Fellow Congregants,

We are pleased to announce that ICCJ will resume holding religious services in the sanctuary on Friday, May 7th. It is a real pleasure to finally say WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! We know how much our members have missed their synagogue friends and the ICCJ community.

Since the onset of the current health crisis we collectively decided to close the synagogue until COVID allowed us to meet again, though we opened for the High Holidays in September only to close again when the pandemic situation worsened.

Now, however, with the pace of vaccinations quickening and signs of a more normal  life beginning to take hold throughout the New York region, the Board of Trustees voted to fully reopen ICCJ prior to the celebration of Shavout. The reopening will not mean an end to all precautions. We will still require that everyone entering the building wear masks, maintain proper social distancing, and obey other rules intended to prevent the spread of disease.

Starting May 8, all religious services, with the exceptions of weekday evening minyans and shiva minyans will be held in the synagogue building. Congregants who cannot attend in-person services on Shabbat  (Friday night and Saturday morning) or any holiday will be able to Live Stream them via the website or on our Facebook page. Weekday evening minyans and shiva minyans will continue to be conducted via Zoom links. (Sunday thru Thursday).

We fully expect that the full range of our social, cultural and educational programs will return to the ICCJ building in the weeks and months to come. Zoom has been a Godsend, but nothing can replace the joy of personal contact and connection.

Hope to see you soon.

Regards,

David and Sam