Due to the very difficult nature of the question as to whether families can spend Pesach together, and the obvious need for healing within families and the community at large, we will attempt to further address the issue.
We have been diligently attempting to keep track of the numbers of people who have had the virus, as well as the numbers of those recovered. It would seem that the majority of those susceptible individuals have been exposed, and most have recovered by now. This is the common experience in most families. This would seemingly lead to the obvious conclusion that families should be allowed to spend Pesach together and use the opportunity to start healing, and enjoy the Yom Tov.
Here are the problems.
The disease can be lethal G-d forbid, and therefore one extra case is unacceptable.
In most situations we cannot be sure, that “everyone”has been through it, and we certainly can’t be sure that “nobody”in the family is possibly infectious. There are case reports of those with minor persistent symptoms possibly being infectious. The exact question of “who” and “when” people are no longer infectious remains with an element of doubt. We do not have an available blood test to adequately answer this.
It appears as if some rare patients have a relapse of sorts. What this means from a ‘virology’ stand point is unclear at this time, but it does present the possibility of human interaction playing an unknown role in this scenario.
We recently conducted a phone survey of those elderly who did follow instructions and stayed at home, isolated. It would appear that approximately 50% of this group remains at risk. Any even slight uptick in cases represents a real danger to these older people, as they increasingly suffer from their isolation, and social leakage occurs.
CONCLUSIONS:
Maintain social distancing!
Continue to wear a mask in public, so as not to inadvertently spread the virus.
Those who live in Crown Heights, should stay here for Pesach. It is the safest place to be!! BH
Those who live in other communities, at different stages of the cycle, should please stay home. We the people of this wonderful schuna, who “live” hachnosas orchim, need to protect ourselves. Please forgive us.
In light of all the above persistent questions, and the dangerous nature of the problem, weighed against the tremendous need and desire for families to be together, I need to make the following request. Please don’t make large sedorim. Mixing the multigenerational family together, as beautiful as it is and as much a part of Pesach as it is, may still present a danger!
May we all merit an end to this dreadful suffering, and merit to speedily shecht the Korban Pesach together with the Rebbe in Yerushalayim, crowded “shoulder to shoulder” as one!
Eli Rosen, together with the Gedaliah Society
There seem to be two factions here these days: Those who honor the “stay home” and those who have various “rationalizations” and excuses to not honor it. And I am not talking about people whose physicians have said they can go out, nor am I talking about vital workers, such as grocery store and hospital workers. I thank the Gedalia Society and Dr. Rosen for “telling it like it is.” It is heartbreaking that there are singles/divorced/and the widowed of all ages who will be alone for the entire week of Pesach, r”l. But alone and alive and well definitely… Read more »
If you do see someone outside, don’t judge and assume anything. While this is something where what one person does affects others, it’s still not yours to judge and teach and impose what you think is absolute truth. (only the government can do that to its citizens). You maintain what you consider appropriate behavior for yourself and hope nature treats you with respect in return.
Last week i put on my hat , jacket and gartel and wrote a letter to the rebbe asking for a brocha for my family , anash CH community , fellow chassidim, and Klal yisroel. I usually dont see answers in the igros but in these desperate times i decided to insert my letter and open to see what the rebbe would say. Roughly translated I will mention at the rebbe tziyon for success in all, hashems brochos will increase for he is the watcher of israel , and in a reveled way. the community will continue to spread and… Read more »
DR, Rosen battling the front line along with Hatzolah. Thank you so much!!
Thank you to Dr. Rosen and the Gedaliah Society!
This Letter from Dr. Rosen and Gedaliah Society is so important, it should be sent to every ch family, We all obviously know Not to leave Crown Heights for Pesach as to contain the spread & not possibly chas vishalom spread it to anyone, But Even in Crown Heights, Relatives should Not be making Pesach Seders together, Only people that LIVE in the same home should make a seder together, Not Friends, Not Relatives, Not even Siblings or Immediate Family if they Dont live in the same house, This is getting out of hand, To many tragedies every day.
Your comment is clearer than the letter. I was more confused about what to do about having my married kids for the seder than before I read the letter. The letter does not give clarity about what to do. He does not say an outright no to having family over for pesach.
True, but the letter is written by an MD and the comment is not.
