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In Jewish law, one principle supersedes all others. פיקוח נפש / Piku’ach Nefesh is usually translated as ‘the preservation of life.’ Let’s say a fire threatens someone’s life on the Sabbath. Despite the Biblical prohibition against extinguishing a flame on Shabbat, if carrying water and putting out the fire (or calling 911) could save a life, one is not only permitted, but obligated to do so. The laws and customs of the evolving civilization of the Jewish people are there to preserve and enhance life, not to threaten it. This principle applies to threats that are visible, such as fires, floods, as well as more elusive, less visible threats, such as a virus (or racial bias). In response to the very real threat to personal and public health posed by Covid-19, Beth Evergreen has made taken clear steps to ‘preserve life,’ even as we have striven to fulfill our three-fold mission as a spiritual community -- fostering community and connection in the foothills with lifelong learning, meaningful service and, creative worship inspired by Jewish culture and tradition. Our congregation has remained open for sacred business in real and virtual ways, even as the building itself has remained largely empty. Our weekly and monthly classes have continued on-line via zoom link. Indeed, thanks to your interest and Elizabeth Moore’s technology support, we have both continued most of our regular programs, and even expanded offerings. Eve has hosted social time weekly on Tuesday mornings and monthly on Friday evenings before services. In addition to finishing the religious school year with creativity and strength, Tara has offered Hebrew study sessions for all ages scheduled around your availability. Rabbi Jamie offered a live omer counting ritual live on Tuesday nights, and continues to lead 19 minutes of soothing melodies and meditation on Friday mornings at 9 AM called “AlephBet Soup for the Soul.” And I do hope you were able to at least sample some of the 15-hours of Shavuot celebrations that we at CBE recently hosted, a collaboration of more than 36 different musicians, rabbis, and teachers from Reconstructionist congregations around the world. And the opportunities for connecting through music, study, and service continue. Visit the Virtual Gatherings tab on your Beth Evergreen website for details. As you are aware, both state and federal administrations, recognizing the value of spiritual community in supporting individuals and families during such turbulent and potent times, have given congregations like ours a green light to resume in-person gatherings on site. And, it is also true that the expression piku’ach nefesh literally means, “to open the nefesh [embodied soul]” as one opens the eyes when rousing from sleep in the morning. So, do we re-open the building for in-person communal gatherings, or not? And if so, how? Your staff and board representatives, have been consulting, brainstorming, and deliberating for weeks, and wish to share with you our current plan –welcoming, as always, your feedback.   Here is the gist. We will…

• Continue to make all formal CBE events (classes, services, meetings etc.) available to you via Zoom and/or live-streamed on Facebook.
• Continue to insist that anyone who is ill , or is exhibiting COVId symptoms, or has had exposure to someone with COVId, stay home.
• Continue to encourage anyone considered ‘high risk’ because of age or preexisting conditions to likewise stay home.

And, beginning on the first weekend of July, we plan to re-extend the invitation for those self-selecting individuals, who wish to attend CBE events in person again, under the following guidelines, as adopted from the Colorado state guidance for Places of Worship:

• We will plan to gather outside rather than inside whenever possible to reduce the risk of potential transmission. If meeting inside we will open outside doors and windows as much as possible to increase ventilation.
• Internal doors will remain propped open as well to create a “touchless” experience.
• We will not serve or share food or drink. And we ask you to not enter the kitchen to avoid touching shared surfaces.
• The state is currently allowing indoor gathering of up to 50 people. Given the size of our space and the desire to play it safe, we plan to limit gatherings inside the building to 25 people, and to cap our numbers outside at 50. As such, we ask you to register for events on-line beforehand on the CBE website and to honor the registration limits. If all the registration spots are filled, you can always join virtually.
• We will require that each attendee practice safe physical distancing (standing or sitting at least 6 feet apart), wear a mask inside (especially if you plan to sing, and we hope you do), and encourage mask wearing outside as well. Masks will be provided at the entrance, as well as hand sanitizer.

If you plan to join us in person, please consider volunteering to help wiping down door handles and surfaces, and to reinforce our safety measures. Please contact Eve to volunteer. We approach this next phase in our congregational response to the global pandemic with both excitement and trepidation. We certainly look forward to s seeing your smiling faces in person. Perhaps the most challenging part for us will be refraining from hand shaking and hugging! We will have to practice hugging with our eyes. These are challenging times, and we are more than up to the challenge. Thank you for your patience, support, and participation through this time of change and uncertainly. One thing is certain though. Whether in-person or via cyber link, we remain connected by a shared mission and by bonds of friendship and mutual support. We are here for one another, a sacred community going from strength to strength.