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Convention Health Policy - UPDATED 2.14.22

B'Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together, our movement wide Convention is less than two months away.  We are so happy to be able to offer a multi—access Convention, open to anyone who wants to be a part of this important and meaningful gathering. Among the many lessons learned from planning during these past almost two years, is that we are strongest when we are together. The importance of connection and the power of community have never been more apparent. We have kept these concepts in our minds and hearts as we have planned and re-planned the Reconstructing Judaism Convention.

  1. Based on the recommendation of our Health Advisory Task Force, we will require that all attendees, age 18 years and over, have had a booster shot by the time of Convention. For any attendees aged 5 – 17 years, we will require a booster (for 12+), or the second of two shots within five months of Convention. Please upload your most recent vaccine documentation by clicking here, or upload when prompted on the registration form.
  2. Also based on the recommendation of the Task Force, we will require N95, KN95, or KF94 masks at all Convention events, except when eating or drinking. Attendees can either bring their own mask of this type or use the masks that we will provide to them.
  3. Given the current, dramatic downward trend of Covid 19 metrics, the Health Advisory Task Force and our own extensive research have led us to adopt the following position: 

  • Should you be experiencing any symptoms related to Covid 19, before you leave your home to come to the Convention, then please stay home and we will ensure that you can access the Convention virtually and receive a pro-rated refund of your registration.  

  • We are recommending that everyone attending the Convention bring a rapid antigen test with them. If an attendee is already at the Convention and experiences Covid symptoms, then they will need to notify a staff member (name and number to be provided at registration) and then test. If you do not have a test, one will be provided for you and delivered to your hotel room. After administering the test, the attendee will then notify the same staff member of the results. The attendee will remain isolated in their hotel room until they are no longer experiencing symptoms and/ or test negative. If needed, meals will be delivered to their room by hotel staff.  

  • At registration, we will provide a list of local medical resources: clinics and urgent care facilities, local medical doctors, and pharmacies.  

  • The Health Advisory Task Force will reexamine these issues if and when the facts on the ground warrant it. 

The Hilton McLean has many mitigation efforts in place. All the public areas of the hotel have a sophisticated air filtration system. All hotel staff are masked and wait staff wear gloves. We are putting physical distancing measures into place for all meals, workshops, and plenary sessions. 

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any questions you have along the way; we can’t wait to hear from you and to have your participation in the Convention. Please reach out to Jacob Weinberg at JWeinberg@ReconstructingJudaism.org with any questions.

 

Shabbat Policy - 9.26.21

For those attending the Reconstructing Judaism Convention during Shabbat, please review the following information: 

Shabbat is that day of the week when we are invited to look up from the day-to-day world and connect to the world around us and be in sacred community.  Shabbat at Convention is a wonderful time to appreciate the beauty and spirituality of being part of a large Reconstructionist community.   Our Shabbat celebration will be filled with prayer, study, singing, dancing and many other shared experiences.  Because we're Reconstructionists, we don't "mandate" how each person celebrates Shabbat. However, this Shabbat, we invite you to disconnect from the day-to-day world-- especially from email and social media-- and fully experience Shabbat with your extended Reconstructionist community. 

We invite you to turn off your phones for all of Shabbat. If that is not possible, please make sure that your phones are turned off at services, meals and programs during Shabbat. We will begin and end Shabbat together as a kehillah (group) and celebrate with large and small group programming during all 25 hours of Shabbat. 

While you are, of course, free to make your own decisions about using money on Shabbat, we have made sure that all Shabbat meals are provided for you as part of registration.  Our vendor area will be closed on Shabbat.

Formal Shabbat programs will be professionally recorded and/or livestreamed.  There will also be unobtrusive, respectful professional photography to preserve some Convention Shabbat moments. If you would prefer not to be in public photographs, you will have the opportunity to decline being a part of the published photographs.  Given that we have professional videographers and photographers preserving the memories of this event for us, we ask that you not use your own cell phone cameras, particularly in our larger gatherings, over Shabbat.  As always, we remind you to ask permission before photographing any individual.