Covid-19 Resources

Get Vaccinated

For the latest information from the state of Massachusetts regarding vaccination, please click HERE, and to register via the MA government site click HERE. Another helpful mass.gov site is https://vaxfinder.mass.gov, and yet another non-governmental site to help find locations with available appointments is www.vaccinefinder.org.

More scheduling sites:

CVS https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine usually adds appointments for the coming 5 days at midnight and 1am.

What does it mean to say that a vaccine is n% effective? NYTimes explainer. NPR explainer.

Fully Vaccinated? Read the CDC guidelines on how to protect yourself and others HERE.

CDT's Re-Entry Protocol Committee and Guidelines

Last updated April 7, 2021

In response to the evolving COVID landscape, a Re-entry Protocol Committee was formed in 2020 and has been tasked with following ongoing research as well as federal, state, and municipal policy response and guidelines in order to provide time-sensitive recommendations to the CDT executive committee and board on CDT policy for in-person gatherings, including hybrid programming. Current members: Bob Warren, Barbara Beck, Paul Hattis, Linette Liebling, Gail Pressberg, Lisa Samelson, Lauren Stefano, Rabbi Toba, and Melissa Colten.

We thank you for your partnership and patience as we work together to celebrate safely. Because the situation with the pandemic is constantly in flux, please know that we will revise these guidelines as circumstances change, and be in touch with Melissa Colten if you have any questions.

Guidelines for B'nei Mitzvah Mitzvah families of April, May and June 2021

This is an exciting time and we all want to celebrate safely! We have both indoor and outdoor in-person options for your ceremony location, so please let us know which site you prefer one month before the big day so we can thoroughly prepare technical and logistical staffing. Please note that all Shabbat services will also be Zoomed for guests and congregants.

Pre-registration of in-person guests for both indoor and outdoor options is required. We need to know who is attending and in which pod they are to be seated. Guests will find seats within their designated labeled pod when they arrive.

If you have a fever or are experiencing any Covid symptoms, you should not attend the ceremony. No food can be brought or shared during or after the CDT services.

INDOORS

If you would like to hold your B'Mitzvah ceremony in the CDT sanctuary, we can safely accommodate 35-45 persons, depending on the size and number of pods. Rabbi Toba has been fully vaccinated; we will not, however, require vaccinations or Covid-19 tests for attendees.

The set-up in the sanctuary will be as follows

Rabbi Toba will be up on the gallery stage at the far side of the sanctuary, and will be unmasked only during the service. While leading the service, she is 24 feet away from the closest guests in the sanctuary.
The only other staff member present will be Dennis Maler, CDT technician. He has been fully vaccinated, will be masked throughout the ceremony, and will be sitting sitting towards the back in the middle.
Attendees will remain masked throughout the ceremony, with the exception of when leading prayers or chanting from the Torah on the bimah, and when going up for an Aliyah.
Other guest pods will be seated at least 13 feet from the bimah and at least 6 feet from one another (this distance will be maintained between pods, not individuals). Guests must remain masked throughout the ceremony.
Attendees will be asked to sing softly.

OUTDOORS

When at Gann Academy under our 2 canopies, we can safely and logistically accommodate between 50-150 guests. This number is dependent on the changing Covid landscape and recommendations by CDT's Re-entry Protocol Committee. We appreciate your patience with this changing number, so please feel free to call Melissa to discuss your specific situation on an ongoing basis.

Rabbi Toba will be unmasked during the service, and will be at least 13 feet from the b'mitzvah while leading the service. Guests will remain masked throughout the ceremony, but those who come up for Aliyot may unmask when they are leading prayers/reading from Torah/reciting a blessing.
Guests will be seated at least 13 feet from the bimah, some may be somewhat far from the bimah depending on numbers. The sound system will reach all of the guests in attendance, even if visibility is limited.
CDT will provide a porta-potty and hand-washing for guests, and will also make sure that the ceremony is accessible via Zoom for guests ands congregants who are unable to attend in person.
We will do our best to hold the ceremony outdoors, rain or shine. If it seems likely that weather conditions will not permit us to hold the ceremony outdoors, we will shift to indoors a the CDT sanctuary. The decision to move indoors will be made by noon on the Thursday before the b'mitzvah.

How to Take Care of Yourself During the Pandemic

We’ve collected these resources in response to questions we’ve received from our members. Please check back regularly as we continue to add more, and please feel free to send additional resources to us for posting.

• Government Resources about COVID-19
• Testing
• Resources for Emotional and Spiritual Self Care
• Exercise
• Emotional Health for Kids
• Financial Resources
• Educational Resources
• Resources for Kids
• Entertainment Ideas
• Event Listings
• Go to the Theater
• Go to a Museum
• Watch a Movie
• Listen to a Podcast
• Sing or Listen to Music
• Other Great Lists and Resources
• Ways to Help

Exercise

• Advice on Exercising During the Pandemic

• Find a Hiking Trail with AllTrails

• P.E. with Coach Joe

• Sign up for a CDT Walking Buddy

Religious Resources

• Kol Haneshamah, the Reconstructionist siddur

• CDT's All-Ages Erev Shabbat siddur

• Siddur Chaveirim Kol Yisraeil for Friday Evening

• Siddur Hallel v'Zimrah for Shabbat Morning

Mass Support Coping Groups

• For those with children being schooled remotely - 2/2 at 7pm, 2/4 at 11am

• For COVID-19 survivors - 2/9 at 7pm, 2/11 at 11am

• For healthcare and mental health providers - 2/16 at 7pm, 2/18 at 11am

Financial Resources

• the City of Newton has information of various financial resources;

including a fund for help with utilities.

• CJP Warmline, for those needing financial and other assistance

• Yad Chesed, for Jewish individuals and families needing financial assistance

• Masshire page, for those seeking work

• United Way COVID-19 Fund

• FamilyWize discounts on prescription drugs

• US Department of the Treasury Assistance for Small Businesses

• Jewish Re-employment Program, free job search counseling

• Keches Cares, a nonprofit associated with the Keches law group, has opened up funding for those who need any kind of help right now, including assistance filing for unemployment benefits, financial aid, getting groceries or sourcing protective equipment. Learn More & Apply for Assistance

• Frontline Home Benefit Program