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I hope this note finds you safe and well. I’ve been continually heartened by the strong sense of community and closeness that the Keilah has shown in the last few months. 
 
As we work to welcome Rabbi Hearshen and his family to our Keilah, our “Reopening” Committee has been hard at work to determine the quickest and safest way to reopen our building. As a reminder, that committee is made up of Dr. Mikhail Akbashev, Robert Arogeti, Ann Benator, Shelley Cooper, David Franco, Elise Meyer, Sergeant Jeff Wiggs, and Adam Kofinas. In addition, the committee has convened a doctor’s roundtable of medical professionals within OVS to guide us in the best ways to decrease our risk of COVID-19 transmission.
 
The committee has determined that the target date to re-open the Keilah building will be Shabbat, July 4th -- Rabbi’s first Shabbat with us! In order to reopen the building with the least possible risk, you will see some new measures put in place to keep you and everyone else safe. The committee has determined five phases of reopening, each with its own benchmarks and timelines, which you can read in full here. It’s important to note that safely reopening the Keilah depends on the cooperation of everyone, and as we continue forward, we will continue to loosen or tighten our policies as science dictates. Nothing will guarantee safety, but note this list of precautions we will be following as part of our July 4th service forward, which include requiring advanced registration, masks worn at all times, screening prior to entering the Keilah, and physical adjustments to increase the flow of external air, and decrease our physical interactions with one another. To Register for the July 4th Shabbat Morning Service, click here.
 
Thank you in advance for reading and following our new rules to reopen the Keilah. Everyone’s safety depends on each individual following them. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. 
 
I hope that these times have redoubled our resolve to stay emotionally and spiritually close, while we chart a path forward to begin to gather physically. If there is anything that you or your loved ones need, please email our Executive Director, Adam Kofinas, or feel free to contact me.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Semon Akbashev, Board President

Thank you to those who have answered the call to donate to the OVS Security Fund. If you have not already, please click here to make your pledge. With your help, we will continue to improve our building to ensure the safety of our community.

In her New York Times article on Monday, November 26, Joan Nathan highlights OVS Sisterhood's long-standing tradition of Bureka Tuesdays. Join us this upcoming Sunday for our annual Hanukkah Bazaar and try a Bureka for yourself. 

We are happy to announce that the OVS History Committee has concluded its two-year project of identifying, on an Atlanta city map, early OVS members’ residences and businesses located on Atlanta’s Southside. To learn more and find out how to purchase a copy of the map, click here.

You are invited to examine the map reproduced on glossy photographic paper and the accompanying booklet.