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COVID-19 updates

Reopening Update - March 22, 2021

Dear Members,

We’ve certainly been through many ups and downs with the COVID-19 situation since temporary loosening of restrictions last summer.  Right now, it seems that we’re in both an up and a down situation simultaneously: the availability of the COVID vaccines is definitely grounds for optimism, but the accelerating presence of COVID variants is a significant concern.  Toronto has moved from a lockdown phase into the Grey Zone in terms of public health measures, and the Mayor and Chief Medical Officer of Toronto have just asked the province to leave Toronto in the Grey Zone with a few modified restrictions rather than move into the less stringent Red Zone. 

In a recent communication, the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force (informally known as Kol HaCovid) expressed concern that any large gatherings put people at risk, especially with regard to the COVID variants, even if safety precautions (masks, social distancing, etc.) are observed.  While there has been a relative decline in infections in Toronto over the past weeks, recently the numbers have increased, in part due to one of the COVID variants. 

Given these concerns, we are not expecting to reopen for services or other activities anytime soon. Our Passover services and events will be online, as described in What’s On.  While the current Grey Zone restrictions allow for in-person attendance at religious services of up to 15% of a house of worship’s capacity, we continue to take the stance that it would violate our sense of community to divide the congregation into those who can attend services, and those who can’t (for example, elders and people with health conditions).  Furthermore, the current COVID-related restrictions, such as no congregational singing, would make services feel somewhat empty and sad.

We will continue to monitor and follow the guidance of public health officials and the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force.  Our approach will continue to be a conservative one, given the continuing risks that the virus and its variants pose to our health.  Looking to the future, it’s not too early to ask what we will we be doing for the High Holidays.  At this point, however, it’s too early to tell, given the many unknowns about the course of the COVID-19 situation over the next few months. Even if in-person services become a realistic possibility, some form of online participation will continue to be an option as well.

There is no doubt that we continue to feel longing for simple human contact when we are grieving or celebrating, praying or learning, and ache for a time when we’ll be able to feel each other’s presence, warmth, and caring in person rather than online.  In the meantime, we will continue to stay strong, engaged, and supportive as a community through our online gatherings.  We’re fortunate to have been able to offer Shabbat services and a wide range of programs online, and we will continue to do so, through the great work of our service leaders and programming volunteers.

Stay well.

 

 

Reopening Update - June 19, 2020

Dear Members,
 
We know that with Premier Ford’s announcement on Monday, June 8, permitting houses of worship to reopen to 30% capacity, many of us are eager to hear when we can once again have in-person Shabbat services at Darchei Noam. You will likely hear soon that in the coming days a few synagogues in the GTA will be reopening for services. The Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and our rabbi have reviewed currently available information. We have determined that we are not yet ready at Darchei Noam to resume holding services until such time that current restrictions are reduced further, the steps referred to below are taken and we are completely satisfied that it is safe to do so. We would like to share with you how we arrived to that conclusion.
 
We are in agreement with the statement issued by the Toronto Board of Rabbis and the joint statement from Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, both of which urge patience and caution in considering how and when to reopen.  In addition, our Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee will take its direction from two sources in determining our own protocols:
*  Toronto Public Health
*  Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force. This task force steering committee is headed by:

  • Dr. Chaim Bell (Professor of Medicine and Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Chief of Medicine, Sinai Health System),
  • Dr. J. Ari Greenwald (Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, McMaster University; Emergency Physician, Hamilton Sciences and Mackenzie Health; Medical Director, Hotzoloh Toronto)
  • Dr. Barry Pakes (Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto)

The task force has committee leads and members that represent a wide array of expertise on issues related to COVID-19.  All task force members are involved in Jewish communal life, including many who are involved in synagogues of various denominations. In addition to their medical expertise, they also understand the needs of the Jewish community.

We believe that when it comes to our responsibility towards pikuach nefesh, preserving life and not taking irresponsible risks with people's health, we must exercise the utmost caution. Therefore, when either Toronto Public Health or the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force is stricter than the other, we will follow the stricter guidelines, subject to taking the steps outlined below.
 
At the end of last week, Toronto Public Health published COVID-19 Guidance for Reopening Houses of Worship.  In addition, the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force published Guidance for Safer Minyanim During COVID-19.  Some of the protocols in these documents include:

  • Allowing attendance for the service only, no gatherings before and after.
  • Social distancing maintained at all times.  People enter the building, go directly to their seat, and leave immediately after services. 
  • Everyone must wear a face covering. Anyone leading services or otherwise taking part must continue to wear a face covering while leading services.
  • No congregational singing.
  • Excluding from attendance children, anyone over age 70 and several other groups of people.

These are only a few of the extensive guidelines provided in these 2 documents.
 
We believe that with the restriction of only allowing for 30% capacity, even if we continue to simultaneously stream our services on Zoom, we are creating a divide between those who could attend and those who could not.  We believe that excluding certain populations from attending means that we would not be a complete community.  Moses, when he pleads with Pharaoh to let our people go, states that “We will all go, young and old: we will go with our sons and daughters … for we must observe the Lord’s festival.” (Exodus 10:9). Since the very formation of our people, that has been the foundation of what it means to come together as a community for Shabbat, festivals, and other occasions.  We believe it is not in concert with our values to hold services in person while excluding our children, our elders and others.  We believe that having a Shabbat service with no congregational singing just would not feel like a Darchei Noam service.

