Home

Temple Israel is temporarily moving to an online-only model effective January 5-20.

As you may already be aware, the community spread of the coronavirus in Douglas County is currently at record high levels according to the Douglas County Health Department. The Omicron variant, which is currently the dominant coronavirus variant, is less severe but more transmissible than previous iterations.

We believe (and hope) that in the next couple of weeks, the community spread rate will decrease as the holiday season concludes. To assist in combatting community spread in the spaces that we can control, Temple Israel is temporarily moving to an online-only model effective January 5-20.

Our first bat mitzvah of the year is scheduled January 22, and it is our priority to ensure that our upcoming b’nai mitzvah families can safely have the full in-person experience we know they want and that we want for them.

To that end, we are implementing the following precautionary measures effective January 5-20:

• All communal gatherings will be moved online (if possible). This includes Shabbat Services (which will be streamed from the sanctuary with no audience), Torah Study, Jewish Law class, Wednesday afternoon Hebrew classes, Wednesday evening Teen Education, Thursday morning class, Conversion class and the Temple Israel Board Meeting.

• In-person only gatherings will be canceled/postponed. This includes Rosh Chodesh, Parents and Proverbs class, Mah Jongg and OTYG events.

• In-person meetings will continue to be permitted and subject to individual congregant/staff discretion. This includes b’nai mitzvah lessons, appointments, etc.

• Food service will be suspended. This includes Sunday breakfast, Wednesday dinner, Shabbat onegs, Torah Study bagels and the Brooks Café coffee machine.  

• Youth Learning Programs scheduled for January 9 will be canceled.

• Our current Mask Mandate remains in place indefinitely.

It should be noted that this proposed pause in in-person gathering goes beyond existing CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines. While it has been our practice since the summer of 2021 to follow CDC guidelines, we feel taking this additional measure out of an abundance of caution at a time when scheduled Temple Israel activity is relatively limited (e.g., there is already no religious school on Sunday, January 16 due to MLK weekend) is a low-cost, high-impact way we can maximize our chances for a safe and successful b’nai mitzvah season this winter. Thus, it is our intention that the heightened restrictions will expire on Thursday, January 20, in time for the Sherman bat mitzvah and that we will return to our practice of following the CDC’s recommended guidelines for in-person gathering at that time.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Temple Israel office, 402-556-6536.

Jewish Federation Community Calendar    |    Tri-Faith Initiative's Calendar

(IP) = In Person        (Z) = Zoom (click for link)          (IP) (Z) = In Person & Zoom
 

Temple Israel is temporarily moving to an online-only model effective January 5-20.

Monday, January 17

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)

Tuesday, January 18

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)

Wednesday, January 19

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Youth Learning Programs (Online Only) 
• Celebrate Tu B'Shevat at T'filah (Online Only) 4:45p.m.
• Community Beit Midrash (Online Only) 7p.m.

Thursday, January 20

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Thursday Morning Class with Rabbi Azriel 10a.m. Join via Zoom

Friday, January 21

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Classic Shabbat: The Experience of Female Clergy 6p.m.  https://zoom.us/j/951048515

Saturday, January 22

• Torah Study 9:15a.m.  (Z)
• Shabbat Service and Bat Mitzvah of Ashley Sherman 10:30a.m.

Sunday, January 23

• Youth Learning Programs 
• Parents and Proverbs 10:15a.m.

Monday, January 24

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Jewish Law and the Quest for Meaning 11a.m.

Tuesday, January 25

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)

Wednesday, January 26

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Youth Learning Programs 
•  T'filah 4:45p.m.
• Community Beit Midrash  7p.m.

Thursday, January 27

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Thursday Morning Class with Rabbi Azriel 10a.m. (IP) Join via Zoom

Friday, January 28

• Morning Minyan 8 a.m. (Z)
• Shabbat B'yachad: The Experience of Female Clergy 6p.m.  https://zoom.us/j/951048515

Saturday, January 29

• Torah Study 9:15a.m.  (Z)

Sunday, January 30 

• 5th Sunday Breakfast Service at the Stephen Center 9a.m.
• Youth Learning Programs
• Parents and Proverbs 10:15a.m.

Using Zoom: For many of our online opportunities, you will need Zoom downloaded and installed on your computer/phone/tablet. Click here to download Zoom, and click here for Zoom tutorial help.