OU/RCA Issues Guidelines on Reopening Shuls

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Jews seen keeping distance to one another during a morning prayer in Meron, Northern Israel, during the Coronavirus outbreak, on May 01, 2020. Photo by David Cohen/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** שחרית תפילת בוקר יהודים בתפילת שחרית בנץ החמה במירון, זמן קורונה

NEW YORK (VINnews) – The Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America are issuing the following guidelines to synagogues and communities regarding reopening.

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This document presents thirteen principles that should guide the decisions and planning of synagogues and communities throughout the country. They focus primarily on the eventual reopening of communal davening. Guidance on other matters will follow. As made clear within the document, the issuance of this guidance does not imply that any reopening should be done at this point.

The situation continues to evolve and thus these recommendations and guidelines are formulated based solely on currently available information and advice. As always, shuls and communities must strictly follow the guidelines provided by local and national authorities, including the CDC and local health departments.

Read below link the full guidelines:

https://www.ou.org/assets/OU-Guidance-To-Shuls-And-Communities-5-8-2020_F-1.pdf


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28 Comments
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Chusid
Chusid
3 years ago

Enough with RABBONIM telling us their stupid childish opinions, we can make our minyanim as we see fit.

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

How can they be kall yisorel’s mosod when they write facts like

“Outdoor Minyanim should also not be allowed until – at the very least – the successful and verified safe completion of the local government’s first stages of communal reopening. ”

This against the entire Lakewood and most chasidisha rabbonim.

They could write that outdoor minyanim must abide by the rabbonim of that town or community’s rules. But to make this fake blanket statement?

#NOTMYMOSOD

OTDGuy
OTDGuy
3 years ago

That ‘Shark’ guy needs no Shul, Rabbi, or Congregation.
He needs a nice club and a Kiddish Club just won’t suffice.

OTDGuy
OTDGuy
3 years ago

Even in Lakewood the origins of the ban was “Aivah”. Loosely interpreted as “ mah yomru hagoiyim”. Goiyim meaning the local and state government. Similar to the OU statement.
Now the Chasidim.. that’s a different story.
“Zay zehnen duch nisht kan mentchin”. Zay zehnen chayis rooes”.

YosefYosef613
YosefYosef613
3 years ago

I believe every community should have their own set of guidelines from the community’s Vadd Harrabanim. If the community’s Rabbonim come out and say it’s okay to have a minyan then minyamin should happen as per their guidelines.

This statement from the OU and RCA is too much of a blanket statement.

YosefYosef613
YosefYosef613
3 years ago

Is Sara Howoritz on the RCA council?

Sam
Sam
3 years ago

Chasidim don’t mean to make chilul hashem, they just have tremendous tayvah dikidusha, they shprinkzich fun kedusha

Educated Boro parker
Educated Boro parker
3 years ago

The ou has two departments. One is the hecsher in food but there is also a political dept which is lefty many times. Two different agencies. Of course there are outdoor minyanim on every block in Brooklyn and upstate. What’s the big deal. It’s with a safety space.

Yankel
Yankel
3 years ago

Everyone who arranges or attends any minyan is a kofer & is holding back the geulah.
Hashem sits in heaven crying. My children please stay home & daven for moshiach. I dont want your minyanim or anything to do with golus, just stay home!

But we have clever frumer than god among us, they show how much they love golus, so god will just keep us in it.

dr. yidd
dr. yidd
3 years ago

YosefYosef613, she is the yoshev Rosh 🙂

Lessor
Lessor
3 years ago

To YosefYosef613- The Agudah has just come out with their guidelines which really do not differ much from the OU/RCA.

Binyan Adei Ad
Binyan Adei Ad
3 years ago

The OU stands for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and they are providing guidance for Shuls that belong to their organization. As far each communitie’s Vaad HoRabbonim should decide for that community, many places across the country do not have a Vaad HoRabbonim, rather the town or place has one Shul and one Rov. That Shul is most likely an OU affiliated Shul or possibly a Young Israel. And they look to their leadership for guidance.
As far as outdoor Minyonim, the Gedolei Rabbonim and Poskim that I directly heard from do not allow outdoor Minyonim, such as R. Asher Weiss, R. Dovid Feinstein and I heard that R. Meir Stern of Passaic do not allow them either. Probably many more Rabbonim and Poskim do not allow them and for many good reasons. Not to mention SA OC Siman 90.

Simeon A. Weber
Simeon A. Weber
3 years ago

Hey Binyamin
The Amshinover Rebbe,Rachmistrivka Rebbe Rav Binyomin Eisenberger Rav Eliya Bear Wachtfogel all daven with minyan and have told their flock to do so with social distancing.Your characterization of all Rabonim is far from accurate.Please know there is more than one view.
Parenthetically Gov.Cuomo stated that 66%of all crono patients stayed at home and did not go to minyanim.
If you want to be Adei Ad learn about the Koach of Amen …..,

Binyan Adei Ad
Binyan Adei Ad
3 years ago

Simeon,
While Im sure that the Rabbonim you list are fine and wonderful people, they are not the leading Poskim for the broad spectrum of American Orthodox Jewry. And if as you say, they daven with some sort of minyan, which Ill assume they are able to arrange to be valid according to halachah and safety concerns, the overwhelming majority of American Jews are not able to participate in their, or as you put it, in ‘their flocks’ minyonim. If street or yard minyonim are encouraged and arranged all across the country, they will be arranged by local people, and not Rabbonim, and they may not adhere properly to halachic and safety guidelines. This was publicized on a public video by Rav Asher Weiss and posted on this and other websites. The Poskim I listed are providing guidance to all of klal Yisroel and they feel its better not to take chances with the many, just because it may be possible to work for a very few.
Also, please check SA OC Siman 90 and the achronim found there, for the halachos regarding davening outside as opposed to inside.

Chusid
Chusid
3 years ago

Most robbonim in boro Park Williamsburg and Monsey are davening with minyan, a few ignorant people think that our community has to follow now the guidelines of rabbanim in Flatbush or five towns or Israel, that is not the way we operate we never ask them any questions we always follow our local rabbanim, so why now do so many people feel that we have to follow the guidelines of those other rabbonim.

Sam
Sam
3 years ago

By the way when shuls open Dr. Fouchy said, persons with obesity will not be allowed into the shul, as that is concidered a under lying health issue
Oy vay, will be many people missing from shul

Lessor
Lessor
3 years ago

“Most robbonim in boro Park Williamsburg and Monsey are davening with minyan,” Which is what they were doing before the clamp down and which cost many lives. So why not just continue to kill people…?