High Holy Days - Guest Policies and Security

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Dear Members of Temple Beth Shalom,

We are writing to reiterate our security procedures and our seating policy for the High Holidays. All of these procedures are necessary due to heightened security concerns by our members, by the larger Jewish community, and by law enforcement and protection agencies with whom we have met over the past few years.

1. In order to accommodate all our member families and their overnight guests, we will have one congregational service on Rosh Hashanah Eve and both an early and a late service on Rosh Hashanah Morning, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur Morning. The Temple Beth Shalom Board policy is to allow only overnight guests of Temple members. All other special requests must be directed to Rabbi Schecter for security and seating-capacity considerations. Times/dates, and procedures for any special accommodations are as follows:
   • Members whose last names begin with letters A through Kwill attend the early services for Rosh Hashanah on Saturday Morning and late services for Yom Kippur.
   • Members whose last names begin with the letters L through Z will attend the late services for Rosh Hashanah on Saturday Morning and early services for Yom Kippur.
   • Some families may want to switch their assigned times due to special circumstances. Please let the Temple Office know, one week prior to the Holiday, so we can be certain of adequate seating at each service.
   • Members must inform the Temple Office of the number of overnight guests they are bringing. Depending upon the number of special requests, members with overnight guests will be asked to attend the earlier service. We have scheduled a significant break between the two sessions to allow for traffic flow and safety, both inside and outside the Temple.
2. All members of Temple Beth Shalom will be required to register upon entering the building. All overnight guests will have to be registered in advance by name with the Temple Office and members must accompany their guests in order for their guests to enter the Sanctuary. The Temple Beth Shalom Board Policy is to allow only overnight guests of Temple members to attend High Holiday Services.
3. We are eager to continue our decades-old open seating policy at family services on Rosh Hashanah afternoon and Yom Kippur afternoon, second day Rosh Hashanah, and at the Yizkor Memorial service on Yom Kippur. We do not want to close our doors to the community but neither can we keep them wide open because of these heightened security concerns. Therefore, we will have a separate sign-in table for non-members at these services and we will require their home addresses at that time so we establish a way of contacting them about our seating policy in future years.
4. There will be uniformed guards on the premises throughout the holidays. We are trying to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible within the new constraints dictated by heightened security and increased membership. We need your cooperation in light of these procedures by creating and sustaining the right spirit so all may enjoy the High Holiday season.
5. We encourage donations for your guests to help support our efforts.

Yours truly,
The Board of Temple Beth Shalom