registrations, giving seat assignments and enforcing the NCJC mask policy (masks will be provided if needed). Everyone entering the building will have their temperature taken using a contactless thermometer.

●  Anyone with a fever of 100.4 or above will be denied entry.

●  The name and contact of everyone entering the building will be confirmed.

●  Screening questions will be asked.

●  All attendees must maintain a minimum of 10 feet distance from all others, except for immediate family members, caretakers, or romantic partners.

●  Seating will only be in the designated spots in the sanctuary. All other areas will be blocked off and cannot be used.

●  Please sit in your assigned seat.

●  Sanctuary and occupied seats will be cleaned and sanitized after each use.

●  No Tallit or Kippot will be provided.

●  Prayer books will be placed in the assigned pews only.

●  All books will be sanitized after each use according to book handling protocols.

●  The Lobby, Sanctuary, Bathroom and Hallway will be the only areas designated for general use. The remainder of the building will be restricted.

●  The Bridal room will only be used as a ‘sickroom”.

●  The bathrooms are for single occupancy and will be sanitized after each use.

●  Directions will be given for exiting the building.

●  Everyone is asked to leave the building immediately upon the completion of services as directed by our clergy. Please do not linger or approach our clergy.

● At the current time, we will not be providing a Shabbat Kiddush following services.

Ritual observances

In order to comply with CDC guidelines and to maintain proper social distancing the following will be observed:

●  Torah readers will be limited to the Rabbis, the Cantor and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah or designated Torah reader.

●  Clergy will stand 10 feet away from each other and the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah child while on the bimah and during Torah reading.

●  All honors (Ark opening, Processional, Hagbah - Lifting Torah, Gellilah - Wrapping Torah, Closing Ark, Recessional, Aliyah blessings, Prayer for Country, Prayer for Israel) will be done from the seats with the exception of Torah reading.

o We will be happy to offer aliyot to multiple individuals. Aliyot and parent's blessing will be done from the congregants’ seats.

o The Torah will NOT be carried around the congregation.

o The Torah will also be taken out of and replaced in the Ark by clergy only.

●  Singing is prohibited during the service! We respectfully ask that you hum instead.

●  All podiums will be covered in plastic and changed after each use.

●  Plastic shields will also be placed on the two permanent podiums and a portable one placed on the reader’s table.

Following the Service and Contact tracing

● If any congregant or guest should test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of attending a service, you are required to inform Jessica Trokel at 845-480-4311.

● Others present will be notified of this occurrence.

o The identity of such individuals will be kept confidential to the extent possible, except as required by the Department of Health.

o Reporting is a critical element for contact tracing to contain or control the spread of this disease.

CDC List of COVID-19 SYMPTOMS 

People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. We will continue to update this list as we learn more from the CDC about COVID-19.