Convention Health Policy - UPDATED 2.14.22B'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.
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 - 9.26.21For 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. |