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For the time being, we will not be opening our doors on Friday evenings for Shabbat services. Our Friday services will be virtual only. You may tune in to the live-streamed service on Friday evenings at 8:00 PM on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/templebethshalom

Hasta nuevo aviso, no estaremos abriendo nuestras puertas los viernes para el servicio de Kabalat Shabat. Los servicios de los viernes serán solamente virtuales. Puede sintonizar al servicio transmitido en vivo los viernes a las 8:00 PM por nuestro canal de YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/c/templebethshalom

Dear Members and Friends of TBSPR,

In light of the still-rising infection rates in PR, we are extending the period of all-virtual services, and will be evaluating on a week-by-week basis, as per the following schedule:

January 7-8: Shabbat services: all virtual

January 14-15: Shabbat services: re-evaluate by January 10-11

January 16: Tu B’Shevat: virtual, as we did last year

January 21-22: Shabbat services: re-evaluate by January 18-19

January 28-29: Shabbat services: re-evaluate by January 24-25

January 29: Outdoor Havdalah at the park, as before.

We will continue to reassess the situation from week to week to make sure it is safe to assemble before we resume holding services in the sanctuary.

For now, we hope you will join us via Zoom and YouTube Fridays at 8:00 PM and Saturdays at 10:00 AM so that we can be together even though we are physically apart.

Stay safe!

This is the article that Rabbi Patz referenced last Shabbat, 130 Inspiring Israel Headlines from 2021, by Richard Block (click for original posting on the Time of Israel):

Dear Members and Friends of TBSPR,

Sharing the concerns so many of you have expressed in emails, phone calls and via Facebook regarding the unnervingly rapid spread of Omicron, we are sadly – but we believe wisely – cancelling in-house services at Temple Beth Shalom for the next two weeks. In other words, services for this Friday evening and Shabbat morning (December 24/25) and next Shabbat (December 31/January 1) will be conducted by Rabbi Patz VIA ZOOM.

We will reassess the situation from day to day to make sure it is safe to assemble before we resume holding services in the sanctuary.

For now, we hope you will join us via Zoom (for our members) and YouTube Fridays at 8:00 PM and Saturdays at 10:00 AM so that we can be together even though we are physically apart.

Stay safe!

Salatiel Corcos, president
Norman Patz, rabbi

Plans for 2021-2022

New Beginnings

A new fiscal year has begun, and with it new challenges. A year and a half after Temple Beth Shalom closed its doors due to Covid 19, I have the honor of announcing our plans to reopen our beautiful synagogue. It will open the weekend of August 20/21. With this reopening comes a great responsibility to protect the entire community, especially with the spread of the Delta variant, and as President I must ensure that the strictest protocols are followed. The rules for access to in-person services are as follows:

1. Required vaccination
   On the recommendation of the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and our rabbis on duty Rabbi Norman Patz and Rabbi Roberto Graetz, we will only be receiving people who are fully vaccinated. This means people 12 years and older, 2 weeks after receiving the second dose of the Covid19 vaccines Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 weeks after receiving the one-time Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
2. Simultaneous Virtual Services
   Those who are not vaccinated will be able to follow the services virtually. Simultaneous virtual services will be broadcast during Shabbat and the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days).
3. Use of mask
   The use of a mask (without a valve) over the nose and mouth will be required of all persons who are in the Temple facilities. Under no circumstance should the mask be removed within our facilities.
4. Food inside the Temple or Social Hall
   Until further notice, the consumption of any food or drink within the vicinity of the Temple is prohibited. People who need to consume any food or drink should go outside to consume it. The consumption of wine for the Kiddush is only allowed at the bimah for the Rabbi and the Cantorial Assistant, at their discretion. The rest of the community will not consume challah or wine in the vicinity.
5. Social distancing and limited capacity
   We will be taking reservations to attend in-person services during Shabbat and High Holy Days services. We will maintain a social distancing protocol to avoid crowding. It is important that those who wish to attend reserve their spaces ahead of time once the reservation lists are provided.​
6. Members and Associate Visitors must be in good-standing
   Just as we will be limiting in-person attendance to those who have made prior reservations, we will accept only those members and associate visitors who are up-to-date in their membership contributions.

Conclusion
It is in my interest and that of the entire Board of Directors of Temple Beth Shalom to progressively make these measures more flexible, but it will depend on how we behave as a community and how soon we achieve herd immunity as a country. These measures will be updated according to these developments.

Salatiel Corcos
President