COVID-19 Updates: Click here for the latest information about in-person events.

Covid-19 Updates

June 3, 2022

Covid-19 cases in our area have increased significantly in recent weeks. As a result, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recently changed the Community Level in Palm Beach County from Medium to High. In geographic areas where community level is classified as High, the CDC recommends that individuals wear masks while indoors in public places, even if they are vaccinated.

Your health and safety is important to us, so we encourage everyone to follow CDC recommendations. However, we are not mandating masks at the present time at either the Schaefer Family Campus or the Beck Family Campus because we trust our members and guests to make these personal health decisions in a manner that most appropriately suits their individual circumstances.

Should you experience any cold or flu like symptoms, please stay home and consider getting tested for Covid. We would love to see you at Temple once you feel better.

Finally, the Temple strongly encourages everyone in our community to stay up to date with their Covid vaccines and flu vaccines.

For CDC recommendations on Covid vaccine boosters, please click here.

For CDC recommendations on Influenza vaccines, please click here.

For the latest information about the Temple’s Covid safety protocols, visit tbeboca.org/update.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

March 3, 2022

We are pleased to announce that we are easing our Covid safety restrictions for Temple-wide programs, and have also relaxed guidelines for our Early Learning Center and Religious School (see below).

This is in light of new guidance from the CDC and the trend for several consecutive weeks of lower community spread in our geographic area. As has been the case for the past two years, all of our decisions are guided by the medical professionals on the Temple’s Covid Task Force and for major decisions, by the Board of Trustees.

We hope you will choose to attend a worship service, life cycle event or other program in-person soon given the situation in our area has improved so much in recent weeks. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following information that will help allow for an orderly return for everyone.

These updated protocols are effective as of March 3, 2022.

In Person Events and Programs

Masks

Face masks are no longer mandatory so long as the Community Level in Palm Beach County (as defined by the CDC) remains either “Low” or “Medium”. The CDC is currently listing Palm Beach County as “Medium”. You may therefore attend Shabbat services, Temple programs and life-cycle events in person without a mask regardless of your vaccination status.

Vaccination

Although the Temple will not deny access to those individuals unable to provide proof of vaccination due to a state law that prohibits us from doing so, we encourage all members and guests to get vaccinated. Additionally, we suggest that those who have elected to forego the COVID vaccination continue to wear a mask while at the Temple. In limited circumstances where the risk of spread is higher due to the unique nature of a particular event, the Temple reserves the right to require a negative Covid test or, alternatively, proof of vaccination, from all participants.

Capacity Restrictions

All capacity and physical distancing restrictions have been discontinued.

Food and Beverage Service

Indoor food and beverage service at Temple sponsored events may resume. We will continue to use outdoor spaces to the extent possible so that those who prefer to eat outdoors may do so. The Friday night Oneg Shabbat will continue outside in the Courtyard so long as the weather is conducive.

Early Learning Center

We recently relaxed our mask requirements at the Early Learning Center (“ELC”) to allow parents to choose whether their children would continue to wear a mask while in their classroom.

We also recently changed our protocols regarding closing classrooms when a student tests positive for Covid. The student who tests positive still must isolate at home; however, the other students in the classroom are not automatically required to stay home from school so long as they remain healthy.

Additional relaxations of our mask policy at the ELC are coming soon and will be communicated directly to the ELC families in the coming days.

Click here for the full Early Learning Center Covid Safety Policy.

Religious School

We recently relaxed our mask requirements at the Religious School to allow parents to choose whether their children would continue to wear a mask while in school.

Religious School students are now able to gather in larger groups indoors, which was previously not allowed. For now, we are still requiring masks at Religious School during large group indoor gatherings.

Click here for the full Religious School Covid Safety Policy.

Virtual Beth El

The Temple understands there are still many of you who may not yet feel comfortable returning in person. This might be due your health condition, your age or someone you live with who is at higher risk of infection. For those individuals we will continue to offer as much access to the Temple as possible through Virtual Beth El, our online platform. You can also access a library of past services and programs by exploring our Virtual Beth El archive by clicking here.