Below this letter you will find information on the process we will follow to determine when we are able to resume holding in-person services again. While we know that many of us yearn for the time when we can gather again and are disappointed that it seems to be some time off in the future yet, we hope that until we can gather in person again, you will join us for our Shabbat services on Zoom.  They have been powerful, transformative and inspirational. 

We would like to hear from you, with regards to reopening, what is important to you, your concerns and your priorities.  Please share your thoughts with us here.

We look forward to seeing you on Zoom and thank you for your support.
 

How will Darchei Noam determine when we are ready to resume holding in-person Shabbat services?

  • We will await further announcements from government officials or public health officials that current directives can be relaxed.  We expect that at such time Toronto Public Health will issue new guidelines in writing.
  • We will seek input from the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force.  Currently, the task force is advising that as the government relaxes restrictions, it would be best practice to wait at least 2 weeks to elapse, and to then evaluate if we feel safe to follow suit.  If this continues to be the advice of the task force, it likely means Darchei Noam will not reintroduce in-person services or any other activities until at least 3-4 weeks after restrictions are further relaxed, in order to have the time to review data and evaluate the results of the first two weeks.
     
  • The purview of the Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee is to advise on health and safety protocols.  The committee will provide the Board of Directors and Rabbi Tina with a protocol document outlining how services (and/or other activities) can be conducted safely in line with current recommendations from the government, public health, and the Toronto Jewish Community COVID-19 Task Force.  The Board and Rabbi Tina will evaluate if they believe holding services (and/or other activities) in this fashion are in line with Darchei Noam’s values.  The Board will also evaluate additional costs associated with reopening, such as the cost of additional cleaning staff.
     
  • When we are ready to propose resuming services, aspects of the plan will likely touch on how rituals can be conducted safely. The Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee will propose that from the health and safety perspective. Once the Board indicates that they are willing to proceed with the committee’s recommendations, the next step will be for the Ritual Committee to review and approve from the ritual practice perspective.
     
  • We believe that anyone with an active role in our services, including our Rabbi, service leaders, parnassim, Torah / Haftarah chanters and person designated to give the D’var Torah, must feel comfortable returning to the sanctuary. After the Board of Directors and the Ritual Committee approve the plan, we feel it is imperative for the plan to be presented to the above-mentioned service participants first and to hear their feedback.
     
  • Once the above steps have been completed, and we feel that we are ready to proceed, we will inform and gauge the interest from our membership.

COVID-19 update March 26, 2020

Dear Darchei Noam Members:


As the need to first and foremost protect ourselves and our community during the COVID-19 Pandemic rises, all Darchei Noam staff will now be working remotely from home.  What this means to you:

 

  • We will continue to be available during business hours. We can speak with you about your needs and conduct business with you (including processing payments and donations) remotely.
  • You can reach us by email or phone as always.  We will be checking our email and retrieving voicemail messages regularly.  You likely will get a faster response if you email.  You can easily email any staff member by visiting the Contact Us page of our website, and clicking on the name of the staff person you wish to contact.
  • Usually, the emergency line is meant to be used only outside of regular business hours.  Because we now may not pick up phone messages as rapidly, we are making the emergency line available 24/7.  For extremely urgent matters ONLY, please text (preferred) or call the emergency line: 416-721-7467.

 

Updated Information Regarding Funerals, Shivas and Unveilings:
 

  • Local cemeteries are now mandating that all funerals must be graveside, with no more than 20 people in attendance, and social distancing of 6 feet between everyone present.
     

 

  • Shiva visits and shiva minyans should take place by phone or video conferencing (Zoom).

 

  • The cemeteries are only permitting graveside funerals.  Unveilings must be postponed.  No other visitation is permitted.

 

COVID-19 update March 17, 2020

Dear Darchei Noam Members:

Our Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee is continuing to monitor the ongoing concern regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). As you know, the developments and the subsequent response by the community to COVID-19 are rapid and evolving. With the spike in the number of cases in Ontario yesterday, schools and a number of other community organizations are completely modifying their schedules and scaling back their activities. This applies to synagogues in the GTA. Weighing input from health authorities, and out of abundance of care and concern for the health and well-being of our entire community, we have given careful consideration to protocols being implemented, effective immediately.

We have made the necessary but unfortunate decision to suspend Shabbat services and all other programming.

 

Our office remains open and staff can be contacted during regular business hours.

 

For extremely urgent matters outside of business hours only, please text (preferred) or call the emergency line: 416-721-7467.

 

We know that our services and our communal potluck lunch are a vital part of how members connect to one another. We know that many of us may be feeling cut off and isolated during these times. Darchei Noam will offer opportunities online to participate in sessions with Rabbi Tina and some educational, cultural and Shabbat programming through Zoom video conferencing and Facebook livestream. We will publicize those events and share the links to them in our communications. In addition, the Membership Committee wants to ensure that there are opportunities for discussions, meet-ups and chats that can be scheduled by members for members. The Membership Committee will provide access to a second Zoom account for this purpose. If you would like to know about these upcoming chats available through the Membership Committee, or if you want to set up an online event for DN members, email darcheimembers@gmail.com.

Tue, 13 April 2021 1 Iyar 5781