JULY 2 • 2020 | 21

O

n March 12, the 
Michigan Board of 
Rabbis decided to close 
synagogue and temple facilities 
due to the threat of COVID-19. 
That action, based on medical 
recommendations, preceded 
Michigan’
s official 
“stay-at-home” 
order. 
The group, 
which includes 
Reform, 
Conservative, 
Reconstructionist, 
Renewal, 
Humanist and Modern 

Orthodox rabbis and those who 
work at Jewish day schools, has 
been discussing policies for 
reopening synagogues. 
Rabbi Aaron Bergman 
of Adat Shalom Synagogue 
serves as the board’
s president. 
Looking ahead to re-opening, 
he said, “We are taking into 
consideration the governor’
s 
orders and changing science. 
We’
ve been very cautious.
”
On June 9, the Michigan 
Board of Rabbis approved a 
policy for re-opening simchahs 
that will “provide essential 
Jewish rituals in ways that 

address our shared commitment 
to health and safety. In doing 
so, we are heeding the advice of 
governmental authorities and 
health experts — and recognize 
that this advice (and our 
response to it) may continue to 
change and evolve rapidly.
”
Beginning Aug. 1, synagogues 
affiliated with the Michigan 
Board of Rabbis will offer 
private, in-person simchahs 
(weddings, baby namings, b’
nei 
mizvah) with specific guidelines. 
These include location 
considerations — outdoor 
ceremonies are preferred, but 
simchahs may be held inside 
a well-ventilated sanctuary 
with additional precautions. 
Participants and guests (besides 
clergy and essential synagogue 
workers) are limited to 25 
people from no more than 
10 households or the state of 

Michigan’
s recommended limit, 
whichever is less.
Worship space will be set up 
to maintain 15 feet of distance 
between clergy and ceremony 
participants. All guests must 
wear masks and sit with at least 
12 feet between individual or 
family groups who live in the 
same household, including 
relatives. Sanitation stations will 
be readily available. Such “touch 
points” as shared programs, 
loaned siddurim, kippot and 
tallitot will be eliminated. 
Aliyot, other than those given 
by a bar/bat mitzvah, or his/her 
family members, will be allowed 
only from the pews.
Several congregations are 
planning to conduct services 
this summer in compliance with 
the Michigan Board of Rabbis’
 
policies for social distancing and 
other health precautions. 

Guidelines for 
Re-opening Simchahs

Weddings, b’
nei mitzvah and baby 
namings can begin Aug. 1.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rabbi Aaron 
Bergman

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D.
 Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

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