Limited Religious Services May Be Allowed By Shavuot, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Says

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May 17, 2020- Albany, NY- Governor Andrew Cuomo holds daily COVID-19, Coronavirus press briefing, Announces Statewide testing for Coronavirus at 700 plus locations (Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

NEW YORK (JTA) – Jews in New York State may be able to gather legally for small-scale religious services during the next holiday, Shavuot.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in his daily coronavirus briefing Sunday that his office planned to release guidance early this week about what New Yorkers can do over Memorial Day weekend and beyond. Shavuot, which is traditionally celebrated with all-night study, begins three days later on May 28.

“Can we find a way to do a ceremony — a religious ceremony, or a ceremony that honors Memorial Day? I think we can,” Cuomo said, responding to a question specifically about observance outside of New York City. He said services would be limited in size and would require social distancing to be practiced.

Religious services have been barred since mid-March, when Cuomo issued an executive order prohibiting gatherings of any size in a bid to slow the coronavirus’ spread. Recently, as the number of new cases have slowed, rabbis on Long Island have been openly sparring over whether to permit in-person prayer services.


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Five Towns
Five Towns
3 years ago

“rabbis on Long Island have been openly sparring ”

Not true. Rabbis are not sparring. Each Rabbi is advising their kehilos as they fell is appropriate for their situation.

One Rabbi is sparring. One Rabbi is publicly sparring against all other Rabbis. He has gone so far as convincing local officials that the other Rabbis are doing wrong. He has been malshin on many of the other Rabbis and has caused a lot of harm, uproar, and Chillul Hashem. He has threatened and harrased many other Rabbis and he has no limits. He has sent articles a letters to the media to make it look like their is sparring.

Most of the other Rabbis are getting along fine and doing well, even if they have different opinions.

Judith
Judith
3 years ago

Terrible reckless Governor. Andrew is mamesh a rodef & a rotziach. Is it worth one person being killed just so you can daven with a Minyan?! Chillul Hashem. And then we wonder why the goyim hate us.

stating the obvious
stating the obvious
3 years ago

What would the anti miynanairs say now that dina dmalchosa is offf the table?

Boroch
Boroch
3 years ago

If someone is called up for an Aliyah, how does he distance himself from the Ball Tefilah? Isn’t he also supposed to look onto the words of the Torah, that the Bal Tefilah is reading? Also, will there be prohibitions against kissing the Torah, both when called for an Aliyah, and also when it is being carried around? I’m not trying to be sarcastic, as I only want some clarification,since those questions have not addressed.

Yumi Simon
Yumi Simon
3 years ago

This statement is inaccurate, I believe. Read the rules that put in place – indoor Minyonim have apparently been OK with 50% capacity and appropriate social distancing.

Yumi Simon
Yumi Simon
3 years ago

Interim Guidance on Executive Orders Issued for
Gatherings, Public Spaces, and Public and Private
Sector Entities During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Revised March 19, 2020:

page 4: Houses of worship are subject to a maximum of 50 congregants or half of the maximum occupancy of the space, whichever is fewer.

Maven
Maven
3 years ago

Briefings by King Cuomo are nauseating to watch. Every day with different orders.

Cuomo is the sickliest politician in our time.

He is heartless.
Cares only about himself.
Does not keep his word by changing opening dates.
And on and on.

Greeny
Greeny
3 years ago

Haha very true  judith, it’s very sad to say this but a lot of our Jewish brethren are dropping like flies… so keep on going out and making minyanim!! Keep up the great work!! It’s a big big chutzpah and disregard to one’s own parents and grandparents… Wait it out and daven at home.

God ain’t running anywhere

Maven
Maven
3 years ago

By now there is no valid reason for not opening Shulls and people should be able to Daven with Minyan.

If you can shop at Costco,Bj’s etc etc so should you be able to open up all Minyonim.
The only reason for not going to Shull by now is purely Yetzar Hora.

Wondering,are the Mikvahs open in the MO communities? anyone?

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

a lot of our Jewish brethren are dropping like flies

True very sad and w eneed to daven for them and those still sick. But here is the thing NONE of our jewish brethren are getting sick any more BH. No new infections in 3 weeks. That means its not dangerous. Plus we are still socila disrancing by the minyan. what does the fact that mnay yidden did die have to do with anthing now? Now its safe? shall we stay locked up forever? Once its safe now is the time to use the koach hatzibur to beseech hashem for those still sick and quarantined Its because we care about our parents and grandparents that we go to shul and daven the second we can and the second its safe.

G-d ain’t running anyhwere , but g-d is in great pian knowing his mikdush mat and holy places were closed. Now g-d is running to the minyan since its safe. We need to run where he is.

Simple Jew
Simple Jew
3 years ago

You left out a very important fact. The Gov said these protocols maybe allowed for UPSTATE! not downstate where the metrics have not been met.

Yellow
Yellow
3 years ago

This is a bit ridiculous. Where I live, shuls are long open. No one is waiting for Cuomo.