By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg, Director of the Marina Roscha Synagogue and Jewish Community Center in Moscow, asked Jews coming from areas in the United States which are infected with coronavirus not to visit his community.
In a short clip in Hebrew titled “personal plea,” Rabbi Weisberg made the request of Yeshiva bochurim who are flying from spending the year learning at the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim – 770 in Crown Heights.
With life coming to a halt in New York and international flights being limited, Israeli-born bochurim are already booking flights to return home for an early Pesach break.
“We ask and beg,” Rabbi Weisberg said in the video on Tuesday, “please don’t enter the city and stay in the airport during the connection.”
He said that if travelers were in need of kosher food, “we will organize kosher sandwiches for you in the airport,” he promised.
In addition, he said, if travelers are in need any other assistance, please contact R’ Shie Deitsch at +7-985-760-6256.
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In an effort to battle the disease, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin banned all mass public events from March 16 through April 10, Meduza reported. Outdoor events will be prohibited, and indoor events will be limited to 50 attendees.
The city already had measures in place to enforce a two-week self-isolation rule for anyone arriving from a number of foreign countries, Meduza reported. That isolation period has now been extended to anyone coming to Moscow from the United States or anywhere in Europe.
I am quite certain that it is absolutely assur for bochrim to leave CHs at this time to return home for Pesach and infect other communities. I hope the rabbanim will put out a letter to that effect. Pikuach nefesh is what is at stake here in a very real way!
These young men are not at high risk themselves but they will be impacting communities where they will place others at risk. They may have a less than ideal Pesach but will be doing the important mitzva of protecting Jewish lives by staying put.
The 1414 dormitory is being closed as of Monday. Where should these bochrim go? It’s better they go home to Israel and self-quarantine in their own homes where their mothers can take care of them.