Mekor Safety & Health Guidelines
for Services at Mekor
Updated 3/3/21

​These Guidelines are applicable to Shabbat morning services, as well as all routine Weekday Morning Minyan services and holiday services, unless otherwise specified.  They include policies established by our building management.  For holiday services, please also see our specific website tab for the holiday, or use the link on our homepage.
If you have any questions, please email the shul.  These Guidelines are vitally important, and we are trusting that you will cooperate in order to protect the well-being of everyone in our community.  Thank you for your cooperation and patience.
 
Attendees

• Current attendance cap is 35.
• RSVP for Shabbat morning services:  In order to attend, please email the shul to register by Thursday at 8pm.   We will acknowledge your RSVP;  if we have not exceeded our attendance, we will confirm the reservation .  Please RSVP only if you are certain of attendance (barring an emergency), because you would be taking spots away from other people
• RSVP for other Weekday Minyan services:  In order to attend, please email the shul to register by 8pm the previous day.  If fewer than 10 men rsvp, we will cancel the service and notify you if you made a reservation.
• RSVP for holiday services:  Please see the specific website tab for that holiday, or use the link on the homepage.
• Children:  No children under 13 are permitted, except for infants & young toddlers who remain in strollers or are held by an adult.  Please note that infants & toddlers are not permitted to move about, even if they hold your hand.  They must remain in the stroller or held by you/in a carrier.
• Do not attend if you have experienced symptoms of Covid-19, or you have been exposed to someone with symptoms, unless you’ve exceeded the 14-day quarantine period following symptoms or exposure.
• By attending, you agree to report to Rabbi Hirsch if you subsequently test positive for Covid-19 and to specify when you’ve attended our services.  We are required by building management to inform them (without use of names), and it is also our responsibility to inform other attendees that an anonymous attendee has contracted Covid.
• Please bring your own siddur if possible.  

​Building Rules for Common Areas

• No one may enter the building without wearing a face mask
• Social distancing is required in lobby and in stairwells; if too many people occupy the lobby to keep 6 feet distance, some will need to wait outside.
• Elevators – maximum 2 people at a time in elevator; stairwells will also be open.
• Please bring tissues, toothpick, or other means to push elevator button without directly touching.
• Only one person at a time is permitted in restroom; the restrooms may now be locked from the inside.

 
Additional Safety Guidelines Inside Shul​

• Face masks are required at all times except while consuming items from kiddush.  Disposable masks will be available at shul, in case yours becomes damaged.
• In shul – during services, maintain 6 feet distancing at all times.  Please try to do the same when you are socializing before or after services.
• Kitchen use is strictly off limits, except for the purpose of washing hands.
• Hand sanitizer, Chlorox wipes, and disinfectant spray will be available at shul.
• Water cooler dispenser – please use tissue or other means, or use hand sanitizer before operating the lever.
• Only one person will be designated each day to handle Torah and ark (when relevant).
• Kippot and tallitot will not be available for general use.