updated 4/11/22

Effective Monday, March 14, 2022, Temple Sinai is adopting the recommendations of DC Health and other agencies (see below)* and will not require masks or proof of vaccination for anyone entering the temple with the exception of Temple Sinai Nursery School indoor all-school programs and meetings. 

Please note that if the situation changes and DC Health or other agencies recommend masking or other protective measures, we will follow their guidance and restore any necessary protocols.

We understand this is a significant and swift change that is not comfortable for everyone. After two years of pandemic isolation and strict requirements for in-person programs, some temple members, staff, and guests may not yet feel safe to gather with others or simply are not ready. We support you and whatever decisions you make for yourself and your family members regarding attendance, masks, and social distancing. You should continue to wear a mask whenever you want at Temple Sinai or to remove it when you feel comfortable. For Shabbat services and indoor programs, whenever possible, we will use rooms that are big enough to allow space for individuals who want to sit with more distance from others. We will continue providing virtual access through Zoom so you can still participate from home when you want to.

*Beginning February 15, 2022, the Government of the District of Columbia stated that indoor venues will no longer be required to verify that patrons are vaccinated.

On March 8, 2022, both DC and Montgomery County lifted mask mandates for schools. DC Health released updated COVID-19 guidelines for schools recommending masks only when D.C. is experiencing high community transmission, which is not currently the case. DC Health’s new guidelines align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which at the end of February shifted away from recommending masks in K-12 settings in all regions except those experiencing high transmission. Read more here.