LAKEWOOD (VINnews) — The following letter signed by prominent Lakewood poskim was sent out in light of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic:
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3rd day of Chol Hamoed 5780
We are living in troubled times, faced with the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic in our country and throughout the world. To our sorrow, our communities have seen thousands take ill, both young and old, and the hundreds of deaths, lo aleinu, from the pandemic.
Medical direction as to how to deal with this pandemic has been evolving as new research and information develops. Leading experts believe it possible that someone who was sick with Coronavirus might still be able to infect others long after the person recovers. The top medical experts are unsure if one who is fully recovered develops immunity, or whether they might be at risk of repeated infection. The newest data indicates that it is possible that a percentage of those who were ill and recovered, might be at risk of reinfection.
Our local hospitals are facing shortages of staff and materials, and do not have enough beds, which may have drastic effects on patients.
Our community has risen to the challenge and adopted appropriate precautions. Bezras Hashem Yisborach, who is the true Rofeh Cholim, we have seen a slowing of the growth rate in those becoming sick. Experts agree that this is attributable to the precautions we have taken, if not for which we could have seen unimaginable catastrophe. In the coming weeks, it is necessary for us to double down on precautions in order to see continued improvement in public health. We cannot afford any relaxation in precautions in any way until such time that we are sure it is totally safe.
In light of this, we are issuing our clear rulings for all members of our community without exception. Pikuach Nefesh requires all to adopt appropriate precautions and to follow the advice of the health authorities.
Halachic Rulings
For all of Lakewood and surrounding communities until further notice.
SHOPPING
Stores may only be opened when allowed by the authorities. All workers and customers must abide by strict State of New Jersey guidelines as to social distancing etc. If you are infectious or suspect that you are you may not shop in stores.
FAMILY VISITS
You may not visit family or friends, even within Lakewood, unless under the direct and specific advice of a qualified medical professional. This applies to old and young, to those who are healthy, ill, or recovered. One may not travel to spend Shabbos or Yom tov, whether in Lakewood or in other communities.
CHILDREN
Children from one household may not play with children from a different household, even if both households were or are infected.
MINYANIM
Minyanim are prohibited and you are not allowed to participate in a minyan in any way. This includes, but is not limited to, minyanim in courtyards, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, or on porches. While originally some porch minyanim may have been approved by some Rabbanim under very specific criteria from health experts, experience has shown that they lead to serious Aiva, and other major problems and therefore those approvals are no longer valid. This issur is in effect until we provide new guidance which we hope to do once, in our opinion, the situation improves. Until then all minyanim in any form are prohibited. Reports of oral guidance that may differ from the above should be disregarded.
What’s wrong with a minyan on a porch ?
Educated Archy is going to disagree and of course he knows best.I assume he got his wisdom from Donald Trump who knows more than the experts.
This morning I saw a minyan , there were 5 on a single porch and 5 more on the street in close proximity to each other on 60th near 16th Ave. in BP. Potential anti Jew hatred and chillul Hashem.
What’s wrong with living with a Ventilator R”L ……
Open letter to our dear chosheveh poskim,
I know that in a perfect world we are expected to listen to whatever דעת תורה says without question and with complete trust like mordechai with סעודת אחשווראש , however its 2020 and the situation is that even if you say something that is easily understood and makes sense we’re still lucky if anyone listens . Maybe all the years of the Lakewood vaad telling us to vote for liberal dems has eroded our trust . What ever the reason , the letter makes valid points about חילול השם and all but maybe just give us an indication that you are actually looking at this, that as leaders u are hearing all the news and cases and are making a decision based on that and then we can rest easy and trust u , tell us that u know phil murphy is a bumbling idiot , tell us we are not just following u following murphy to the grave, tell us that we are not just gonna listen to whatever this liberal progressive green deal touting, politically correct politician. Tell us that this isnt like the letter when the Lakewood vaad said to vote for Menendez
It’s a loi ploog.
If you make an exception for porch minyanim then someone else will ask what’s wrong with street minyanim. If we allow street minyanim then some will ask why distance themselves six feet, may five feet is enough. And then some will say it’s okay to have a minyan in a shul.
And if you say, people will not be moireh heter like that, just look around, people are already doing so.
The Rabanim have a unified message: NO EXCEPTIONS.
There are always going to be people who ask, “but what’s wrong with this or that type of minyan.” Please don’t try to water down or dilute the Rabanim’s message.
Take a guess. You can figure it out.
Mendel,
Slowwwwwly. The non-Jewish walkers-by are noticing, filming and pushing viral. My family has already had conversations with those we know from work and from the block. They’re already blaming Jews on social media. You’re in a golus or don’t you believe it? Which part of this don’t you understand ? Unbelievable.
