COVID19 Communication | Springfield Jewish Community Center

As each day passes in our empty building it is a reminder of how much your presence inspires the work we do every day to fulfill our mission of building a strong and caring Community. This week, however, it is the resilience and commitment of our staff who have worked so diligently to develop online activities and exchanges so that we may maintain connections with you that has been our inspiration; as have the calls, emails and comments that many of you have sent expressing your support and appreciation of our staff, their work and the value of the J Community. It is this communal spirit that will surely help keep us going through these unprecedented days.

Thank you for your patience in order for our leadership to work to make the best choices available and communicate them accurately in order to build a strong foundation for continued service. With the support of the JCC Board of Directors, we have established these guiding principles for preschool tuition, out of school care fees, program registration and membership dues.

THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER – The state has mandated closure of the preschool at least through April 6. The JCC will freeze tuition payments beginning April 1. While no tuition payments will be processed after April 1, families will continue to have the option to direct charges as a contribution to the JCC’s sustainability efforts. Prorated payments will begin when the Early Learning Center is able to reopen.

Recognizing the direct and community wide impact of the building closure, Early Learning Center families will have the option to a) apply the remaining half of March’s already processed tuition charge as a credit in a future billing period or b) direct the remaining two weeks of the charge as a tax deductible contribution to the JCC Staff sustainability efforts.

KIDS SPACE & CAP – The JCC will freeze Program fees April 1. No fees will be processed until the program can reopen. More specific communication will be sent directly to families in these programs.

PROGRAM REGISTRATION FEES (classes, events, leagues, etc.) Any current program fees that have already been paid and where the program will not be rescheduled or delivered online will be credited to your membership account for future use.

TRAVEL AND BUS TRIPS – Members who have made deposits and payments for travel programs in jeopardy will be contacted directly by our Adult Department Staff regarding rescheduling, credits and/or refunds.

MEMBERSHIP – JCC Membership is a diverse and engaging experience; even as our building is closed, we continue to explore ways to serve the community, engage our members, and deliver a unique experience for all. The following options are available to members:

Continue to support the critical work, inclusive mission and professional staff of the J through your ongoing membership.
Freeze your membership starting April 1st at no cost and have your membership activated without penalty upon the building’s reopening.
Cancel your membership, with 30 days notice required (we will waive any cancellation fee). Any applicable processing fees will be incurred upon re enrollment.

Requests for membership freeze or cancellation should be directed to Membership@springfieldjcc.org by April 10. If you find yourself confronted with an immediate hardship as a result of this community pandemic, please contact our scholarship team at the above email so we can explore additional options.

We believe that membership is about the connection to one another, a shared vision for the future and an investment in the values we share. During this interruption, we are working tirelessly to better understand the financial implications of our response to COVID-19. We recognize this is a challenging time, complicated by the pace of change and new information, while balancing the needs of a community and service to our mission.

We are especially appreciative of our Board of Directors, members and others who recognize that our staff team delivers quality service with professionalism and tremendous heart and are committed to fully compensate ALL our staff for this two week period and for as long as possible beyond this initial closure.

Our decision to suspend programs and services on March 15th was based on the guidance of health experts and the firm understanding that COVID-19 can only be abated by the immediate and sustained adherence to the social distancing and quarantine protocols recommended by the CDC. Please help ensure our entire community’s health by immediately practicing the social distancing and quarantine protocols of the CDC, now and throughout the near term. For as we say in our tradition, Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, – we are all responsible for one another.

Community is our middle name and not only does our community need us, but we need our community now more than ever. Times of crisis accentuate our need for connection, we long to be together, and we are excited to turn our attention towards creating community, albeit without the use of our facilities. Please visit our JCC website to see our current list of virtual programming. If you have an idea or want to connect with community members please reach out to us.

Wishing you and yours good health and may we see each other in person soon.

