Issued April 2025

If you are attending a mask-optional service, there are some things we can all do to help maintain safety and a sense of belonging for as many people as possible. 

Please follow the guidelines, and encourage each other to follow them as well.  

1. Symptoms. If you have any COVID or flu symptoms, please test for COVID before coming to the synagogue.
   1. If you test positive for COVID please don’t come.* You are welcome to join on Zoom. All ceremonies are live streamed and recorded.
   2. If you test negative for COVID but have cold or flu-like symptoms and have a fever (or have had in the past 24 hours), please don’t come in person and join us via Zoom. 
   3. If you test negative for COVID and don’t have a fever but have other symptoms, please seriously consider staying home. If you decide to come, you must wear a well-fitting N-95 or similar mask.**
2. Testing. We encourage attendees who will be unmasked to take a COVID test the morning of the ceremony. For those who have traveled to be here, masking is strongly encouraged. 
3. Vaccination. We expect anyone who will be unmasked to have up to date vaccinations for COVID.
4. Adjustments. Kehilla might need to require masking or other adjustments to this policy if public health conditions change (e.g. a significant COVID spike or other public health concern).
5. Mask-only section. There will be a mask-only section at the front left of the sanctuary. If you want to sit in this section please arrive by 10:15 otherwise we may not be able to guarantee mask-only seating.
6. Kiddush Norms. The beginning of Kiddush lunch after the ceremony is often the most crowded moment of the day. We encourage masking people who prefer not to share crowded space with unmasked people to go to the front of the line. 
7. Affirmations. We know that no policy is perfect and no space is risk-free. We’re seeking a balance among people’s diverse and sometimes conflicting needs about masking and not masking. We affirm:

1. Some folks need to mask in order to be safe (and appreciate others’ masking)
2. Some folks need to not wear masks for ease of breathing, singing and visual connection
3. When more people mask, there are fewer pathogens in our shared air
4. We trust people to consider both our own and others’ needs in deciding whether and how much to mask; we are striving to create a non-judgemental and supportive space around everyone’s choices.

*Adaptations to our COVID policy may be made by Kehilla’s senior leadership in cases where immediate family members are no longer sick but are still testing positive. 

**We will have masks available at the synagogue for anyone who does not have their own and would like to mask.