The fact that its already the middle of April and poskim in Lakewood still find it necessary to tell people to obey the medical authorities is itself a chilul hashem. It’s also a waste of time because the self-centered know-it-alls ,who are too self-centered to even realize that they are not being frum – they are being egomaniacle showoffs- will continue not to listen. A few well-placed water balloons or or accidental emptying of trash ought to take care of these porch-lubs.
Here is the deal
It’s understandable that Lakewood can’t have porch minyans because they are too far apart distance wise. However in Boro park the porches are closer and you can easily make safe minyans. Every community has its rabbis. You listen to the one in your community. All this is happening and we should tell the world why. Gay marriage. See chullin 92b
See midrash rabbah bereishis 26
Any rabbis with guts come out and say the truth
So far in Israel only one rav had the guts. Rabbi Meir Mazuz shlita. Why here in Brooklyn we listen to only real rabbis not political hacks because they all supported Hillary. But the real Jews were smarter. Real rabbonim supported Trump. If your rav says Daven on the street then listen.
To ANON21.
First, you call them “our dear chosheveh poskim” and then you trample all over them?
It’s 2020 so the “chosheveh poskim” are worthless?
The “chosheveh poskim” are always wrong?
You’re not being Machshiv the Poskim, You’re being Mevazeh them.
Its very easy to say “eivah”. How about we talk about the price gouging on face-masks in the heimishe stores.
How about all the porch concerts going on in all of the goyishe world, those are fine with everyone. Never had we stopped doing a mitzvah because of “eivah”. With that logic we should’ve stopped making matzos because it makes blood libels.
Rav chaim kanievsky said that internet is “yehorog val yaavor”, are you listening to that? If you are reading this so obviously not. The excuse is very simple you have to take the whole thing into context, what he was told, who’s agenda he’s promoting. So too when it comes to this issue we don’t have to be blind ducks; should you choose to listen and think internet is different then kindly understand other people that flip the coin the other way.
Banning a safe porch minyan is pure fear mongering. Many are in compliance with all CDC social distance rules. No safety hazard at all. Whats the big deal if two families ( 5 in each) each stand on porch, put on masks and daven? Many are shmuzing anyhow?
I see this new fear that maybe a goy will see you on your back porch? (In your backyard) Again fear mongering.
Yes this is a terrible terrible plague. But is the solution to irrationally panic?
NO EXCEPTIONS?
“all minyanim in any form are prohibited”…Really?!
Can a family of 10 males, all living in one household, not make their own minyan???
Ah, so there ARE exceptions!
And if I open my window and overhear kaddish from this forbidden minyan – may I answer “amen yehei shmei raba”, or is it the fruit of the poison tree?
“Aivah” can also has exceptions – when goyim don’t know (b’tzina).
And don’t tell me, as one comment above stated, that if we allow “x”, it will lead to “y”, which will lead to “z”.
That is contrary to the klal negating a gzeira l’grezaira (namely, we do not concern ourselves that “A” will lead to “B” which will lead to “C”).
I have made enough comments about this. My opinion about safe social distant minyan with masks have not changed. This is a shriklicha magafa and so people will panic and go to extremes.
I have decided to plead the 5th lman hasholom,. Have safe and good yom tov to all.
The only true way to end this plauge is to daven that HKBH shecht the malach hameves who shechted the shochet. If that malch wants (as it did) it will either hit those that social distanced too with corona or will force socially distanced people to mingle (Like someone I know who safely social distanced but broke their hip , went to the hospital and got corona). This malach is very shrewd. The only way to stop it is the eibshter slaughtering it once for all.
So a family of 10 can make a minyan. But porch minyans are not allowed. So what’s your point?
Is your point that since a family of 10 can make a minyan, we should allow every type of minyan?
Yidden, as Rodney King once stated in 1991, “Can’t we all just get along”. A good Yom Tov to all.
Can someone please name a Rov, Rabbi or Posek that allows a safe minyan
Every one has their rav. Sometimes people die because that’s the way it is. When Russia was fighting nepolean there were Jews on both armies.
Guess what
Big news.
I just read that porch minyans is ok.
Educated Archie would be thrilled. Google it. This is in Lakewood.
All u low end bored lifeless weirdos (yeah that’s u anonymousyingele and low end hellerman) should grow up and find something half productive to do with ur lifes rather than spew complete garbage. u guys don’t know anything about anything. remember that throught ur life and maybe maybe ull get somewhere in life! all the best.