Please continue to check our website calendar and your e-mail for updates as these protocols may change as the situation continues to evolve. Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to seeing you in person soon.

December 13, 2021

We wanted to take a moment to remind you of the Temple’s current policies regarding Covid-19 vaccinations and mask requirements for members and guests.

Regardless of vaccination status, masks are required while indoors at large gatherings including all life cycle events.

At small gatherings, masks are optional if all attendees are fully vaccinated. Temple staff will make the determination as to whether or not masks are mandatory for any particular small gathering.

Invited guests to a privately sponsored event, such as a wedding party or Bar/Bat Mitzvah party may remove their masks while eating and drinking either indoors or outside. During life cycle religious ceremonies (i.e. wedding service, funeral service, Bar/Bat Mitzvah service, etc.) masks must remain on at all times for all guests.

Temple Beth El will not request proof of vaccination from members, visitors or guests due to the Florida state statute which provides that businesses “may not require patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying Covid-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business…”

We encourage everyone in our Temple community to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and Influenza.

We encourage attendance at in-person events by only individuals who are fully vaccinated.

We are limiting capacity at large events to the extent reasonably possible in order to ensure enough space for people to physically distance while indoors. Pre-registration may be necessary if we determine we are reaching the limit for a particular event.

NOTE: Early Learning Center (“ELC”) and Religious School masking and vaccination requirements that are more stringent and/or more specific than what is listed here, and which are necessary to protect unvaccinated children, will supersede these guidelines if they are in conflict. Please check with the ELC or the Religious School administration should you have any questions.

Please continue to check our website and your e-mail for updates as these protocols may change as the situation continues to evolve.

Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to do our best to keep our staff, students, members and guests as safe as possible.

September 29, 2021

Welcome Back!

We are happy to announce that the Temple is offering more services and programs in person, now that the number of Covid-19 cases in our area continues to decline. We hope you will attend a worship service, life-cycle event or other program in-person soon. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following information and safety protocols that will help ensure a safe and meaningful return for all.

In-Person Events & Programs

Shabbat services are held in person every Friday night as well as on Virtual Beth El.

We will resume hosting an Oneg Shabbat on October 15, 2021. The Oneg will be held outside in the Courtyard until further notice, and so long as the weather is conducive.

Beginning on October 11, 2021, Auxiliary Groups including Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Parenthood and BOFTY may resume in person meetings and events. Additionally, Advisory Groups and Committees may resume in-person meetings and events.

Torah Study and Lunch & Learn (and similar adult education programs) may resume in person in the near future. Please check our website calendar and temple emails for the latest information and specific dates. Capacity restrictions for these events will be in place so advance registration may be required to ensure we do not exceed the capacity of the respective space in which the program will be held.

Beginning on October 25, 2021, Beth El Circle groups may resume in person meetings and events.

Private, catered parties for life cycle events are allowed with certain safety protocols in place.

Safety Protocols

Masks are required regardless of vaccination status while indoors.

Capacity limitations are in effect. Pre-registration may be necessary if we see we are reaching the limit for a particular event. Please check the weekly e-mail or the Temple website for the latest information.

Physical distancing protocols will remain in place until further notice.

Proof of vaccination is not required. However, we encourage attendance by only individuals who are fully vaccinated.

Please continue to check our website calendar and your e-mail for updates as these protocols may change as the situation continues to evolve. Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to seeing you in person soon.

September 10, 2021

Beginning with Shabbat Shuva on Friday, September 10, 2021, Shabbat Evening Services are now available in person at the Schaefer Family Campus and online on Virtual Beth El. All in-person attendees must wear masks at all times, and social distancing will be practiced.

Visit our Events page for upcoming service dates and times.

