With an abundance of care and prudence, the leadership of OU Israel has instituted the below-delineated protocols.
Unfortunately the JewishVideo program is suspended indefinitely. It pains me greatly to inform you of that precaution. As soon as we are "back and running" I will let you know.
May we get through this critical period with no loss of life and nobody taken gravely ill Bezrat Hashem.
Thank you for your understanding.
Shabbat Shalom and Pesach Kasher v'Sameach.
12 March 2020
Dear OU Israel Center colleagues, teachers and friends,
As we continue to hear the unsettling news, we will be initiating the following protocols to ensure the well-being of all members of our OU Israel Center community.
-All regular weekly OU Israel Shiurim are going to continue b'ezrat Hashem as scheduled, with the added precaution of limiting each shiur to a maximum of 50 participants.
-As such, we will be making every effort to record as many of the shiurim as possible, and possibly even live-stream some of them, so that those who are either vulnerable or uncomfortable about coming to group settings can still participate in their regular weekly shiurim.
-Regarding OU Israel Tiyulim: As our tiyulim do not exceed fifty participants, at this time our regularly scheduled tiyulim will indeed continue. Participants of all OU Israel Tiyulim, will be required to sign a waiver stating that they have not recently returned or arrived from abroad, as well as stating that they exhibit no symptoms of ill health.
As we continue both to monitor the news and updates from the Health Ministry regarding the spread of coronavirus, as well as daven for the recovery and well being of all those who may have contracted the virus, we have decided to introduce the following proactive policies to protect our participants:
Please follow the protocols outlined by the Health Ministry regarding high-risk or vulnerable individuals participating in public settings, travel restrictions and home quarantine for those who have traveled abroad.
In consideration for the well being of all those who frequent the OU Israel Center, If indeed you exhibit any of the possible symptoms including fever and respiratory issues please seek immediate medical attention and do not attend or visit the OU Israel Center premises.
Please wash with soap or sanitize your hands with hand sanitizer upon entrance to the OU Israel Center.
Please do not kiss the Mezuzah or the Torah with direct contact. This is a policy that was first introduced by the great sage
Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin and is particularly wise at this time as we are concerned about public well being.
We recommend that people attempt to eliminate handshakes from their social interactions. Not because we love each other less, but because we care for each other’s health more.
At this time, all other OU Israel Center programming(including our popular Jewish Video Series,Our OU Dorot Intergenerational Choir and Special Evening Programs) outside of our regular Torah classes and Tiyulim, will be suspended until further notice.
We look forward to B'Ezrat Hashem being able to reconsider some of these precautionary measures in the near future.
Wishing us all continued good health and a Chag Kasher V'Sameach,
Rabbi Sam Shor
