Temple Isaiah &
Covid-19
UPDATE: JULY 7, 2021
Welcome back to Isaiah!
We are thrilled to be making this announcement as we open our doors once again to our Isaiah community. We can’t wait to gather with you in our sanctuary, see your faces as you step into our newly renovated Joan and Ephraim Sales Community Center and welcome back our K12 Education and Engagement programming in person starting in the Fall. While we know it’s challenging to constantly reassess protocols, our first priority is to always keep you safe as best we can. With that said, we want to stay responsive to new information and below are our operating procedures effective immediately for July and August.
Golf course parking is now open!
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – closing after Friday Night Services
Please be mindful of the following guidelines in place at Temple Isaiah. There will be signage posted at all entrances reminding you of these protocols.
By coming on-site at Isaiah, you are self-attesting to the below conditions:
1. You have not had any of the following symptoms with the last 10 days: fever (at or above 100.4°F ), chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell
2. You are not currently subject to a Health Officer Isolation or Quarantine order.
3. You have not been in contact with a person known to have COVID-19 in the past 10 days, unless you are fully vaccinated.
Vaccinations
We strongly encourage all congregants and community members to get vaccinated as they become eligible. When coming on-site you may be asked, in person or through a registration form, of your vaccination status. This is to protect those in our community, children under 12 or those with medical exemptions, who are unable to receive a vaccine at this time.
Masks
- During school hours, masks are required while traveling through the Temple, whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, as children are present and are currently unable to be vaccinated.
- If attending an event on-site after school hours and when children (under 12 years old) are not present, masking is optional for fully vaccinated individuals. Masking continues to be required fo unvaccinated individuals at all times.
- When you have arrived at the program/event location, you can follow the specific program guidelines detailed below.
We understand that State guidelines have recently come out to say no masks are required outdoors for any groups, vaccinated or unvaccinated, however we are choosing to take thoughtful steps towards that goal. As of now we are still requiring unvaccinated individuals to wears masks at all times, whether indoors or outdoors. We are continuously reevaluating our protocols and will send updates as we progress. - LA County made the strong suggestion ** its recommended to mask up indoors for all unvaccinated and unvaccinated.
Friday Night Services are Outdoors in July
- All of July, we will be having our Friday Night Services outdoors on the deck. All Isaiah families are welcome. RSVP is required and can be found on our Temple website.
- While outdoors, masking is optional for vaccinated attendees. Unvaccinated adults and children between 2 and 12 years old will be required to wear a mask. Seating will not be separated by family so please consider your comfort level before RSVPing for services.
- There will be no food served or allowed at Friday Night Services in July. Please bring reusable water bottles for yourself.
- We will continue to stream services on our Temple website and on Facebook for everyone who would like to join virtually.
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremonies
- Beginning August 1, we will offer indoor services in the Sanctuary as an option for B’nai Mitzvah Ceremonies. As we expect these gatherings to include a mixture of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (especially family/friends under age 12), all attendees will be expected to wear masks to achieve our highest level of safety, with the exception of Clergy and Bnai Mitzvah Student (all vaccinated) who may choose to unmask for the ceremony.
- Vaccinated individuals coming up to the Bima to recite a blessing or aliyot may remove their mask during blessing and then promptly return to mask before being seated.
- Outdoor services are still available, if desired. Friday night service guide above applies if choosing outdoor service.
- There is no food served at B’nai Mitzvahs ceremonies and we have not yet opened up to host post ceremony celebrations. We will continue to re-evaluate and have a future update when we are ready for hosting events on site safely.
Adult Programming
- If attending an event for any of Isaiah’s adult groups, once you arrive at the event location, masking is optional for vaccinated attendees. Unvaccinated adults are required to wear masks.
- Food is permitted at adult-only programs, with the reminder that unvaccinated individuals are required to keep masks on unless they can keep a 6 ft distance.
Scheduling in-person meetings with Clergy/Staff
- Our Clergy and Staff are now available for meetings, indoors or outdoors, based on comfortability of both congregant and staff member. Please reach out to us if you would like to meet with any of our clergy or staff for program ideas, lifecycle events or just a friendly life check in. We are excited to see you again in person and on campus!
- Before scheduling appointments, you will be asked your vaccination status to allow us to safely schedule appropriate meeting protocols.
- Virtual meetings are still an option, if preferred.
High Holy Days 2021
As we continue to explore what services may look like this year, we want to acknowledge that these are higher risk scenarios as they will be large gatherings and people will be singing. Please make the right decision for yourself and your family as you decide whether you, as an adult member, would like to sign up for in person services. We encourage all members who are not vaccinated to join us again virtually this year. All our HHD services will be accessible virtually this year. Whether you are with us in person or connecting with us virtually – we are grateful to be where we are now – welcoming our Isaiah family back into our collective home, our Sanctuary.
Please take a look here for our most recent announcement regarding our High Holy Day offerings this year. We will continue to give updates as we gain more clarity in the weeks to come! Please remember to renew your membership early to gain access to the High Holy day ticketing portal.
Thank You!
With deep gratitude for our Reopening Task Force who have responded to many phone calls and emails and spent many late nights discussing changing protocols to keep our community safe and healthy. This reopening wouldn’t be possible without their support and thoughtfulness.
And thank you, our Isaiah family, for your cooperation and for working with us as we continue to re-evaluate and make changes in the months to come. Please reach out to Rabbi Dara with any questions!