August 25, 2021: High Holy Day Update

As Jews, we welcome the New Year with the call of the Shofar. Maimonides teaches us that the Shofar is a wake-up call, demanding: “Chizru BiTeshuva – Return as you seek introspection and repentance.”

All of us at Temple Beth El have been grappling with the question: “How ought we return?” In large measure – it is a spiritual question. How should we return to the path in life we know we should follow? How should we return to be the best expression of our true and authentic selves? How should we return to loved ones, family, and friends from whom we have grown apart or even estranged? How should we return to a relationship with the Holy One, whose spirit breathed our souls into being, and whose power seeks to inspire us to lives of virtue, goodness, and holiness?

But in these tenuous moments of pandemic, we also wrestle with the physical challenge of this command: “How ought we return?” As the New Year dawns, and a school year begins, this is a question asked of every element of synagogue life – our Early Learning Center, our Religious School, our Shabbat and High Holy Day worship.

The Temple has been hard at work examining our High Holy Day service plans and closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our area. We are keenly aware that many of you will not be attending services in person this year and are instead choosing to participate online through Virtual Beth El. Everyone should choose to participate in our services in whichever way they feel most comfortable. We are planning to provide a moving worship experience both online and in person.

The Temple’s leadership has devoted extraordinary time in recent weeks and days carefully evaluating how our congregation should celebrate our High Holy Day services.

We considered so many different factors, consulted with a wide range of experts in public health and medicine, several of whom shared conflicting advice and guidance. Our leadership carefully examined their guidance and discussed a wide variety of options. We tried to look at this from every which way because these are really important decisions and unfortunately there are no clear right or wrong answers.

Throughout the pandemic, we have endeavored to ensure that we continue to provide essential services for our congregation. We have safely found ways for people to gather for funeral services, Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations, and other lifecycle events. While we are extremely proud of the quality of our Virtual Beth El programming, including Shabbat and holiday worship services, we know that the High Holy Day season for many in our congregation is vital to their spiritual lives. As one member shared last week: “This year has been so difficult. I’ve never known loneliness like this. I just keep thinking about how much I need to be in synagogue right now.”

At the same time, we are well aware of the surge in cases in our area, and we certainly want our congregation to stay healthy and safe.

The Temple leadership has decided that in addition to our outstanding livestream that will enable everyone in our community to worship safely from home, we will continue to offer IN-PERSON HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES, but with additional changes and restrictions.

All of our High Holy Day services can be accessed online. Because children under 12 cannot receive the COVID vaccine, all Young Children’s Services and our Family Participation Service can be enjoyed online only.

Here are the changes to our plans for in-person worship:

There will be no services at Florida Atlantic University (“FAU”). In-person services will only be held on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus (“TBE”). If you already have tickets for FAU, you may use them at TBE.

We are significantly limiting seating capacity in order to allow for as much social distancing as possible. Consequently, we are closing High Holy Day ticket sales and distribution effective immediately. You will no longer be able to order tickets for in-person services. We apologize for any inconvenience, but please understand that this decision is for everyone’s safety.

We will offer an additional service on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh HaShanah (September 7) at TBE so that we can accommodate all who have already registered at both TBE and FAU. It will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be a somewhat abbreviated version of the morning service that will last approximately 90 minutes.

If you already have tickets for the Rosh HaShanah morning service at either FAU or TBE, you may attend either the 10:00 a.m. traditional service or the 2:30 p.m. abbreviated service, but we kindly ask that you not attend both. Your existing tickets will work at either service. This new afternoon service is only available for those who already have tickets. As stated above, we are no longer taking any new ticket orders in order to limit capacity.

If you already have tickets for either FAU or TBE and you have made the decision to stay home and participate in services online rather than attend in person, we kindly ask that you take a moment and relinquish your tickets. Current ticket holders will receive an email shortly with instructions to fill out a form to retain or relinquish your tickets. This important step will give us a more accurate count of how many people will be at each service so we know if additional contingency plans are needed.

