Dear Friends:
We have been working hard on creating a space for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that is both safe and as inclusive as possible given the COVID restrictions, and we look forward to getting together for meaningful and inspiring Tefilot in the spirit of Ah'dut and Ahavat Israel.
As you know we have proudly offered, since this synagogue opened its doors, High Holidays services free of charge and open to all. This year, COVID guidelines are limiting us and, as all leading Rabbanim have ruled, health concerns take high priority and must be strictly respected.
In order to maximize space while observing social distancing and other health mandates, we will use the WSIS Ballroom for Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Shuvah (September 26), and Yom Kippur. We are grateful to Rabbi Sherman, Aryeh Schwebel, WSIS’s President, and the WSIS Board, for their generous accommodation.
To reserve your seat, please use the following form: https://www.wsssynagogue.com/event/rh5781
(please note that, for security reasons, only people on the list will be allowed in the building)
Consistent with the standard UWS building policies for the Haggim, older children, in sixth grade and above, may register and sit through the Tefila. We have found no way to provide kids groups for the High Holidays, and we regret the impact that this has on our members, especially mothers, who will have to stay at home with young children.
To alleviate this problem, after we have a sense of the demand for services, we will likely add a Netz service, at 6:30am., for both days of Rosh Hashanah. This would give parents an opportunity to each choose a service, so that both can pray and hear the Shofar. Please indicate where noted whether you are interested in a Netz Minyan. Benjamin Mizrahi would lead those Tefilot, and we are grateful to him for spearheading this initiative.
We will give our members and regulars priority seating, but our intention is to be open to all who want to come and pray. We will notify you early next week of the seating arrangements.
You can renew your membership today on this link: https://www.wsssynagogue.com/membership .
Please note that by logging into your account, you will have the opportunity to pay over time. If you forgot how to log in to your account, just use the reset password button)
It goes against our grain to “select” who can come and pray. Since its inception, the West Side Sephardic Synagogue has been opening its door to everyone free of charge, especially during the High Holidays. It really pains us not to be able to welcome everyone this year as we usually do. We pray that we will be able to seat all, and most of all that this new year will bring only blessings and success, and that we will see the end of this plague and be able to welcome any and all as we love to do.
We look forward to celebrating the beginning of this New Year with you.
Besorot Tovot.
