COVID

As of Fall 2022

We are no longer requiring proof of Covid vaccinations in order to attend in-person services and events.

As of Friday, April 1st

Our mask requirement has been lifted as of Friday, April 1st. We continue to recommend mask wearing for those who are immunocompromised or who feel more comfortable wearing a mask. 

As of Wednesday, January 12th

Religious school will be virtual for the remainder of January and February. We will reassess for March towards the end of February.

Erev Shabbat services will only be available via Zoom until further notice. Our Shabbat morning services will remain a hybrid of in-person and virtual. Torah and Haftarah chanters must remain masked.

As of Wednesday, March 10th

Discussions are in process to hold services at Congregation Kol Ami after Pesach. As always, the safety of our members and guests is our primary consideration. For now wear a mask, stay distanced, and schedule your vaccine! 

We have been hearing from many of you that your students are appreciating the chance to connect with their Religious School friends that our Zoom classes are providing. We also know that regular schedules can promote a sense of normalcy. We want to make sure that we provide all the curriculum that you signed on for, and that we provide a space for your students to connect with each other.

For these reasons, the school year will continue through to the end of May. Enrolled students will receive updated calendars and Zoom links by email.

Please email Tamara Kipper, Interim Religious School Director, with questions or comments.

The Kol Ami Cemetery Association has some new, temporary, procedures in regards to the current pandemic:

Wasatch Lawn will be the only approved mortuary for all burials handled by the Kol Ami Cemetery Association.

For at-need purchase of a grave-site, the family will select the specific cemetery and may express preferences by telephone, but a Cemetery Association Trustee will select a location without meeting family representatives on-site.

Officiating at a burial may be done only by local clergy and with approval from Kol Ami’s senior rabbi.

The officiating clergy will set limits on the number of persons who may attend a burial, in conformance with state and local directives and/or orders.

Kol Ami Members Only: Members may reserve and purchase pre-need gravesites via telephone/email; the location may be changed without additional fees until November 1, 2020.

Volunteers who serve on the Chevra Kadisha, if willing, shall perform tahara in a way that will not endanger themselves; whatever procedure is approved by Kol Ami’s clergy will be accepted by the Cemetery Association for burial in Montefiore and Shaare Tzedek.

Learn more here.

Dear members of our Kol Ami family,

After much talk with health and state officials and discussions between our staff and lay leadership, we have made the following decisions regarding our community and the COVID-19 virus spread.

Throughout the remainder of the month of March, beginning with tonight’s Shabbat service, we will suspend in-person Shabbat services and hold services via livestream. You can access the livestream here.. Tomorrow’s Bat Mitzvah will continue as scheduled; however, we are asking that attendees be limited to family, friends, and classmates of the Selzman family. Other upcoming events have sadly been cancelled including the Passover Wine Tasting and Joel Rosenberg’s Concert.

Morning minyan will take place over Zoom conference meeting through the remainder of the month, please email Cantor Bat-Sarah for access information.

Our Friday night siddur can be virtually accessed here and our Saturday morning, Conservative siddur, can be purchased here.

Further, the Rafi Schwartz Religious School will be closed this week as we conduct training for the teachers to have remote class instruction if necessary. The following week of classes we are closed for our previously scheduled Spring Break.

We ask that you follow the governor’s recommendations; please avoid crowds of 100 people or more, with people over the age of 60 avoiding gatherings of larger than 20 people. Please also practice handwashing regularly and stay home or seek medical attention if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness.

Please know that none of these decisions were taken lightly, but rather through hours of study and conversation. Ultimately, our most important Jewish value is keeping our community safe while still trying to provide for their spiritual needs. Although these steps are requiring us to take unconventional matters, let us be reminded of the Talmudic teachings that “we shall live by (the commandments), and not die by them” (B. Talmud Yoma 85b) and “[The rules against] endangering oneself are more stringent than [those against breaking a] commandment” (BT Hullin 10a). We thank you for your understanding and for doing your part to ensure our community's safety.

L’briyut ul’hayim, to health and to life,

Rabbi Samuel L. Spector
Teresa Bruce, Co-President
Jim Isaacson, Co-President

At Congregation Kol Ami, the health and safety of our congregants is our utmost concern. Our leadership has been closely monitoring the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak and has been in touch with medical professionals who are connected to the Center for Disease Control, the Utah Department of Health, and other state officials. At this time, we have not been advised to cancel services or synagogue gatherings.The same holds true for the Rafi Schwartz Religious School as well as the Playful Learning Preschool. If you have any scheduled meetings or plan on attending any gatherings at the synagogue, we suggest that you check the website for status updates prior to the event.

For many of us, catching this virus can be manageable, however we are most concerned about older congregants and those who are high-risk, such as people with a chronic medical condition or a pre-existing heart or lung condition. Kol Ami is considering options for streaming services for those who are compromised or need to stay home.

The virus is spread by airborne droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze. In order to protect yourself and others, we ask congregants to not take part in certain practices that could lead to the spread of germs, such as connecting to the challah, drinking from the same kiddush cup, or kissing mezuzot, prayer books, and Torah scrolls. Here are some other ways you can help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19:

• Refrain from shaking hands during services.
• Wash your hands often; for at least 20 seconds.
• Use the hand sanitizer provided around the building.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash or cough into your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

While catching the virus may not be overly concerning for many of us, the transmission of the virus to those more vulnerable is of utmost concern. This very well publicized concern stems from the awareness that one may be infected with and thus able to transmit the virus for up to two weeks before realizing they have the symptoms. We must all stay vigilant and cautious. Please, if you or your child are displaying flu-like symptoms, we ask that you stay at home until you are assured that you are not potentially contagious.

We have also placed information regarding the virus and prevention around the synagogue and will provide updates on our website.

For more information, call the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 or visit the following websites coronavirus.utah.gov and cdc.gov/coronavirus.

We will continue to monitor this situation and ensure that we are putting safety first. Thank you for your cooperation.