Call the number listed with your questions.
People may have been told not to leave Crown Heights but sadly, they still are. I live out of town and some people here are still bringing their kids throughout this week and more coming just before Pesach. It’s shameful!
They can’t assume they will be allowed to come back…look at Florida, they put checkpoints on the roads
You must say clearly and unequivocally that sedarim must be conducted with immediate family members only who normally live in the same household. Period. Your letter leaves room for doubt.
However in your attempt to be positive and polite you have only said “don’t make big sedorim”. You should have clearly said that the elderly should be eating, and living in their homes, by THEMSELVES and not with their extended family.
I’m sure Dr. Rosen is well qualified to choose his words in a way that would serve people in different circumstances better than the rigid “official” approach you insist on. The extreme measure of social distancing within an extended family is NOT a black & white issue, NOR IS IT A PROVEN WAY to prevent spreading of the virus, & carries in addition negative consequences to the elderly in particular but also to the rest of the family. In short don’t assume your way is the right way, nor the only way!
Its not just for the Peach Sedorim, until this Covid19 Situation gets better nobody should enter Anyone else’s home period. Not Friends, Not Relatives, Not even close Immediate Family if they Dont live in the same house, Yes most people in CH got Covid19 already But still as pointed out in this letter, BH many people in ch did Not get it, looking R’L at the amount of Levaya’s every day and the amount of people needing a Refuah Shleimah & hearing about every day more members of our coummunity in the hospital on ventilators, its just not worth to… Read more »
Thank you Gedaliah Society & Dr Rosen for keeping us all informed, I hope everybody in Crown Heights fully listens to this letter that you published and is staying put & staying Home, Especially people over 60 years old & people with existing medical conditions, This is Pikuach Nefesh and everybody should fully listen, and the best form of social distancing is not going outside at all.
This letter seems to imply based on the situation in CH that the Society has seen fit to keep up the social distancing based on its evidence for the community. This is a state wide and country wide issue with clear guidelines from experts in the medical field, we follow those to do what is best for all. Precedence from this group has to always take those guidelines into its directives first. Any deviation from these protocols is a serious dereliction of duty and the wording on this letter does not address those protocols clearly enough, leaving room for interpretation… Read more »
Your message is so important it should be it’s own separate article…I have already heard from many people their interpretations of what the above letter means….they are planning to have sedorim with many people….relatives and others. The guidelines must be simple and clear….not polite words to make people feel good.
A big thank you to Dr Rosen, the Gedaliah Society, and the wonderful members of Hatzalah. They are going beyond human efforts to keep this community safe!!!!! So please! The whole community, respect the amazing work they do, and let’s all stick 100% to the rules. May Hashem grant us an easy yom tov, regardless the heavy circumstances.
Is it ok to cook for other households or share food between households?
IS IT OK TO COOK FOOD IN ONE HOUSEHOLD FOR EXTENDED FAMILY AND GIVE IT TO THEM? OR SHOULD FOOD NOT BE SHARED BETWEEN HOUSEHOLDS AT ALL AT THIS TIME???
Agree totally with other comments that this needs to be UPDATED ASAP to CLEARLY & unequivocally state the current Medical opinion to keep ONLY to present household excluding ALL others!
Whilst at it, please also state CLEAR guidelines on how to deal with deliveries received at home – we don’t see enough clarity on this – possibly being the ‘weakest link in the chain’…!?!?
Thanking You in advance on behalf of our communities!
In Israel, all the Rabbis -even the litvags in B’nei Brak – have now agreed that you must stay home and NOT have a seder with any extended family or friends. That means ONLY the nuclear family – those in your house right now.
Why take a chance when dealing with life and death? Do you want your parents or grand-parents to die because you had a seder together? This is what happened from having Purim seudos together. Learn from your mistakes and do not rely upon miracles!!
Thank you for your efforts. It is imperative to not visit or have as guests anyone who is old, e.g. Over 80 years old and kal vchomer over 90s. You can see by the ages of the people who have died who is most vulnerable. Saying don’t make large sedorim is not good advice. Old people need to be alone at home and make the seder as best they can. It’s not complicated. So many people have died in NY because they are not isolating. Have a look what’s happening in Australia. 30 deaths and the curve is flattening.