Chicago Rabbinical Council 2701 W

CHICAGO RABBINICAL COUNCIL 2701 W. Howard Street · Chicago, IL 60645-1303 · (773) 465-3900 www.crcweb.org Fax · (773) 465-6632

מרחשון תשפ"א – November 2020

Dear Chicago Rabbinical Council Community,

The Chicago Jewish community is now in the midst of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with cases in our community increasing exponentially. While we are proud of the shuls, schools, and community members who diligently follow safety precautions, we must update our guidelines at this time to reflect the new realities. Our goal is to best protect human life while trying to maintain a functional religious and social lifestyle, even during these trying times. The following guidelines are being issued in consultation with our medical experts.

Reinforcing Safety Protocols • We must continue to practice the "Three W's": WEAR masks WATCH our distance WASH hands These three precautions are critical to stemming the rise in cases and saving lives.

• Masks and social distancing must be followed both inside our shuls and outside whenever others are present.

• The length of tefillot should be kept short, and people should leave promptly after davening. The Rabbi of each shul should decide how best to accomplish this. Shul kiddushim are strictly forbidden at this time.

• Advance registration for services or some other form of attendance tracking should be in place to allow for tracing and to manage the number of people attending services. Shuls should notify all known contacts exposed to any infected person, out of an abundance of caution.

• If you or a household member is experiencing any COVID-like symptoms (cough, fever, loss of taste or smell, trouble breathing, sore throat, diarrhea - if new and no other cause), stay home and do not attend shul services.

o If in the course of your illness you were tested with a PCR test for COVID and the results were negative, or your doctor provided an alternative diagnosis (e.g strep or the flu), stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours and any respiratory issues are improved. Please note that one can simultaneously have both the flu or strep and COVID. Therefore, please ask for a COVID test even when an alternative diagnosis is given. Household members who are symptom-free can attend shul.

o If you were tested for COVID and the results were, G-d forbid, positive, immediately contact your local Department of Health for further instructions. Let the shul know, stay home in quarantine until at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and three days without fever and improved respiratory symptoms. Household members must be in quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure to you.

o If you were NOT tested for COVID and there is no alternative diagnosis, stay home for at least 10 days from symptom onset and at least three days after fever resolution (if present) and improved respiratory symptoms. Household members must also stay home for the same period of time.

o If you have been exposed to someone with COVID, stay home and strictly adhere to quarantine guidelines so you do not expose your household members. You may not attend shul until the 14-day quarantine period is over.

President Secretary Rosh Beth Din שלי ט''א RABBI SHAANAN GELMAN RABBI YOCHANAN POSNER RABBI GEDALIA DOV SCHWARTZ Vice-Presidents Treasurer Av Beth Din שלי ט''א RABBI ELISHA PRERO RABBI MICAH GREENLAND RABBI YONA REISS RABBI AARON LEIBTAG Executive Director Kashruth Administrator RABBI AKIVA MALES RABBI LEVI MOSTOFSKY RABBI SHOLEM FISHBANE

CHICAGO RABBINICAL COUNCIL 2701 W. Howard Street · Chicago, IL 60645-1303 · (773) 465-3900 www.crcweb.org Fax · (773) 465-6632

Children in Shul • The absence of children from our shuls has been very difficult for us all, and it is essential to find ways to bring our children back to shul. Our medical experts agree that with proper safeguards, masking, and social distancing, younger children can once again attend services, but only if they will sit with their families throughout the entire davening. Parents should consider bringing younger children to shorter davening (e.g., Kabbalat Shabbat or Mincha) where it will be easier to sit for the whole davening.

• We do not recommend a return to youth groups in shul at this time. However, supervised teen minyanim are possible. Shuls should consult medical professionals when crafting such programs, and ensure that policies are strictly followed.

Social Gatherings in the Community The greatest cause of the recent spread of COVID has been semachot and social gatherings. We urge the community to adhere to these best practices:

• Avoid large gatherings. Even outdoor events pose a health risk. Please note: a tent with walls should be considered an indoor venue.

• Exercise extreme caution before inviting guests outside of your nuclear family for Shabbat meals or any other social get-together, especially one that involves food. If you must invite guests, limit it to one family who is COVID guideline compliant, exercise strict social distancing, wear masks when not eating and make sure to increase ventilation in the area where the event is taking place.

• We recognize the importance of children having opportunities to play and socialize outside of school. Limit children’s play dates to one or two friends who become a "friend pod." These playdates should be supervised, with masks and social distancing. Choose friends from families that are COVID-guideline compliant and, if possible, are from your child's school pod. Use the same friend-pod every time.

• Only daven in shuls and learn in places that strictly observe masking and social distancing guidelines.

These are trying times, but with your help and continued vigilance, we daven that G-d will support our efforts and allow us to stay safe, keeping our shuls open, providing meaningful opportunities to daven and observe all mitzvot in optimal fashion. May בשורות טובות Hashem bring a refuah shlemah to all those who are ill and a speedy end to this virus, and may we be blessed with .ישועות ונחמות

Rabbi Yona Reiss Rabbi Shaanan Gelman Av Beth Din, cRc President, cRc