As a reminder, if you are planning to come to services in person, you must wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth for the entire time you are in the building. If you have any signs of illness, please stay home and watch services online.

Although the Temple will not deny access to those individuals unable to provide proof of vaccination due to a state law that prohibits us from doing so, we request that only fully vaccinated individuals attend services in person. We sincerely ask that those who have elected to forego the COVID vaccination participate in services from home. We are trying to create the safest possible environment for those in attendance and so only fully vaccinated people should participate in person.

If you have any questions about High Holy ticketing or services, please contact Debbie Eisenberg, Engagement & Programming Manager, at 561-314-2834 or [email protected].

No matter whether you hear the Sounding of the Shofar at home or in our sanctuary, we pray its call will unite us all as one congregation and with our people everywhere.

L’Shana Tova to You and Your Family.

August 7, 2021: High Holy Day Update

Dear Temple Beth El Family:

We have some important news to share regarding in-person High Holy Day worship services.

We believe it is in the best interest of our members, guests and staff to limit High Holy Day attendance at both Temple Beth El and FAU to 50% capacity. This will allow for adequate social distancing in each venue, and will help mitigate the risk of infection to all who are in attendance. Face coverings will be required, regardless of vaccination status. Proof of vaccination is not required, as it is prohibited by State of Florida law.

When High Holy Day ticket registration opened about a month ago, the Temple’s Covid-19 safety protocols had been mostly eliminated. There were no longer any capacity restrictions, social distancing measures had been removed, and face coverings were only required for those who were unvaccinated.

Unfortunately, the situation in Palm Beach County has declined significantly since early July, and we feel we should be judicious and cautious in our approach, while still allowing for a meaningful, in-person High Holy Day worship experience.

As a result of these new capacity protocols, a limited number of tickets will be available for each service at each venue. When you register online for tickets on our automated ticketing system, if the maximum has been reached, you will be informed that the service is “Sold Out”. You can then choose another venue or another service.

It is our expectation that certain services at Temple Beth El will sell out quickly, so we encourage you to register for tickets soon. It is also our expectation that FAU will continue to have availability because it is a much larger venue. As many of you know from past years’ experience, FAU is a wonderful and spacious venue, made to feel like home with a replica of our ark and the clergy you know and love.

We apologize for the inconvenience if you are not able to get tickets for your first choice of venue. We hope you understand that these are unprecedented times, and these difficult decisions are being made with your health and safety first and foremost in our minds. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

August 4, 2021

Dear Temple Beth El Family:

I think we would all agree that just a few weeks ago, we thought the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic was behind us. Mask mandates had been lifted, businesses reopened and life was returning to normal. It was a great feeling. Unfortunately, that great feeling did not last very long.

As you are probably aware, South Florida is currently experiencing some of the highest increases in Covid infection rates and hospitalization in the United States. Palm Beach County is currently considered an “area of substantial or high transmission” as defined by the CDC

As a result, and after consulting with the medical professionals on our Covid-19 Task Force, the Temple has decided to further scale back in-person events and programs to only those that are “essential services” for our congregation and community. These are covered in more detail below, and are in place until further notice.

We are making these changes to keep our staff, students, members and guests as safe as reasonably possible, while continuing to provide the synagogue’s essential services to our congregation and community. Always check our website for the most up-to-date information on events, High Holy Days, and Covid policy updates. Like you, we hope these changes are short-lived. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves.

Shabbat Evening Services

Friday Shabbat Evening Services will be VIRTUAL ONLY until further notice. We hope you will still dress in white this Friday for Camp Shabbat, and in your favorite blue jeans next Friday for Blue Jeans Shabbat!

You can follow the links to view Shabbat services on Virtual Beth El via Livestream, Facebook or YouTube.

Torah Study

Virtual Beth El only. Visit our website for information on how to join the class on Zoom, or you can view via Livestream or YouTube.

