Special Note from Rabbi Cohen re: Safety Measures for High Holidays 5781/2020
Guest Cantor Guest Cantor Cory Winter has completed a two-week long period of quarantine isolation (having arrived in Calgary on August 31) as per Canadian law, and as per Jewish halachic requirements for safety. He will be officiating from behind a 6 x 10 foot plastic 3-sided enclosure as well as wearing a face shield.
Safety measures which Kehilat Shalom has enacted this year include:
mandatory face masks for all- mask must cover mouth and nose and be worn at all times
mandatory hand sanitizer application before entering the auditorium
amplified social distancing (10 ft. or more between cohorts);
services relocated to gymnasium for increased space and ventilation (including open doors to outside);
shortened services;
fixed seating, to prevent multiple people from handling the same books and materials; and
revising of rituals - such as no coming to the Torah - to prevent people from coming into close contact with one another.
Ensuring Adequate Sound Quality We are making the exceptional decision to employ an electronic sound system this year to enable congregants to hear services conducted from a reasonable distance.
Open-Air Shofer Blowing for All In any event, we recognize that people may not be comfortable attending services in an indoor location even with these precautions. So we are offering an outdoor, open-air shofar-blowing (with distancing) at Heritage Park, Sunday Sept. 20 at 3:00pm. This will take place at the waterfront near the big H at the Park’s entrance. This event is free to the Calgary Jewish community, and is intended to allow all Jews to fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the shofar sounded. (No RSVP is necessary.)
Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy and happy Jewish New Year.
Shabbat Services- Kehilat Shalom is now holding in-person Shabbat services, as of August 1, 2020 In the gym of the JCC starting at 10:00 a.m. Please come after 9:30 to complete the screening requirements.
We are following the Alberta Health Services guidelines at the CALGARY JCC.
Please: Help Us Keep Everyone Safe:
▪ Everyone needs to wear a mask. If you have one, please wear it. We have masks for the congregation. ▪ At check-in at the JCC you will be required to answer some Covid 19 screening questions. Your temperature will be checked. We also will have your name and phone number to check off for contact if needed. No one with Covid symptoms may enter, for the health of all. ▪ Please do not attend if you are not well. ▪ Welcoming staff at the JCC will be happy to answer any of your questions. ▪ Please use hand sanitizer at the front entry and throughout the building. ▪ Services will look a bit different in these times. You will be directed to take a prayer book from a designated area and required to return your siddur to another drop area. ▪ There will be no kissing of the Torah, the prayer books or each other. Elbow greetings or waves are the new normal. ▪ Enhanced cleaning is in place before and after services to add to your comfort and well-being. ▪ The washrooms are open. ▪ Drinking fountains have been closed. Please bring a water bottle if you need one. ▪ We look forward to seeing you. Shabbat Services will start at 10:00 A.M. and will run for 1 hour and 40 minutes. There will be no Kiddush following. High Holiday Services have their own start times as can be found on the High Holidays page and may be of shorter duration than normal.