CTI High Holiday Attendance Practice Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

To minimize the risk of spreading the virus CTI is instituting the following practice during High Holiday services.  These procedures are meant to safeguard the health and minimize the risk of contracting Covid-19 of those attending services.  In order to accommodate the larger turnout expected for the High Holidays, we will have all services in the JCAA Gymnasium.

Attendance:

First and foremost, anyone who is ill, running a fever, or is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 should not attend services.  CTI will designate Ushers who are authorized to permit and to refuse entry to the shul. To be admitted to the building an attendee:

• Must not have been diagnosed as currently having Covid-19, quarantined due to exposure, or otherwise under suspicion for developing an infection;
• Currently not exhibiting any symptoms of illness; and
• Must be wearing a face mask.  Bandanas are not considered as an acceptable mask.

Those over 65 years of age, or those with chronic medical conditions – including the severely obese, those with lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, severe kidney or liver disease, neurological disorders, and the immunocompromised – who are at high risk of severe Covid-19, are strongly discouraged from attendance.

Our Poskim have stated that even a young and healthy individual who is personally concerned about shul attendance due to Covid-19 is exempt from attending Minyan and is free from the obligation of reciting Kaddish.

Attendance will be strictly limited to ensure social distancing is preserved.  Seats have been placed in the Gymnasium to insure we maintain social distancing.  We ask all to not move them.  Children who are too young to properly practice social distancing should not attend services. 

As space is limited, attendance requires a reservation in advance for all who want to attend services.  Reservations must be made on our website by completing a form.  Full, Associate and Honorary CTI Members will be given priority followed by guests of members followed by non-members.  Reservations are on a first-come basis.  Guests and non-members will be notified if they have a confirmed seat for Rosh Hashana prior to  Rosh Hashana.  Similarly, they will be notified prior to Yom Kippur if they have a confirmed seat.  Separate reservations for each service are required.  If a confirmed seat is available, they will be asked to make payment online via a credit card.  Members who are inviting guests with them will need to make the payment on behalf of their guests.

Please indicate on the reservation form if anyone in your reservation will need special assistance.  If this is the case, we recommend you arrive at least ten minutes before the start of services so that they can be seated as quickly and conveniently as possible.  

Attendees will be met at the door by an Usher who will confirm they have reserved a seat on that service’s reservation list, be screened for Covid-19 symptoms, and directed to a seat.  Specific seats cannot be reserved except for two seats designated for the exclusive use of the Gabbaim immediately in front of the Bimah, the Rabbi and the Chazanim.

Those who made reservations and cannot attend for whatever reason are asked to email  Reservations@TiferetAustin.org to cancel their reservation.  Members must make their reservations no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, September 11th for Rosh Hashana services and no later than midnight, Tuesday evening, September 21st for Yom Kippur services.  After these deadlines available seats will be given to guests of members and then to non-members.  Morning services will begin at the normal 9:00 AM time.  A full schedule of services may be found here.

All in attendance at High Holiday services need to wear face masks for the entire time.

Congregants are urged to bring their own Talit to Shul.  Each seat designated for an attendee to be seated at will have a Machzor on it.  After services, please leave the Machzor on the seat.  In no case should any Machzor be shared outside of an immediate family.

After services, ushers will assist in making sure there is an orderly exit.

Services:  

As the risk of spreading the virus increases with longer exposure time, we will significantly shorten the time of services.  We will start the communal Shacharit service during the High Holidays at נשמת (Nishmat).  We ask all to pray the earlier part of Shacharit, the פסוקי דזמרה (Pesukai Dezimrah), on their own before arriving.

Though it has been our custom to have more than one person read the Torah, during this time we will not do this.  One person will read the entire Torah portion.  He will also remove the Torah from the Ark, receive all Aliyot, tie the Torah up after completing the Torah, and return it to the Ark.  The Torah reader will also recite the appropriate Haftorah.  Though the בעל קורא  (Person reading the Torah) will be reciting the blessings for each Aliyah, the Ritual Committee will identify an individual or individuals in advance for each Aliyah that will be designated as being honored for that Aliyah.  The honoree(s) will be informed in advance.  

Additionally, for added safety of all, one person will open the ark each time.  As with the Torah reading, the Ritual Committee will identify an individual or individuals in advance for each פתיחה (Opening of the Ark).  The honoree(s) will be informed in advance.  The individual designated to open the Ark will be seated near the Ark the entire time.

The schedule of High Holiday Services may be found here.

Agreement:

In order to attend services, each attendee needs to agree to abide by this practice.

Last updated: August 26, 2020

To reserve a seat for the High Holidays, please click here.