HHD FAQ
What is the Updated COVID Policy for High Holy Days 2024?
We want to ensure that all – including the most vulnerable – can attend Or Shalom's High Holy Days services. While masking is very effective at controlling spread of the virus, the health or wellbeing of some may be negatively impacted by masking. In order to make services accessible for all, we ask that everyone over the age 2 either wear a N95/KN95 mask or test negative for COVID on a rapid test prior to arrival at services.
Additional policies include:
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No one with COVID or flu symptoms may attend in-person services.
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There will be a mask-only seating section at the front of the sanctuary.
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All who unmask and speak on the Bimah, and all members of the Music Ensemble, will have tested negative for COVID.
We will monitor reports of circulating virus in the community and adjust our recommendations accordingly. Stay tuned for updates.
All services will be streamed online, so we encourage you, if you are sick, to attend services with us remotely.
How are honors given during the High Holy Days?
Wondering how folks get invited to do a reading or open the ark during the High Holiday services? These are honors bestowed on members of our community who have given significant amounts of time, energy, or leadership to Or Shalom in the past year. We want to show appreciation to those who have, for example, served on the Board and led committees, hosted happy half hours and traveling shabbats, led services and walks, spearheaded programs like a museum visit, and helped in the office. As you see them come up to the bimah, please send them your thanks. Hope to see you up there next year!
How does parking work at the High Holy Days?
This year we will NOT be distributing any parking permits for use during the high holiday services. However SFMTA has agreed to not enforce residential time parking limitations in the area around the Unitarian Church. This means that you may park in the residential parking zones without the applicable residential permit and you should not get a ticket for overstaying the two hour limit.
As usual, you MUST pay for any metered parking and cannot park in restricted areas. SFMTA does not want us to put any type of permit on our dashboards, so please don't use a permit you may still have from last year. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Julie Brook at juliebrook@hotmail.com.
How can I invite non-members to the High Holy Days at Or Shalom?
If someone grew up with an experience of Judaism, regardless of what they thought of it, at this time of year they might be yearning for a Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur service, but don’t know where to go.
That’s where you have an opportunity to do a double mitzvah. Call that old Jewish friend. Stop by to see your neighborhood Jewish barber. Think of who among your colleagues, communities and acquaintances are Jewish. Invite them to Rosh Hashanah eve or day, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur day, Taschlit on Ocean Beach.
We encourage our guests to pay $0-360 according to their means. At Or Shalom, we call these invitations a double mitzvah. It is a good deed to share HHD services with those who are yearning for them. It is a good deed for Or Shalom to have new people come to join us for HHD, and maybe come back for more!
