Updated April 1, 2022
Hillel Milwaukee (Hillel) is so excited to be back hosting events in person, and meeting our student and young adult communities on campus and across the city. To protect the health and safety of our Hillel community, our policies and protocols for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are rooted in the Jewish value of Pikuach Nefesh – the concept that life is holy, and safety of every human being is paramount. Hillel’s plans are aligned and consistent with the local orders and ordinances of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and Wisconsin. Our plan also follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Milwaukee County Health Department, and federal government, our university partners, and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation (MJF).
The details below describe our policy and procedures for our Hillel guests. As new mandates, policies, etc. are issued at the local, state, and federal level, Hillel Milwaukee reserves the right to adjust any protocols. Hillel Milwaukee also reserves the right to adjust any protocols based on enhanced information learned about COVID virus variants and the mechanisms for spread.
Definitions
- Hillel Milwaukee Staff = an individual who receives a paycheck from Hillel or the Jewish Agency for Israel, including student interns.
- Hillel Milwaukee Guest = an individual who is not a staff member of Hillel Milwaukee but is physically inside the building OR is attending a Hillel-sponsored event/engagement inside the building. This includes but is not limited to students, young adults, Board of Directors members, community members, cleaning/maintenance staff, or any individual who spends more than five minutes in the building.
- Fully Vaccinated Individual = an individual is considered fully vaccinated if they completed a Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine series AND have received a booster shot (if eligible as indicated by the CDC).
- Proper Mask Wearing = Surgical and/or KN95 masks must be worn over the nose and mouth, must fit under your chin, and must be snug on your face. Hillel Milwaukee will provide surgical and/or KN95 masks for those who wish to have a mask.
- Event/Meeting = any Hillel sponsored gathering with more than one person, inside or outside of the Hillel building
Guest Policies
- Entering the Building / Attending a Hillel Event or Meeting
- All guests will be asked to stay home if they are experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms.
- All guests will be required to adhere to the below building hygiene protocols
- Masks are to be worn properly at all times unless an individual is actively eating or drinking
- Maintain social distancing
- Utilize sanitation stations
- Practice frequent handwashing, and limit your surface contact
- Be mindful of capacity limits noted in posted locations
- While mask-wearing is strongly recommended at Hillel, guests will not be required to wear a mask while in the Hillel building or at a Hillel-sponsored function (unless the venue states otherwise)
- Guests will be required to properly wear masks and gloves while preparing food.
- All guests will be asked to sign-in digitally for contact tracing and vaccination status will be requested but not required. Guests will be asked to self-attest to their vaccination status.
- Hillel expects guests to disinfect their work areas (prior to leaving) as well as touched surfaces after using the restroom. Disinfecting supplies will be provided.
- Positive COVID-19 Protocol
- In the event a guest tests positive for COVID-19, the guest will be welcome back to the Hillel building or a Hillel-sponsored event once the guest is fever and symptom-free for 72 hours, with a minimum of 10 days in quarantine. If the final 3 days of their 10 days out are fever-free, then after the 10th day the person may return to Hillel-sponsored events.
- Air Filters – Hillel has installed both HEPA and MERV filters to increase air quality. Filters will be replaced as directed.
- Cleaning Policies
- The building will be professionally cleaned twice weekly.
- Hillel expects staff members to keep individual housekeeping practices, including routine and frequent cleaning and disinfecting of the individual workspace, desktops, and telephones.
- Hillel expects guests to disinfect their work areas before leaving. Disinfecting supplies will be provided.
- Hillel expects staff members and guests to disinfect the toilet flusher, faucet, light switch and handles after using the restroom.
- Hygiene Policies
- Utilize sanitation stations
- Practice frequent handwashing, and limit your surface contact
- Guests (and staff) should not enter the building or attend Hillel-sponsored events if they are feeling sick.
- Testing and Vaccination Postings
- Hillel will publicly post (in the building and on our website) a list of resources where guests and staff can get information on testing and vaccination locations.
Event / Meeting Policies
- Masks
- While mask-wearing is strongly recommended at Hillel, guests and staff will not be required to wear a mask while in the Hillel building or at a Hillel-sponsored event/engagement with the exception of the below instances:
- For ongoing cohort programs (i.e. - JLF, ILF, IJLF, Side by Side Orientations, etc.) group norms will be discussed and set to determine the mask-wearing protocol for the group. If one member of the group would like the entire group to mask, out of respect for the health of our community, we expect the entire group to remain masked for the duration of the program unless they are actively eating or drinking.
- KN95 or surgical masks must be worn for food serving and preparation.
- While mask-wearing is strongly recommended at Hillel, guests and staff will not be required to wear a mask while in the Hillel building or at a Hillel-sponsored event/engagement with the exception of the below instances:
- Food and Beverage
- All food and beverage will be individually wrapped or served by Hillel staff who are masked and gloved. Special circumstances of self-served food will be determined by Hillel staff.
- All food made in the Hillel kitchen/building will be prepared wearing masks and gloves.
- Guest access to the Milwaukee kitchen is based on staff discretion.
- On Campus Events – Any student-run program on campus will need to abide by campus COVID-19 guidelines for large and small event gatherings. Staff will abide by university guidelines if in attendance.
- Rideshare Policies for Events – Hillel will continue to provide rideshare for students and young adults. Hillel will adhere to the policies set by each individual rideshare company.
- Hillel Sponsored Travel – The decision on whether or not to move forward with Hillel sponsored trips (both abroad and domestically), will be based on travel restrictions to and within the final destination, financial considerations, student interest and other relevant factors.
- Exposure & Symptoms Protocol – In the event that Hillel is made aware that there is a chance of exposure at an event or engagement from an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, the following protocol will be put in place.
- Hillel staff will send an email to all participants of the event/engagement informing them that there has been a positive COVID-19 exposure and any other relevant information that the exposed individual wishes to share. The email will include the timeline of knowledge received. Hillel will NOT use any other identifying attributes (name, sex, age, etc.) without consent. Hillel will also include the most up-to-date CDC protocols regarding testing.
If you have any questions about Hillel Milwaukee's current COVID-19 policies, please reach out to us at info@hillelmke.org or 414-961-2010.
The complete and approved policy can be found here.
