An important message for Solel members, our visitors and guests:

Evolving Policies for In-Person Services and Events

COVID, and particularly new variants remain a concern even as the government, public health experts and other organizations re-evaluate their polices regarding health protections. Based on the advice of scientific and public health experts, we made some changes to our procedures and requirements effective Friday, July 1, 2022.

Our current policies and procedures are noted below. You can contact the office for more information.

Ongoing Protections

We believe strongly that we must continue to be guided by science and most of all by our Jewish values, particularly pikuach nefesh (to save a life). Therefore The Board of Directors of Solel, with the guidance of our Return Committee, has decided that for the time being Solel will continue to retain certain precautions to limit the spread and impact of COVID-19, while lifting some others.

• Masks will continue to be required at most times while inside the synagogue. Exceptions include while leading prayers or reading Torah or speaking from the bimah and while eating such as at the kiddush or oneg after services or while seated at a communal meal in the social hall. Masks protect the wearer and those around them and we feel strongly that people should continue to wear a mask while indoors.
• Proof of full vaccination is no longer required. Current science shows that being fully vaccinated is an excellent protection for individuals and we continue to recommend that everyone be vaccinated for your own protection. What is less clear at present is whether vaccination provides enough protection against spreading current COVID variants to warrant continuing a strict vaccination requirement.
• We no longer ask those entering the synagogue to sign in.
• Our sanctuary layout has been restored to normal. Those who wish to maintain additional distance while seated in the sanctuary may choose their seat accordingly. We ask that if you want to take a seat near someone who is already seated that you respect their desire to remain physically distanced.
• Additional measures to improve air quality, including running filtered fans will continue.

As always, we encourage everyone to exercise compassion and common sense in choosing to avoid coming to the synagogue if you are feeling unwell or if you have reason to believe that you have been exposed to COVID. Specifically, if you are feeling unwell, whether it is with COVID symptoms or not, please stay home. Similarly, if anyone in your household is feeling unwell, please do not enter the synagogue. If you have been a close contact of someone who has tested positive, or if you yourself have tested positive for COVID, please avoid coming to Solel for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or your first positive test.

We are all eager to return to life as it was before the pandemic. We also understand that each person will have their own choices to make about when they feel comfortable returning to in-person services and events. We have also learned that people have many reasons for engaging with Solel virtually from time to time. We will continue to offer live streams of our services and virtual event options for those who are not yet able or ready to return, whether it be because of concern about COVID, or for any number of other reasons.

As the situation and advice from experts continues to evolve in the future, we will continue to re-evaluate our policies and procedures.