BJC COVID-Guidelines

Dear Beth Jacob Community,

Please sign up for services here .

Here are the current guidelines for attending services or groups at BJC. (Anyone with possible COVID symptoms should not attend services or other events, even if masked.)

Masks:

• In light of the CDC, State and County’s recent strong recommendations that all individuals wear masks indoors in areas of high or substantial COVID infection rates (Alameda County is currently ranked “high”), the BJC Reopening Committee has made the difficult decision to require masking of all individuals over the age of 2 – vaccinated or unvaccinated – while indoors on the BJC campus.

Attendance / Signups:

• We will no longer require signups to attend Shabbat morning or Yom Tov morning services.

• We will continue to request advanced signups for other services (i.e., all weekday minyanim). The signup process no longer asks COVID-related questions. Please sign up for services here.

• No one should attend services if they have any symptoms of flu or cold. If you are coughing or sneezing, please stay home.

Distancing and Tefilot

• There will no longer be social distancing or podded seating required at shul.

• The COVID barrier will no longer be used for Torah reading, and we will resume using the Bimah in the center of the sanctuary.

• Singing is encouraged.

Accommodations:

• The doors to the sanctuary will remain open for all services, and chairs will be available for outdoor seating for individuals who would prefer to remain outdoors and distanced.

• A limited number of chairs will be placed in the front of the men’s and women’s sections on Shabbat at a six-foot distance from the pews. We ask that these seats remain reserved for individuals who wish to remain distanced for health reasons.

Youth Programs:

• Youth groups will continue to require social distancing and mask-wearing for all children younger than 12. Some children's activities will take place in the upstairs social hall with open windows and strong ventilation. 

• Adults and teens who are working with children will remain masked. This includes staff at Gan Mah Tov, as well as group leaders on Shabbat. We ask that parents who are dropping off their children follow this guideline as well when arriving or picking up from youth programs.

We can't wait to see you in shul!

Shabbat Shalom,  

Rabbi Gershon Albert
Lilly Krenn, Executive Director