By COLlive reporter
With the number of coronavirus cases dropping around New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that gatherings of 10 people will be allowed while keeping health guidelines.
The new regulations bring an end to the porch minyanim which proliferated around Crown Heights and other Jewish communities where people joined a minyan from a distance on their front and back porches.
Now, “block minyanim” are being held, bringing together neighbors wearing masks for morning, afternoon and evening davening.
As reported on COLlive.com, Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba and Rabbi Yosef Braun of the Crown Heights Beis Din said there was no halachic bearing to reopen shuls at this time, but that the decision is now in the hands of government and health officials.
On Wednesday morning, police officers responded to a complaint and found over 100 people at a shul in Williamsburg. They ordered the crowd to disperse and No arrests were made and no summonses were issued.
Shuls in Crown Heights are now contemplating how to proceed with minyanim this Shabbos, as well as for next week for Shavuos.
The Gedalia Society, which has been coordinating communication on behalf of Dr. Elie Rosen and the Crown Heights Hatzalah, said in its recent update: “As regards Shavuos, we are thinking of ways for every member of the community, young and old, to hear the “Aseres Hadibros”. With the help of Hashem the wishes of our Rebbe in this matter will surely be accomplished. ”
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i pray they dont open 770 it would be the biggest mistake on earth 10 people or less who you kidding
Who will decide when the shul is full and no more people can be allowed in ? A maximum capacity in 770 ? How will you stop the women’s section from the unfortunate homeless to come back again ? Who is cleaning the siddurim in each shul ? This is a recipe for disaster ! We don’t want a second wave of deaths . Crowd control won’t work unless you have people from outside monitoring. Sorry but it’s the truth
Door lady to allow in a number of people and close the doors.
Or there can be lotteries like in some other shuls.
This dosn’t sound like a recipe for diminishing the virus. I dont think
we’re out the woods yet. Most people might be doubting this move….
Close off certain side streets and paint a mark every six or eight feet so it will be the right distancing. Outdoor minyans are way safer than indoors. You need volunteers to coordinate it. Better safe than sorry. Especially people over sixty and those with health issues.
The point of closing everything was to “flatten the curve” and not to eliminate the virus. The virus is very contagious and will spread even if you “clean off the siddurim”. Stop living in dread. If you drive a car, you can also G-d forbid die (so you wear a seat belt, don’t text while you drive, don’t drink alcohol etc). If you are at hi risk of getting very sick stay home. Those who have antibodies can go where they want. Younger people below 50 can go but know that you may get infected so stay away from older… Read more »
770 doesn’t have enough soap on a regular day , many shuls don’t have proper ventilation or able to open windows . The homeless people bring in germs etc . The women’s section has its own problems with a few women who park there selves there for years with out moving . Even in small shuls who wants to be the bad guy and tell some one they can’t get in . Let’s be real here . This works out if town not in big packed towns .
The medical opinion is that antibodies are not determined to indicate immunity in this case, nor is relying on a past confirmed diagnosis of COVID. Additionally, many in CH haven’t had antibody testing done and many did not have official COVID diagnoses. Someone with antibodies has not been determined by experts able to “go where they want”.