Orthodox Congregations Plan Outdoor Minyans

When each is ready, and “on a severely limited basis,” Orthodox congregations in Atlanta will offer a single daily outdoor minyan, either for Shacharit (morning prayers) or Minchah/Ma’ariv (afternoon and evening), but not on Shabbat.

The doors of Atlanta synagogues that closed in mid-March as a precaution against spread of the COVID-19 have yet to reopen.

“Not all shuls will function on the same timetable, each one will determine the exact date for partial re-opening based on its physical set-up, membership, and ability to ensure compliance with established protocols. The ban on privately held minyanim continues,” read a letter sent in the name of the following rabbis:

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Rabbi Ilan D. Feldman, Congregation Beth Jacob

Rabbi Dov Foxbrunner, Congregation Beth Jacob

Rabbi Yehuda Boroosan, Congregation Netzach Israel

Rabbi Binyomin Friedman, Congregation Ariel

Rabbi Menachem Gurary, Chabad Israeli Center

Rabbi Karmi Ingber, The Kehilla in Sandy Springs

Rabbi Shmuel Khoshkerman, Congregation Ner Hamizrach

Rabbi Yossi Lerman, Chabad of Gwinnett

Rabbi Levi Mentz, Chabad of Forsyth

Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz, Chabad of North Fulton

Rabbi Yale New, Chabad of Toco Hills

Rabbi Yossi New, Chabad of Georgia-Congregation Beth Tefillah

Rabbi Dr. Don Seeman, New Toco Shul

Rabbi Ephraim Silverman, Chabad of Cobb

Rabbi Adam Starr, Congregation Ohr HaTorah

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, of Chabad Intown, said that his name inadvertently was left off the letter.

“We are dealing with a volatile, sneaky, and deadly virus. This first step in partially resuming minyan should not be seen as a signal to let our guard down. We must continue to practice social distancing and restrictions on hosting for Shabbos and visitors from out of town,” the rabbis’ letter said.

The restrictions include: registration before attending, no access to synagogue buildings (including restrooms), 15 people maximum per service, no children, strongly discouraging people age 65 and older from attending (even to say Kaddish), bringing your own prayer book, no out-of-town visitors, and no minyan in the event of rain.

“This situation continues to be very dangerous; any easing of discipline on our part can endanger others, and slow progress in returning to shul,” said a letter to
Beth Jacob members from Rabbis Ilan Feldman and Dov Foxbrunner.

Congregation Beth Jacob began holding “a very small minyan” in its parking lot May 18, restricting attendance to those in the year of mourning. The next evening the congregation began a Minchah/Ma’ariv service.

In a letter to its congregants, Beth Jacob said, “This is only for male Shul members over age 13 and below age 65.”

Participants are required to park their cars in designated spots and stand by their cars. Those attending must not have traveled outside of Georgia in the previous 14 days, nor exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms in that period.

“This situation continues to be very dangerous; any easing of discipline on our part can endanger others, and slow progress in returning to shul,” said a letter to
Beth Jacob members from Rabbis Ilan Feldman and Dov Foxbrunner.

“Once assigned to a minyan, participants will only attend that same minyan during the 8 day period of this framework and will not attend any other minyan either at Beth Jacob or any other institution. There will be another registration period before Shavuos,” the letter from Rabbis Ilan Feldman and Dov Foxbrunner stated.

“Our progress on trying to come closer to entering our beloved shul depends on continued adherence to social distancing guidelines already in place. This situation continues to be very dangerous; any easing of discipline on our part can endanger others, and slow progress in returning to shul,” the Beth Jacob letter said.

A weeknight Minchah/Ma’ariv minyan at Ohr HaTorah was to begin May 21, in the parking lot behind the synagogue.

“Our congregation is blessed that we all enjoy each others’ company, and it has been months since we have been able to socialize. Just the same, I want to emphasize that the Minyanim are not social events, and attendees should not congregate before or after davening,” read a letter from Rabbi Adam Starr.

At Ohr HaTorah, “Both men and women are welcome to register to attend, although we Halachically require a minimum of 10 men. Priority to be among the 15 registered per minyan will be given to those who are in their year of mourning or observing a yahrzeit, so that they may recite Kaddish,” the letter said.

“I recognize that the age restriction, especially, will exclude many who regularly attend our daily minyan. As hard as this is, we are doing this with your safety first and foremost in mind. We will be Zooming these minyanim so that many more people can participate, and once again be able to hear the words of Kaddish and Kedusha, which we have not heard for many days,” the letter said.

“This very ‘soft opening’ of the shul should, in no way, be interpreted as signaling an easing of social distancing in the community,” Ohr HaTorah Rabbi Adam Starr told his congregants.

Starr’s letter included a caution: “This very ‘soft opening’ of the shul should, in no way, be interpreted as signaling an easing of social distancing in the community. We still need to maintain all social distancing protocols which have been in place since before Pesach.”