Health & Safety Guidelines
Health & Safety Guidelines for Participating in In-Person Events at BHBE
Updated August 27, 2021
Thank you for being part of the BHBE community! We are excited to welcome you to BHBE in a manner that is informed by public health guidance, protects members of our kehilla (community), and upholds the Jewish value of pikuah nefesh, or saving a life.
To keep our community safe while ensuring a meaningful and uplifting experience, here are the four most important guidelines that we ask everyone to follow for in-person services:
- Everyone who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine must be fully vaccinated (2 weeks past their final vaccine dose). To provide your vaccine record to the office at BHBE, please scan or take a picture of your vaccination card or other evidence of vaccination (such as a screenshot from the Illinois VaxVerify system or your healthcare provider or pharmacy’s portal) and email it to jackie.ernest@bhbe.org. We will then mark you as vaccinated in our system for all future events.
- Everyone over age 2 must wear a mask at all times in the building
- Everyone should maintain physical distance by observing marked off rows, leaving space between your household and others when seated, and not gathering in the hallways
- Please do not attend if you or members of your household are sick
Vaccines remain your first line of defense against COVID-19; if you are not yet vaccinated and wish to be, visit http://vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.
Here are the steps for joining us in-person that will protect our community’s health and safety:
1. Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
2. Help us avoid exposures by staying home when you are sick
3. For indoor events and meetings
- Wear your mask at all times. Please wear your mask properly, covering both your mouth and nose. All individuals over age 2 must wear a mask.
- Hand sanitizer and soap are available for use throughout the building.
- Please spread out in the sanctuary and respect others’ personal space, maintaining physical distance from those outside your household wherever possible.
- Please respect others’ personal space and preferences around shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.
4. For outdoor events and meetings
- We encourage continued physical distancing between your household and others at outdoor events.
- Please respect others’ personal space and preferences around shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.
5. After the event or meeting
- Please contact Michael Kahn if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 and were in the synagogue building in the 14 days prior to developing symptoms.
- Should the synagogue office become aware of any possible exposure or cases associated with a synagogue event, communications will be sent out to the congregation or individuals impacted.
6. At all times
- Please do not stop by the building unscheduled or without signing up for an appointment or event. Please enter the building only with the advance approval and knowledge of BHBE staff.
- Please observe all the guidelines above, just as for an event or meeting.
- While it is everyone’s responsibility to follow these guidelines for the good of the whole kehilla, please leave enforcement to the staff and do not take matters into your own hands. If you have concerns about violations of these guidelines, please contact the synagogue office only.
- While these guidelines are intended for the health of our community, you attend events at your own risk. By attending any event, you assume the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19.
- Please be kind, patient, and respectful to our clergy, staff, maintenance team, security guards, tenants, and fellow members. We are navigating the recovery from this pandemic together and appreciate your patience, flexibility, and commitment to pikuah nefesh!
By attending events, individuals agree to abide by the rules of the synagogue. BHBE cannot guarantee safety in light of the pandemic. BHBE is not liable for injuries or sickness as a result of the pandemic. Questions should be directed to Michael Kahn.