Shabbat Shalom,

Jonathan Goldsmith, President | Michael Paysnick, Executive Director

JCC Fitness & Programming Video Disclaimer

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The content of Springfield JCC video is for entertainment only. JCC is not a medical organization and its instructors or staff cannot provide medical advice or diagnosis. Physical exercise in all forms, even without equipment, is a strenuous physical activity. As such, you should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this fitness program or any other fitness program to determine if it is right for you. If you are predisposed to a medical condition that may be worsened by physical exercise, please do not start this fitness program. Do not start this fitness program if your physician or health care provider advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time while exercising you should stop immediately. If you think you are having a medical or health emergency, call your health care professional, or 911, immediately.

Letter from Michael Paysnick - March 29th

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March 29, 2020

JCC Family,

I want to make sure that you read our last enewsletter indicating that the JCC will not re-open on March 30, 2020 as we had hoped. The JCC will re-open as soon as it is safe to do so. We are following the guidance of the Governor, the Mass Dept of Public Health and our health care professionals.

Please continue to follow CDC guidelines for physical distancing, etc. We miss seeing you at the J and look forward to celebrating with you when we return!

Letter from Michael Paysnick - March 16th

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March 16, 2020

Dear JCC Member,

I needn’t tell you how strange it was coming into our empty J today. This is not how it is supposed to be, yet I am heartened by more and more people understanding of the severity of the situation and practicing social distancing. I am also exceptionally proud of our JCC staff who have been working tirelessly to both manage their programs and figure out new ways to virtually keep our J Family engaged and active.

Tomorrow we will begin to roll out of some of the staff efforts. Information will be posted on our website, Instagram and Facebook page. We’ll start with keeping you active with our health and wellness team and our preschoolers hearing from our Early Learning Staff. As we become more familiar with the technology this week, we look to provide opportunities to meet virtually in small groups and/or to share ideas and information to keep us going. We also have the beauty of belonging to a larger community of J’s across the Continent who like us will be developing content to share. Your feedback will be appreciated as we begin to implement.

Some of you have called asking questions about membership or program refunds. At the current time, our efforts are dealing with the health crisis, the assignment of staff and all the issues related to the closing of our building. We value your investment in the J and ask for your patience as our team gathers the necessary information to make a decision. I would anticipate by week’s end.

Our JCC phones will be staffed from 9 to noon Monday through Friday during the closure. You may use our dial by name directory to reach any staff member at other times. Messages will be picked up throughout the day and returned as quickly as we are able. Our staff’s email addresses may be found on our website or if you have a general question you can email info@springfieldjcc.org.

Now more than ever, we send this message to you with our deepest thanks for being part of our community and continuing to participate and connect with us.

Sincerely,

Michael Paysnick
Executive Director

Letter from Jonathan Goldsmith | Michael Paysnick - March 15th

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March 15, 2020

Dear JCC Member,

These are indeed unprecedented times. After consulting with local health experts, the guidance provided by state and federal authorities and the JCC’s Board of Directors, the difficult decision was made today to temporarily close the JCC facility at the end of the day today, March 15, with a current plan to open on March 30. All programs and services provided by the J have been postponed or canceled.

To ensure that our members and families have everything they need to focus on their own health we will provide limited, supervised access to classrooms and locker rooms on Monday, March 16th from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Tuesday between 5pm and 7pm. All spa members and those with towel service are required to empty their lockers during this time so we may conduct a thorough cleaning.

Over the last few days many of you have stopped by or called to ask if we would be open, siting the services that are so important to them. We have also observed fewer visits of members to the J in their attempt to follow social distancing. After much thought it is believed that the potential long-term benefit of total closure to our members, staff and broader community outweighs the urge to maintain all or some of our operations using the current cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

While we are now scheduled to open on the 30th, the Center’s leadership will continue to evaluate as the situation evolves, monitoring the news and recommendations of the CDC and local Health Departments.

To our members and enrolled program participants: please know that we take seriously the investment you make in your family’s JCC participation. We will communicate with you as soon as we are able regarding your missed programs. Our staff and leadership is occupied fully prioritizing health and safety and changes to operations. Your patience is appreciated.

