Gut moed. Currently, nine of our neighboring zip codes are scheduled to have their schools and non-essential businesses closed, pending approval from the governor; many other zip codes, including 11213, are being watched closely.
Regardless of one’s political beliefs or leaning, it’s clear that with respect to Covid, we as a community have two primary goals: 1) Avoid serious illness, and 2) Keep our schools open.
There is still a risk of serious illness from COVID. In addition, it has become increasingly clear that our schools may close if we’re not more careful.
Our greatest chance of avoiding serious illness and keeping our schools open depends on our ability to unite as a community and take COVID precautions seriously. This is all the harder now, during Sukkos and approaching Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah, typically a time of widespread communal rejoicing. Nevertheless, preservation of life and the chinuch of our children are considerations which ought to supersede all others.
As we address the above, we must make the painful medical recommendation that the crowded dancing of Simchas Beis Hasho’eva, with people from other neighborhoods and those of all ages and conditions, not take place this year in the usual manner, due to the risk of spreading the virus. Similarly, the crowded indoor nature of Hakofos risks spreading the virus; other ways of conducting Hakofos, such as outdoors and with precautions, are recommended. In addition, given the fact that many of our neighboring communities have outbreaks, bochurim going on Tahalucha to the neighboring communities involves the risk of spreading the virus between our communities and should be avoided as well.
The preceding paragraph contains our medical recommendations, and we await psak from the Rabbonim and input from the Mashpiim on these issues.
We feel it is important to openly address a question that has crept up: Why should those with symptoms get tested at all, if doing so could increase the “positivity rate” and put our schools in jeopardy?
This is a dangerous gamble. Without positive proof of the virus, many of those with only mild symptoms may not isolate for the required time, and their close contacts (without positive proof of exposure) will not appropriately quarantine. Practically, this approach carries the risk of COVID running unchecked in our community and spreading in high risk circles G-d forbid. In a halachic system that places supreme value on human life, not testing in an open society (where there is daily interaction between those who are vulnerable and others) is a high risk strategy that we cannot follow. Those that are sick must get tested, and as a community we should follow the isolation and quarantine guidelines laid out in update #42.
The 2 following oft mentioned behaviors cannot be stressed enough.
- WEAR A MASK WHEN SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH OTHERS IS INEVITABLE!
- IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL, STAY HOME!
IYH we will get through these next few weeks together as a community, and accomplish our goals of avoiding serious illness and keeping our schools open.
- The Gedaliah Society, in conjunction with Dr. Rosen
If only those that are sick are getting tested then the % being touted by deblasio are completely false. A tiny amount of ppl are being tested and they are making as if large % of the community is sick. Straight up lies and false statements just to control the Jewish community and close our schools/shuls again
If the mayor wants to shut down the schools and neighborhood, no amount of being careful will help. They will find the one person who is sick and use it as an excuse. Don’t kid yourselves, the mayor and governor are not out for the health and safety of the community, they simply want to exert power and control on the orthodox Jewish community and show them they’re in charge. The virus is a convenient excuse. Just look at the blatant hypocrisy when it comes to a certain segments’ protests, looting and violence and the blind eye the mayor and… Read more »
What are they waiting for? Remember, the testing works the same accross all neighborhoods, people only get tested if they have symptoms or if they were in contact with someone who had tested positive – in ALL communities this is how it works. They’ve are using – in this case – the same standard for all zipcode’s. Luckily for other zip codes, they don’t dance in groups of hundreds all night for a week. Or, for 48 hours straight indoors in very small spaces. So, they have better chances of not having rates as high as our zipcode’s…. Don’t get… Read more »
Thank you, as always, for your direction and leadership.
has there still been dancing on Kingston?? This is absolutely insanity. It must be shut down. A few nights of dancing are NOT worth going back into total lockdown with no school.
Why make recommendations if you know the community is not interested. Let those that want go to SBH those that don’t should avoid it. Same goes with hakofos. Every single shul plans to do hakofos with a kiddush. Why publish something that 99 percent of the community does not agree with.
they have integrity. And some people are looking to them for advice and WILL listen. And because if the schools get shut down, it won’t only be the families that went to Simchas Beis who will suffer the consequences.
While I don’t think 99% of the community agrees with anything, I would venture to say more people would like to see our medical professionals give their advice when it comes to community medical decisions then those who disagree with our respected doctors.
I hate this pandemic more then anything, I would have completely ignored it if it were up to me, but I’m not going to use that as an excuse to tear down our doctors. I said my piece they can go say theirs.
Why is there a simchas beis hashoava in the street???
I don’t really believe that by us being more carful will make the mayor not want to close private schools.
Everything is political.
I want to be careful just for the people in our community. But let be honest
The mayor will find excuses to close everything if he wants to.
Can the Crown Heights Jewish community Council get their act together and beg the police not to close of the streets at night so no simchas bais hashoaiva Is held.
A lot of the people are from Israel and when they leave we and are children will have to suffer as school’s will close.
Please someone take charge and stop the madness!!!!!!!
That will bring the % positive way down
To “so why” I’m not sure either, but there is a attitude that people think that they can do what they want, because the government is making this virus political, (personally, I don’t have the faintest clue as to what that means). Even if this is true, you have to follow the law of the land, and lehavdil how much more do, our doctors and Rabbonim which definitely know a thousand times more than you do , about what is the proper thing to do. To make a simchas Beis hashoeva when you know perfectly well that it is the… Read more »
Our schools are about to be shut down!! Parents, by you going and allowing your kids to go your only punishing them and yourselves! Is it worth it? Poor children are about to start zoom again and it will by your own fault!
Best way to bring down the positivity rate is to flood the system with negative tests. All non-sick people should get tested. You’ll still know who does have it but the rate will go down.
A few weeks ago you were pointing at the Israeli group on the new kvutze as a serious risk for the community at the same time ohalei tora bochurim and beis rivka girls from all over the world came here and mixed in the community and no one even mentioned them. They weren’t only going to 770, they were going to families for shabbos, shopping etc. No one arranged a quarantine camp for them as is was organized for the Israelis. People of our community are are going daily to work or shopping in other neighborhoods including those 9 zip… Read more »
There have been deaths in Lakewood and hospitalizations in Flatbush and rock land county. Are we waiting for the same to happen before we start social distancing and using masks here in crown heights?
Or do we say איזהו חכם הרואה את הנולד?