By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba and Rabbi Yosef Braun, members of the Crown Heights Beis Din, issued a letter on Monday detailing how Aseres Hadibros should be read on Shavuos.
They reiterate that Aseres Hadibros should be heard by adults and children alike on the day the Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai.
But they specify how it should be done during the Covid-19 pandemic when many shuls remain closed and outdoor minyanim continue to take place.
They said that any minyan should be done while following guidelines of medical experts.
In fact, they added, if a safe minyan of just elderly people cannot be organized for them, here is a prohibition against them participating in a minyan that will endanger them.
They said that Aseres Hadibros should he read as part of the entire Krias Hatorah on Shavuos and not just that portion.
A proper mechitza should be created to divide male and female listeners, they specified.
While one can hear the reading in a “porch minyan” with each person in their own property, they warned against carrying the Sefer Torah around.
They concluded that there is no requirement to hear Aseres Hadibros while putting one’s life in danger and said that the elderly or those who are at risk have “no obligation” to hear Aseres Hadibros.
FREE TRANSLATION
BH, 2 Sivan, 5780
To all members of the community שיחיו
In response to numerous inquiries:
It is well known the Rebbe’s directive that everyone, including small children, should attempt to be in shul on the day of Matan Torah, at least during the reading of Aseres Hadibros.
Accordingly, it is important to stress, due to the current situation:
1. The above must be in accordance with the health guidelines of professional expert doctors. Obviously, it’s forbidden to do so wherever there is any risk of danger חס ושלום, as this would fall under the category of a Mitzvah fulfilled through a Aveirah, or worse, just a Aveirah רחמנא ליצלן.
[It should be noted that the Rebbe originally specified that the above directive be followed only in a situation where one’s health allows it.]
2. It is Forbidden to take a Sefer Torah to the street, being that it is considered a disgrace to the Torah.
Even transferring a Sefer Torah from one Shul to another is a severe matter, and certainly if it’s carried outside, as explained in the Zohar (recited as part of the text of the Maaneh Lashon). [Some opinions allow moving a Sefer Torah to the Shul’s courtyard, as they also allow moving the Torah from one room to another. Others forbid this too.]
Many Seforim make special mention to be extra cautious in this matter during a plague and how this is a Segulah to stop the plague.
It should be noted that a key emphasis in the Rebbe’s sichos is the reading of the Torah in Shul, in a holy place. Obviously, where this is not possible the Torah must be read out of the Shul premises. However, one should not add to this the reading the Torah in the street which is a severe prohibition.
3. The entire Kriah most be read, with Brachos before and after, and not just the Aseres Hadibros.
4. A complete and proper non see-through Mechitza must be set up between the men and women. (A Mechitza may be put up on Shabbos and Yom Tov. This refers only to the actual putting up of the Mechitza. Any necessary Melachos involved in setting up the Mechitza must be done before Yom Tov. One may not use a tree on Yom Tov to put up a Mechitza.)
5. In the current situation, it is possible to arrange Minyanim for Kriah at the porch Minyanim. Multiple Minyanim may be arranged as long as there are six men in every Minyan who did not yet hear Kriah.
6. Separate Minyanim can be arranged for the elderly and the like who can not attend a regular Minyan (with children and younger people) in accordance with doctor’s instructions. If this is impossible, they are exempt from hearing Kriah, and it’s also an Issur.
7. Obviously, this Kriah does not suspend even the smallest risk to human life or other Isurim, just like regular Krias Hatorah.
In the Zechus of all this may we merit to hear Torah Chadosha from Moshiach Tizdkenu now Mamosh.
All Men, Woman and Children in Crown Heights will hear Aseres Hadibros this year.
The Crown Heights Shul Association in conjunction with the Gedaliah Society and the Crown Heights Beis Din.
-Submit your Minyan.
– Request a Minyan.
– Request a Sefer Torah.
– View complete Kriah listing.
We are asking that all “porch” and “block” minyanim try to arrange a second kriah for those woman and children nearby.
Together, we can all help to fulfill the Rebbe’s request, that every last yid hear Aseres Hadibros.
“כאן המקום לעורר אשר בשנה זו בשעת קריאת עשרת הדברות יהיו בבית הכנסת אנשים, נשים וטף בריבוי הכי גדול, יותר מבשנים שעברו”
not everyone speaks hebrew/yiddish. it would be nice if this was translated into english for the rest of us
It seems like the letter is written for the more learned, based on its style. The resulting points and guidance were all outlined in the article.
Please post letters with the signatures, not only the names. Some people will not trust instructions and guidance when there are no signatures, because in the past some letters circulated which were really not from the Rabbonim.
thanks for the translation
So how can we ensure that our block minyan will have a mechitza for Women?
How can women and children come and hear if the max amount of participant for a social distancing gathering is 10?