Following a meeting between doctors, rabbonim and representatives of 63 Crown Heights shuls, guidelines were issued for reopening shuls in the community.
In an unprecedented ZOOM Achdus meeting representing the majority of Shuls in Crown Heights to discuss the potential reopening of our Shuls.
The meeting was held upon the request of Dr. Shlomie Minkowitz of the Gedalia Society and was hosted by Rabbi Lazer Avtzon of the Association of CH Shuls.
The meeting was moderated by Dr. Minkowitz and Lazer Avtzon and the discussion was led by Harav Yosef Braun and Dr. Eli Rosen.
Guidelines for indoor minyanim in Crown Heights, current as of 28 Iyar.
- Every shul must appoint a “COVID memunah” to ensure the following guidelines are kept
- Only 10 people total inside at a time, in line with current NYS law.
- Anyone above age 65 who has not been sick yet (or does not have
- antibodies) should not attend an indoor minyan at this time.
- Nobody currently ill or recently ill may attend
- People who choose to attend an indoor minyan should not “minyan hop” between different indoor minyanim; they should stick to the same group of 10 wherever feasible
- At least 6 feet distance should be maintained between all those inside
- All those inside should wear masks
- Everyone should use Purell/disinfectant on their hands upon entry and exit.
- Garbage cans should be available for dirty tissues and the like
- No refreshments (coffee, mezonos) should be served
- Time spent in shul should be purely for davening/layning. There should be no speeches, socializing, farbrenging, etc.
- Only one person should use the restroom at a time
- There should be no kissing the sefer torah, mantel, etc. The oleh l’torah can touch his tallis to the klaf and then kiss the tallis.
- The baal koreh should be the one to take the Sefer Torah from the Aron the Bimah.
- The magbiah takes the Sefer Torah back to the Aron.
- A mask should be worn by the magbiah and golel. Although everyone is asked to wear a mask, this is being reiterated here for emphasis.
Regarding someone getting an aliyah:
- A mask should be worn by the oleh letorah. Although everyone is asked to wear a mask, this is being reiterated here for emphasis. The baal koreh should wear a mask as well, to the extent feasible.
- Only someone who has already been sick or has antibodies may get an aliyah
- The oleh letorah and baal koreh should, to the extent possible, not face each other during the layning.
If you do not think your shul can adhere to the above guidelines, an indoor
minyan should not be conducted.
Outdoor minyanim (with safety guidelines followed), in particular porch
minyanim, are still preferable from a safety point of view, if feasible, and should be maintained wherever possible.
In addition to the safety issue, this will assist with the overflow of those
who won’t be covered by the indoor minyanim based on the NYS law.
If NYS law changes after the writing of these guidelines, they will be updated accordingly.
Similarly, if the situation in our local community changes (we begin to see new cases, chas veshalom), these guidelines will be updated accordingly.
בברכת קבלת התורה בשמחה ובפנימיות
Reminder:
● Any new COVID-like illness in our community MUST be registered here: New Covid Registry. This is critically important.
● If you haven’t filled out the general community survey, please do so here:
COVID/Antibody survey
The following 63 Shuls confirmed their participation in the meeting:
770
94 Shul
95 Shul
96 Shul
Agudah
Aliya
Anshei Chayil
Anshei Maaseh
Anshei Moshe
Anshei Lubavitch
Anshei Rubashov
Bais Binyamin
Bais Dovid / F.R.E.E.
Bais Eliezer Yitzchok
Bais Gimple
Bais Levi Yitzchok
Bais Menachem Mendel
Bais Shmuel Chabad
Beinoni Shul
Besht Shul
Best Shul
Bnai Shlomo Zalman / Frenkel
CAY
Chabad of Remsen Village
Chadash Shul
Chevra Shas
Cong Anash Chabad /935
Crown Heights shul
CYY@825
Der Shtiebel
Eliyahu Nochum /Lefferts Shul
Empire Shtiebel
Friendship Circle Shul
Getzels
Hadar Hatorah
Itzchkes Shtiebel
Kehillas Chabad E. Flatbush
Kingsbrook Hospital Shul
Khal Bais Rivkah
Khal Chassidim
Kollel Avreichim
Ksav Sofer
Lincoln Place
Mayanot
Merkaz Sefarad Chabad
Minyan @ the Chabad House /M@TCH
Minyan Avreichim
Mishkan Moshe
Mountain Lodge Shul
Murphys Shul /Chovevei
Nimni
Nossons Shul
Ohel Nosson
Persian Center
Rayim Ahuvim
Reiness Shul
Shain’s Shul
Shea’s Minyan
Sosnitz
The Mitzvah Center
The Shul
The Shull
Unzer Shul
Unfortunately the organizers did not have contact information for other Shuls.
To be included in the Association of CH Shuls please contact Rabbi Avtzon at [email protected].
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