Temple Emanu-El High Holy Days 2020
After careful consideration and advice from expert medical counsel, the Board of Trustees has decided to offer robust, virtual services to the majority of the congregation. Unfortunately, with health and safety as our highest priority, Emanu-El is unable to welcome all, or even a large portion, of congregants back into the building for in-person worship.
For 175 years, Temple Emanu-El has been open for the High Holy Days and we want 5781 to be no exception. Therefore, we can invite a smaller segment of our membership, up to 100 individuals, to join us for services during the High Holy Days. In a special gesture to honor members most profoundly affected by the pandemic—assuming conditions remain safe for a smaller gathering—we will invite those who are:
- Front-line workers, first responders and medical professionals — those who had to work to provide essential services at the height of this pandemic
- Members who lost a loved one since Yom Kippur last year
- Members who had to cancel spring and summer life-cycle events due to quarantine
If you are within this cohort, we invite you to express your interest in joining us for a High Holy Day service below.
In-person services will strictly adhere to State and City Department of Health guidelines. Should those guidelines or circumstances change, our plans will be modified accordingly. Appropriate safety measures will be taken, including mandatory:
- Contact-tracing forms submitted within 24 hours prior to service attendance
- Temperature checks upon entry
- At least twelve-foot social distancing
- Mask-wearing at all times
- Timed entry and exit: Tickets will state specific arrival times, up to 45 minutes prior to the service start. Dismissal will be staggered and attendees should be prepared to exit up to 30 minutes after the service ends.
- Building air handling systems meet safety requirements, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols will be maintained.
- If you have traveled to a state or country that currently requires a quarantine upon return to NY, we ask that you not join us at this time.
We understand that readiness to participate in in-person religious services is a personal decision, based on a variety of factors. We do not encourage anyone to attend if you are, or someone with whom you have close contact is, in a high-risk category based on age or medical condition, or if you do not feel ready.