California Rabbonim Issue Shul Opening Guidelines

By COLlive reporter

The state of California released new guidelines Monday to allow for the reopening of Synagogues and other places of worship, paving the way for Shavuos services to be able to be held in many Shuls and Chabad centers.

The new guidelines state that houses of worship may be open but should limit attendance to 25% capacity or 100 attendees, whichever is lower.

They also state that staff, volunteers and congregants are strongly recommended to wear face masks when in the vicinity of others, congregants should be screened for temperature and other symptoms, and sharing of prayer books and religious articles should be discouraged.

They also call for high traffic areas, like pews and lobbies, to be frequently disinfected, services should be shortened to minimize congregating, and seating and podium areas must be rearranged to allow for 6 feet of space between people.

The Rabbonim of California has released a set of guidelines, signed by Rabbi Boruch S. Cunin, Rabbi Ezra B. Schochet, Rabbi Yosef Y Shusterman and Rabbi Shimon Raichik, for Chabad House and Chabad community Shuls to adhere to in order to reopen.

“Baruch Hashem we are finally able to open the shuls/Minyan but at the same time, we are very, very concerned about people’s health and therefore in order for this to work we need to be conscious and continue to follow safety guidelines,” they wrote.

The list below are guidelines for Minyonim for Shavuos 5780 and are in addition to guidelines of our State, County and City. If people do not adhere to these rules on Shavuos, there will be no choice but not to allow future Minyonim for Shabbos and weekdays.

There must be one person designated per Shul (and per Minyan, if more than one Minyan) to ensure compliance with all safety rules (such as masks, only registered people allowed, social distancing, etc.) with the authority to ask whoever refuses to comply to leave the premises and not be able to come back. A shul that has more than one Minyan needs to appoint one person to make sure that no one remains inside after the last Minyan is finished before the Shul is locked.

The Shul must be sanitized before Yom Tov and on Yom Tov after each Minyan by a goy.

Arrange chairs/tables in advance to maintain social distancing guidelines.

People must register in advance for the Minyan. Only designated people to be allowed in. If need be the person in charge should lock the shul once Minyan starts.

No one is allowed in unless they are wearing a mask. (Have extra masks available.) Control entrance and exit so that people come in and out one by one.

No one with the virus or virus-like symptoms may come to Minyan.

Tell people who are 65 years and older or who have high-risk conditions to consult with their doctor about attending. If they have concerns, they should not come and they should not feel guilty about not attending.

Davening should be as short and proper as possible. No Kiddush/food served.

Tell people to bring their own Sidurim in a zip-lock bag with their name marked on the bag.

No one to bring food in. No one to congregate. Tell people that the bathrooms are closed.

Preferably, make the Minyan outside. If that is not possible there needs to be the maximum air
circulation possible such as having all doors and windows open.

No children under Bar or Bas Mitzva to attend regular Minyonim.

For Musaf, any Cohen doing Birchas HaCohen, washes their own hands.

RULES FOR MINCHA/MAARIV (if you make a Minyan then)

First night of Shavous, tell people in advance to daven Mincha at home and only come for Maariv (which has to be after צה”כ ). Second night, daven Mincha right before שקיעה followed immediately by מעריב
(and remind people to say קריאת שמע after .(צה”כ

RULES FOR KRIYAH

Sanitize the Torah Crowns before Yom Tov. Even so, only someone with gloves should handle them. Only the בעל קורא takes out the Torah. He should be wearing gloves. No one is to kiss the Torah.

There are three options for 1 . קריאה ) The בעל קורא gets all the 2 .עליות ) The עולה does not go up the Torah rather he makes the ברכה from his place. 3) The בעל קורא moves away and the עולה goes up the Torah makes the ברכה (but does not kiss the Torah, or even touches the Torah unless he is wearing gloves). After the first ברכה he moves away at least six foot, waits for the בעל קורא to finish and move away, then the עולה goes back up and makes the last ברכה and then returns to his place.

The בעל קורא does הגבהה and then puts the Torah down on the Bima, wraps the Torah with the Gartel and then puts on the Mantle. The Torah Crown is put back on when the Torah is returned to the .ארון

AFTERNOON KRIYAS HATORAH FOR WOMEN AND KIDS WITH 10 ADULT MEN

We know how the much Rebbe encouraged even small kids to hear the עשרת הדברות yet this Kriyah can only be done if you know that things will not get out of control creating ח”ו a danger for others.

It is essential to be very careful about this.

There must be one person responsible to make sure that everyone has a mask and that social distancing (eight feet recommend for kids ) is maintained. The Kriyah is short so it should be possible to maintain the children’s focus.

Parents must register their children in advance. Based on this registration you will know how to set up in advance the chairs/tables for social distancing. Family members should be seated together, fathers with their sons (six and up), mothers with their daughters (and boys six and younger). כמובן with a .מחיצה

Please direct any questions you have either to the Head Office or to one of the Rabonim.