On Monday we will post on our website and other social media platforms updates and resources for your information. Please visit to learn how the J will be working to remotely continue to serve our members, to keep you and your family connected and active during this difficult time.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Stay safe and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the J as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Goldsmith, President | Michael Paysnick, Executive Director

Letter from Jonathan Goldsmith | Michael Paysnick - March 5th

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March 5, 2020

Dear Friends,

As news of the Coronavirus continues to unfold, we’re writing to assure you that the Springfield JCC is closely monitoring the situation and in communication with local, state, and federal health officials, as well as JCC Association, to assess what, if any, impact there may be on our community, and how we can take a proactive approach to deal with this challenge. As always, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our members, staff and visitors.

After meeting with our senior leadership to review existing protocols and the recommendations from the CDC the following steps are being taken to prevent the spread of illness within the J:

We have increased the number of times each day that our housekeeping personnel disinfects the facilities.

Staff are being retrained where necessary on procedures for sanitizing objects and surface areas throughout the building, in particular: chairs and tables in our lobby; toys in our early childhood classrooms and babysitting rooms; equipment in our fitness center; doorknobs, tabletops, phones, transportation vehicles and other commonly used surfaces.

Hand sanitizer stations will be increased throughout the facility. They will now be available at the Early Childhood, Elementary and Main entrances to the J. Additional stations will be located in preschool hallway and outside the gym.

Our staff will be making sure that children in our preschool, out of school programs and all youth activities will engage in frequent and proper hand washing.

Best-practices are being posted in our facility, including reminding people to wash their hands with soap and water frequently, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, and washing for at least 20 seconds; covering their nose and mouth with their arms if sneezing or coughing; and staying home if sick.

While we work together to maintain a healthy environment at the J may we ask for your assistance?

If you are not feeling well and exhibit any symptoms of illness, please refrain from using the Springfield JCC until all symptoms have subsided. If you have a fever, please make sure that you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to the J to use the facilities or participate in any programs.

If your children are enrolled in any of our youth programs, please do not send your children to the J if they are sick. If you are called to pick up a sick child from any of our programs, please arrive in as timely a manner as is safely possible.

If you work out in the J’s Fitness Center, please use the sani-wipes provided throughout the Fitness Center to wipe down your equipment both before and after use at all times.

Please wash your hands frequently, consider carrying hand sanitizer to use if soap and water is not readily available, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing (if a tissue is not readily available use the upper part of your arm/sleeve), and properly dispose of tissues and paper towels in appropriate trash receptacles.

For any of you who would like more information about the Coronavirus, frequently asked questions, or how to mitigate the transmission of the disease, we are providing the following link for your review: information from the CDC on the Coronavirus. For those of you wondering how to discuss this topic with children who may be anxious about what they are hearing, the following article is a wonderful tool for parents: Talking Tools for Parents.

If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. We will continue to share information from local, state and federal officials as we receive it. We thank you for your support of the Springfield JCC.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Goldsmith, President | Michael Paysnick, Executive Director

Passover Programs/Links of Interest

Chag Pesach Sameach! (Happy Passover!)

PLEASE NOTE: In observance of Passover, our Virtual J will be closed Wednesday evening (April 8) through Thursday (April 9), as well as the evening of April 14 through April 15.

Passover Links of Interest:

Virtual Programs @ Your J

PLEASE NOTE: In observance of Passover, our Virtual J will be closed Wednesday evening (April 8) through Thursday (April 9), as well as the evening of April 14 through April 15.

Virtual J Program Schedule

Ongoing for All Ages:

Monday, April 6:

Tuesday, April 7:

Wednesday, April 8:

Thursday, April 9:

Friday, April 10:

Saturday, April 11:

Sunday, April 12:

J Social Media Channels

J Social Media Platforms…

Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter:

YouTube:

Miscellaneous:

J.Connection e-newsletters

The Latest J.Connection:

Fun & Functional Resources

Fitness Resources

Covid19 Resources

JCC Guidelines for Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

JCC Fitness & Programming Video Disclaimer

Letter from Michael Paysnick - March 29th

Letter from Michael Paysnick - March 16th

Letter from Jonathan Goldsmith | Michael Paysnick - March 15th

Letter from Jonathan Goldsmith | Michael Paysnick - March 5th

Chag Pesach Sameach!
(Happy Passover!)