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This is an extremely tough time for many, and although we know many of our members are aware of resources and organizations, we nevertheless put together a list of organizations available and other community resources during this time, for your convenience.

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Dear Members,

We hope you are healthy and well, and that the current situation is not proving to be overly challenging. We have been asked by the Executive Board and Board of the synagogue to act as the official committee to oversee the reopening of YINBH.

In light of the announcement by Governor Newsom and LA County that places-of-worship can reopen based on specified guidelines, we are now actively working to plan YINBH’s reopening process. In the first instance, however, as a member synagogue of the Orthodox Union, based on their clear guidance issued on May 8th (OU Guidelines link), we will not be opening for Shavuot, and will remain closed at the very least for a full 14-days from today, until June 8th.

As we all know, the COVID-19 situation remains highly fluid and unpredictable, and each step forward might very well be followed by another step or several steps backward, and our current thinking with regard to reopening may be revisited and revised as the situation unfolds.

Additionally, even when we reopen, our own adherence or non-adherence to the mandated guidelines, and the reality on the ground in connection with infection rates in LA County over the next couple of weeks and thereafter, will undoubtedly play a significant role in what happens for our community going forward. Consequently, at this stage we cannot yet give you full details of our reopening, and although we know that the quarantine situation is getting harder as time progresses, and we know how much all of us want to get back to shul to pray and reengage with our community, we respectfully ask for your continued patience and cooperation in this matter.

As to backyard or tennis court minyanim, it has come to our attention that a number of groups in Beverlywood have either started or are planning to start such gatherings. Rabbi Dunner and his rabbinic colleagues on the west side are very adamant that such minyanim present a real danger, even though they may have been formed with the best of intentions in terms of keeping to social distancing and taking other precautions. There are reports from the East Coast from similar situations, that after a short time, restrictions are not observed properly or even at all.

A decision to make a private minyan in someone’s back yard can endanger the whole community (not just the people who attend) and it is not a decision that can be made unilaterally. Therefore, unless a minyan is being run under the auspices of the community, it should not take place at all. If, after June 8th, we decide that this is the safest way to proceed, the rabbi, chazan, and other synagogue representatives will ensure that any such minyan is conducted in full compliance with the guidelines. In any event, we must wait until at least June 8th, when the effects of the current loosening of shelter-in-place restrictions are better known and understood.

Over the next two weeks we will be carefully considering and coming up with a list of guidelines and protocols for the reopening of our shul for services. Just to be clear, our shul will only be open for members who pre-register for each service they wish to attend, and there will be many other precautions and measures as well. We may even have offsite services in the open air only, rather than opening the shul building. All of this will be decided in the next couple of weeks, in consultation with local hospitals and medical experts, and we will share these details closer to the time.

In the meantime, if you are interested in attending services once we reopen, please submit your name(s) via email to office@yinbh.org, so that we can get some idea of numbers, both for daily services and shabbat services.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Steve Rothman

Dr. Bill Lopatin                  

Dr. Annie Baum                

Mrs. Ruthie Kellerman