blogs/brentspodek

Dear Friends:

As you might imagine, planning for the Days of Awe has been a challenge during Covid, both last year and again this year. Last year, we were entirely virtual; this year, we will be meeting in person and on-line, but because of a lack of ventilation in the building, we will not be meeting at 331 Verplanck Avenue.

Registration for the Days of Awe programs are now CLOSED.

In working on the plans for this year, we have taken a wide range of issues into account, including:

• Safety with regard to covid;

• Safety with regard to white supremacists and other security threats;

• Capacity for our members;

• Capacity for guests who are not members of the synagogue;

• Physical comfort; 

• Internet access for simulcasting;

• Sufficient parking;

• Availability on the relevant days;

• Cost and expenses.

At the risk of stating the obvious, no plan could possibly be optimal on all of those issues. We have done our best to come up with a prudent plan, and it involves logistics that are significantly different from what we have done in the past, so please read carefully. 

Our services will not be at the BHA building this year; they will be held at different sheltered, outdoor locations; for security reasons, precise locations will be made available after you register.

If you are planning on joining us, here are some important things to be aware of:

Location

• We will not be holding any major Days of Awe programming in our building at 331 Verplanck Ave.  We will be meeting in person at outdoor locations near Beacon.  For security purposes we will not disclose those locations unless you are registered to attend those services.  We will email the locations to registrants closer to the holiday. 

Registration for the Days of Awe programs are now CLOSED.

Access

Our venues have limited seating capacity, which means

• All are now welcome to register for the Days of Awe; BHA Members are reminded if you have not renewed your membership, please do so here. Please note that membership does not guarantee tickets to the Days of Awe this year; even for members, registration is on a first come first serve basis.

• If you are not a member of BHA: if you’d like to take this opportunity to join BHA as a member, you can do so here. 

• You must register one family member per form submission. To register your household you can submit multiple times, but each submission must have a contact email address to receive future emails regarding your family’s registration.

• We will be live-streaming most services on our  facebook page and offering pre-recorded services on our youtube channel for those who are not able to join us in person. There is no registration necessary for watching our live streams.  For our Days of Awe schedule of services and live streams please check our Community Calendar.

Registration for the Days of Awe programs are now CLOSED.

Public Health

• For those 12 and older, we are requiring submittal of proof of vaccination. You can upload a screenshot of your Excelsior Pass or your vaccination card. For more information on setting up your Excelsior Pass visit here.  For those who are unvaccinated, for any reason, we ask that you take part in our services via one of our remote options.

• Children will need to be masked. Children between two and 12-years-old will be expected to wear a mask at all times during services.

• Adult masking at all services will be mandatory if a safe distance from people outside your household can not be maintained.

• Change of Plans. If your plans change and you won’t be joining us, please email Administrator, Faith Adams at faith@beaconhebrewalliance.org so we can change your registration and make those seats available to others. 

Registration for the Days of Awe programs are now CLOSED.

WIth blessings for a sweet and healthy new year, 

Brent Chaim Spodek, Rabbi

Ellen Gersh, Cantor

Jesse Lunin-Pack, President