By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, Chief of Budapest’s Orthodox Rabbinate and Head Shliach of Hungary, instructed that the shuls in the country should remain closed.
Hungary has so far reported 3,065 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 363 deaths.
Reuters reported that it is a relatively modest number due mainly to an early and strict lockdown and to relatively sparse testing.
The government has begun lifting the lockdown on Monday and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has approved a package of measures to alleviate the economic impact of a weeks-long lockdown.
Nevertheless, Rabbi Oberlander said davening should continue being held in private, each in their respective homes.
“I instruct you not to open the synagogues and not to hold any other gatherings,” he wrote in a public letter to community rabbis and Chabad Shluchim.
“In matters of life we follow the majority and at this point, all sages of medicine agree that the danger is still hovering above our heads,” he stated.
He that in the coming 2 weeks, the Jewish community should track after the result of the lifted restrictions.
“If there will indeed by big alleviation in Budapest, and I wish it transpires to there is no danger, then we will open the shuls with great joy and thank Hashem that we returned to daven with a crowd.”
He attached a detailed document explaining the halachic sources for his decision and said he will expound on it during the weekly class he delivers in Hungarian on Sunday.
HungaryShulsCovid19
I’m hoping in Hungry they have enough saichel to listen.
B”H we are seeing one miracle after another with people coming home from the hospital, and the excitement couldn’t be greater, more people have to use their brains, these people still have a way to full recovery, so I’d beg that as excited as you are, keep the hugging and kissing (Even with a mask)for a time when it is safe. PLEASE we need to still be extremely cautious.
May everyone who needs healing have a very speedy recovery.
I believe he is right especially if very little testing was done. In israel they are opening up but i also feel it should be done more slowly
Finally, a Chabad Rabbi that does not follow like sheep what his government advises. Yes, in the past Chabad was known for its meserisas nefesh, however, lately our Rabbis and communities follow the “advise” from our government like it is everything.Crown Heights waited until the elderly were being taken to the hospitals in the truck loads until it woke up. Why? because a fool like De Blasio said “everything is ok”. Please people use common sense…