Lunch and Learn, Kol Ha N'Shama, and all other Adult Education Classes

Virtual Beth El only. Visit our website for information for how to join the class on Zoom, or you can view via Livestream or YouTube.

Religious School

As an essential service to our students as families, Religious School including Youth Group will continue to be held in-person. However, some family events will be cancelled or modified (see below).

However, Religious School Back to School Havdalah on Saturday, August 14 has been cancelled. View updated school Covid protocols for Religious School here, and the full event calendar here.

Early Learning Center

As an essential service to our students as families the Beth El Early Learning Center will continue to be held in-person. However, some family events will be cancelled or modified (see below).

However, Early Learning Center New Family Meet and Greet on Saturday, August 7 will now be a drive through event!

View updated school Covid protocols for the Early Learning Center here, and view full event calendar here.

Life Events

Weddings, funerals, baby namings, brises, and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs will continue to be held in person, but with updated Covid protocols in place, including mandatory mask-wearing.

High Holy Days including Selichot

Congregational Worship

We are still planning to hold Congregational Worship High Holy Day services in person at both Temple Beth El and FAU, with masks required . Congregational Worship Services will also be viewable at Virtual Beth El, via Livestream, YouTube or Facebook. View the complete High Holy Day schedule here.st

Beth El Talks

Beth El Talks will be held on Virtual Beth El only.

Family Participation Services and Young Children's Services

These services will be held on Virtual Beth El only, as originally planned. View the complete High Holy Day schedule here.

High Holy Day Gift Bag and Prayer Book Pick-Up and Food Drive Drop-Off

These remain as scheduled. We will be there to meet you outside at your car, under the covered drop-off areas when you drive up to pick up or drop off! Register for the gift bag here, and view the complete schedule here.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes as quickly as possible. For any questions, please email call the temple at 561-391-8900 on Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5:30pm.

July 28, 2021

Dear Temple Beth El Family,

Recently, the CDC has issued additional guidance given the new evidence regarding the Delta variant currently circulating in the United States. At Temple Beth El we always strive to put the health and safety of our congregation and community first. So in accordance with these new CDC guidelines, and upon the strong recommendations of medical professionals on the Temple’s Covid-19 Task Force, we will be implementing several changes to our Covid policy, effective this Friday, July 30, 2021.

We hope you will continue to join us in person and online for opportunities to worship, to learn and to connect. We will continue to keep you updated as quickly as possible with additional changes to our Covid policy, including any news regarding High Holy Days.

The following changes are effective this Friday, July 30, 2021:

Shabbat Services and Lifecycle Events

Services will continue to be held in-person with no capacity restrictions, and online on Virtual Beth El.

For those attending in-person, masks will be required at all times, and physical distancing will be re-introduced. Please respect the physical space of others you come in contact with, and refrain from hugging or hand-shaking. The first three rows of the sanctuary will be blocked off to maintain a safe distance from our clergy on the bima, who will be unmasked while leading services. They will be frequently tested for Covid as an additional safety precaution.

Temple Dinners and Oneg Shabbats

Temple-sponsored dinners and Oneg Shabbats will be cancelled, and will resume when it becomes safe to do so. Those who registered for Blue Jeans Shabbat dinner will receive a refund on their credit card.

Other In Person Meetings and Programs

Torah Study will continue to be held as a hybrid, and may be attended in-person or through Zoom on Virtual Beth El. All in-person participants must wear masks at all times.
Lunch & Learn will continue to be held only on Virtual Beth El.
Auxiliary Groups may resume in person meetings and events, but off-site only.
Advisory Groups and Committee meetings will continue to be held virtually only.
Beth El Circles may resume in person meetings and events, but offsite only.
Sisterhood Gift Shop will be open after Friday evening Shabbat services. Please call the Temple at 561-391-8900 if you would like to come in to shop at another time.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We will continue to remain adaptable and flexible in responding to an ever evolving situation. We will continue to work hard to help keep our staff, students, members and guests as safe as possible, and keep you informed as we navigate the year ahead.

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