Community Policies

The Board of Rabbis has shared the following policies on community lifecycle events in order to protect the health of our communities' members and slow the spread of Coronavirus:

Funerals

During the Coronavirus crisis, chapel funerals are strongly discouraged. When held, only close family members should be in attendance, with only the minimum number needed for a minyan. Participants should be seated at a distance from one another.

Graveside funerals should be the norm, with a limit of a minyan (per new government recommendation). Attendees must be seated or standing at a distance from one another.

Unveilings

In light of the current situation, all unveilings should be postponed until it is safe to gather once again.

Shiva

Families may observe shiva. Shiva visits should be limited to only a few people at a time, and distances maintained between people. Shiva minyanim are discouraged at this time.

Birth, Brit, Naming Ceremonies

Brit and other birth and naming ceremonies should take place privately with attendance limited to immediate family only. A larger celebration may take place after the health crisis has passed.

B'nei/B'not Mitzvah

B'nei/B'not Mitzvah should be postponed. Each congregation will make its own determination as to the portions that children have prepared.

Weddings

Public weddings should not be held. Small weddings with immediate family and/or a minyan present may be held. Larger celebrations and postponed weddings will be held after the health crisis has passed.

Sheva berachot meals are strongly discouraged.

Proclamation of Compassion and Care

WHEREAS, we, who are faith and spiritual leaders in Broward County, join together representing a diversity of religious traditions, belief systems and spiritual practices in order to responsibly nurture and preserve our community;

WHEREAS, we agreed that all human beings are sacred creations and need every safeguard for healing and thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, we must seek the best in ourselves and the best for our neighbors’ health and well-being to uphold the universal golden rule of reciprocity;

WHEREAS, we are unifying today and every day to model the future we wish to see for future generations as an act of faith, acknowledging that faith is not something we hold in our hands but a confidence we hold in our hearts;

WHEREAS, we affirm that physical distancing is an act of compassion and absolute medical necessity;

THEREFORE, we call on all people of faith, no matter the expression of faith, to join in our urgent appeal not to congregate or gather in person for worship and prayer until the pandemic threat is resolved, We commend those government and community leaders who are taking action for our welfare and working in one accord with our civic leaders to maintain physical distance as a means to diminish the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to respectfully honor the sanctity of human life.

Religious Leaders

Pastor Dwayne Black, Rabbi Marci Bloch, Rabbi Bradd Boxman, Father Albert Cutie, Rabbi Rose Durbin, Rabbi Hector Epelbaum, Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz, Rabbi Bennet Greenspon. Rabbi Andrew Jacobs, Rabbi Cheryl Jacobs, Rabbi Avi Kapnek, Rabbi Sam Kieffer, Rabbi Noah Kitty, Rabbi Marc Labowitz, Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Rev. Debra McLaughlin, Rabbi David Novak, Scott Richards, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, Rabbi Arnold D. Samlan, Rev. Dr. Ben Sorensen, Rabbi David Spey, Rabbi Adam Watstein, Rabbi Yosef Weinstock

Religious and Communal Institutions

Beth Emet, Beth Israel - Sunrise, B’nai Aviv, Congregation Etz Chaim, Congregation Kol Tikvah, Fort Lauderdale Stake - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hillel of Broward/Palm Beach, ISH, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Kol Chaverim, Minister of Word and Sacrament (PCUSA), New Mount Olive Baptist Church,

Ramat Shalom, Saint Benedict’s Episcopal Church, Sanctuary Church, Temple Adath Or, Temple Bat Yam, Temple Beth Am - Margate, Temple Beth Orr, Temple Sinai of Hollywood, Temple Solel, Young Israel of Hollywood.