Dear Congregants,
As we watch the expected surge in local COVID numbers post-holiday travel, we have decided, out of an abundance of caution and to keep our community safe, to temporarily make all activities at the temple remote.
This means that all services and programming will be remote for the time being. Office staff will work remotely when they return on January 3, 2022. Religious school and Kehillah High families will receive additional communication from Tali Mugg about plans for those programs.
As we face another surge, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our community that COVID vaccines are recommended for ages 5 and up. Boosters are recommended for those over age 16 whose second dose was given more than 6 months ago (2 months for Johnson and Johnson). New CDC guidelines recommend those who are eligible for a booster obtain one in order to remain “fully vaccinated”.
Taking care of our own health and that of our community is a Jewish value we all hold, and as such it is our hope that all our congregants who are eligible and able become fully vaccinated and get their boosters. In addition, we encourage you to be tested if you are ill or know you have been exposed to someone who has the virus.
Below are some resources for finding vaccines and testing in our community.
https://www.mywpl.org/?q=article/vaccine-clinics
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test
We will continue to monitor local data and trends to determine how long our programming will remain remote. We anticipate that updated communication will be sent on January 10, 2022. In the meantime, we will keep you apprised of any changes.
Thank you,
TES COVID Task Force
Chair: Meg Hoey, Dean of Health and Natural Sciences, Fitchburg State University
Jerry Gurwitz, MD
Nancy Berley, MD
Germán Chiriboga, MPH, Program Director Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School; City of Worcester Health Equity Task Force
Liza Spitalnic Carrigan, RN MSN
Jonah Cuker, TES Treasurer
Patti Gould, Chair, TES Lifelong Learning Committee
Paula Selvitella, TES President
Rabbi Valerie Cohen
