COVID-19 Response

March 11, 2020
9:00am

We write as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to expand and impact our community, our country and our whole world. As leadership of Am Shalom we want to balance diligence with continuing our essential mission as a congregation. We don't want to over-react, and we don't want to under-react. We are carefully monitoring the situation and wanted to let you know where we are at this moment. Of course, this is a very fluid situation and things can change; we will adjust as quickly as necessary.

1. Shabbat services, Torah Study Minyan and "Almost Daily" Minyan will continue as planned. Our oneg and kiddush tables have been modified to allow us all to enjoy a nosh while avoiding buffet-style self-service. We encourage anyone who has concerns about being in a high risk group to make the right decision for yourself about whether or not to stay home. Please tune into our Shabbat service from the comfort of your couch via livestream if that's what is best for you.

2. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our annual Kudan Scholar-in-Residence program. Our distinguished speaker, Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, must travel to us from New York, where a state of emergency has been established due to COVID-19. The health and safety of our congregants is our highest priority, and after conferring with Dr. Hoffman, Rabbi Kudan, and medical professionals, we agreed that postponing this event and dinner is the best way to keep our community safe. We are working to find a new date later in the year.

3. Other upcoming programs, particularly those that involve sharing a meal, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please register for programs and events in advance, so we are able to contact you directly if we do need to cancel. Need help navigating ShulCloud, our member portal/event registration system? Please contact Matthew Altman at matthewa@amshalom.com or 847.835.4800. Now is a great time to make sure we have up-to-date contact information. Please log into your account and update your profile by clicking here.

4. We have changed the cleaning protocols at Am Shalom so that surfaces are disinfected daily with hospital-grade solution.

5. We continue with our new protocols inside of Am Shalom:

• Please use hand sanitizer or wash your hands upon entering. Hand sanitizing stations are located near the entrance and throughout the building. Tired of singing Happy Birthday while washing? Here are some 20 second tunes to sing while you're soaping.

• Instead of kissing and hugging when greeting each other, please offer alternative greetings like waving, offering the Cohen Gadol's "live long and prosper" sign, or placing one or both hands over your heart to spread the love, but not the germs.

• If you are symptomatic of a cold, the flu, or any other easily communicable illness, please stay in the comfort of your own home. Likewise, if you have underlying medical conditions or a weakened immune system, please consider staying home. Our Shabbat service is livestreamed every Friday at 6:30pm at amshalom.com/livestream

• If your travels include areas with widespread, sustained transmission, or if you are aware that an environment that you have been in (e.g. work, school, a cruise ship) is specifically being investigated, please don't come to Am Shalom until fully cleared. 

Likewise, please practice "common sense" advice in your own homes, such as wiping down door knobs, cell phones and other surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes. Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.

Please visit the CDC website for more information, recommendations and precautions. The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a hotline for questions at 1-800-889-3931. 

We are also here to offer you spiritual support in this time of growing anxiety. As always, our clergy are available to speak with you and help in any way that they can. The chesed, kindness, that we practice as a community can be a powerful antidote to fear and anxiety. The Jewish community has always stood together and cared for one another and in doing so, we have weathered generations of storms. We are here for you.

We are doing our best to stay up-to-date on the situation, but things are changing rapidly. We will continue to communicate as often as need be, and encourage you to read any Am Shalom email that has COVID-19 in its subject line.

In good health,

Dr. Michael Blum
President

Laura Horn, Alyssa Latala and Zoe Sherman
Executive Team

Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein, Rabbi Phyllis Sommer and Rabbi Pam Mandel
Cantor Andrea Rae Markowicz and Cantor Julie Staple