By COLlive reporter
Chabad of Coral Springs in Florida has reopened on Monday, May 18, for the first time since the state-wide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor Ron DeSantis is said to be preparing for most of the Sunshine State to enter Phase 2 re-opening, but Rabbi Yossie Denburg and Rabbi Avraham Friedman said their opening reopening was only “phase 1” which will be a test period.
“We will be adhering to the following rules for the next 14 days, at which time we will reevaluate and adjust accordingly,” they wrote in a public letter to the community.
“If there is even ONE case of Coronavirus in that time, we will be forced to close our doors once again. We implore you to have consideration for others before you act. There are true and severe liabilities (both safety as well as legal) that can result from your actions.”
“After much consulting with medical experts and the county entering into Phase 1, we decided it’s time to start the process with much caution,” Rabbi Friedman told COLlive.com. “It is a psychological breakthrough that will provide much-needed uplifting for the community.”
In the letter, they clarified that the reopening the doors of the Chabad center, “does NOT compel you to attend. Your health is the TOP priority. If you are the least bit uncomfortable being in an enclosed environment with others, you are NOT HALACHICALLY required to attend.”
Attending davening will require participants to register in advance, sanitize hands, wear a mask, not use the shul’s seforim. On weekdays, men should be putting on Tefillin in advance.
They are not allowing children under the age of 13 or adults above the age of 60. Also, “only members of the community can attend. No visitors.”
They said minyanim will be outdoors in the courtyard and a kiddush meal will not be served on Shabbos and Shavuos.
“As we are approaching the receiving of the Torah where everyone was healed, we wish that everyone stay healthy, well and find success with all the Shavuot preparations. We look forward to seeing our entire community together in the not too distant future,” they concluded their letter.
churches are only opening up this weekend per county regulation. How can you open earlier. A chill hashem
This was done in coordination with local officials. There is no chillul Hashem.
#1
EVER HEARD OF THE WORD ‘LEHAVDIL’?
BUT IT IS TOTAL LUNANCY AND IRRESPONSIBLE TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE YET OPENING A COMMUNAL BUILDING FOR A MINYAN.
WHAT PART OF NEARLY 100,000 DEAD IN JUST 2 MONTHS DOES NOONE GET?! R”L
The rest of the country took precautions because of what was going on in NY
Brooklyn is traumatized by our relatively unique experience with the virus. The rest of country by and large didn’t have the same experience.
Of course Florida shuls should be starting a path to normal along with the rest of the state institutions and with proper procedures and so forth. This letter speaks to their caution.
You can only put a lid on humanity for so long.