Notice from the Shul President - 3/2020 & Pesach Attachments

Good afternoon,

Rabbi Cohen and I are in constant contact with what is going in regards to the Coronavirus and communicating regularly with each other. Therefore, the following will take place and/or should adhered to this Shabbos:

If possible you should attend the late minyan davening as Rabbi Cohen would like to briefly share with you his conversations with the Jersey Rabbanim and why they closed their shuls and why we did not.


Upon entering shul and when exiting the bathroom, you should wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds (if you don't know how long that is, sing the full happy birthday song twice).

Doctors are recommending to bring your own siddur/chumash etc because they are not sure how long the virus stays on these items - see below from the CDC *


Try your hardest to avoid touching your face, nose, eyes and if you do - wash your hands or "purell".  Note: CDC is saying that hand sanitizer should be used if you cannot use soap.  See the CDC website on daily care during the current stage of the virus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html

For more information about the virus from the CDC go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html?deliveryName=DM21367

Lastly for now, while we would very much like to institute more camaraderie in the shul (by having coffee, tea 24/7 and a basic kiddush on Shabbos) out of abundance caution and in order to be mishtataif btzar ( to commiserate with those who can't attend shul for whatever reason) we decided to postpone the kiddush until after Pesach. 


Let's not forget that Pesach is coming - please read the attached

Keeping you informed.

Yaakov Grunstein
President


* from the CDC webiste - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html
How COVID-19  SpreadsPerson-to-person spreadThe virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
• Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objectsIt may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily the virus spreadsHow easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.
Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.