The International Conference of Shluchos will be offered virtually this year, due to concerns of COVID 19, as first reported on COLlive.com.
The Conference gathers Shluchos from around the world each year around Chof Beis Shvat, who unite for 4 days of sessions, events and workshops. The Kinus concludes with a gala banquet on Sunday night.
The leadership of the Kinus has been in talks with medical professionals on whether or not the conference should take place due to the recent uptick in the Omicron variant of coronavirus cases around the world, which is especially high in New York now.
“The medical professionals who successfully and compassionately guided the Kinus Hashluchim earlier this year explained that the current climate is not safe for visitors who are pregnant, immunocompromised in any way, unvaccinated or simply concerned,” they wrote. “New York is still experiencing a very high rate of Covid-19 infection with the Omicron strain and current cases at a plateau. New Covid-19 cases are still extremely common in Crown Heights. The doctors had hoped to see a significant decline in new cases by now but we are not yet there which has led us to this reality.”
Therefore, the Kinus will take place virtually for those who are at risk or uncomfortable with travel, they said.
Since many of the Shluchos are vaccinated or not at risk, some small scale in person events will take place throughout the weekend, while the main Kinus program will take place virtually, streamed live from the Kinus.com website. The Gala Banquet will not take place.
The annual ‘guest program’ will take place virtually as well, they said.
Good for them, this was a smart and responsible decision.
If the concern is that they will take the virus home with them and spread it that will happen if you are vaccinated too…
Good morning America
Glad they made this decision! Affects the safety of residents in CH too.
Our doctors in CH are so overwhelmed right now with staff shortages and so many children and adults being sick. If more people come, they will put an even greater strain on our medical system. It’s almost impossible for a local
To get an appointment these days….
This is totally misleading and playing into the hands of the left to fear monger. Omicron is mild at worst and its the vaccinated who are carriers. Don’t blame the unvaccinated.
The last paragraph reads to the effect that there WILL BE programs throughout the weekend. Where? Not New York? They’re just trying to play it down, and skipping the banquet. The mens’ photo was cancelled also.
Honestly, it is for the best. CH doesn’t need a surge of visitors if so many kids are sick – with the current cold/virus/flu.
According to the CDC themselves, being vaccinated does NOT protect against Omicron. They claim that being boosted i.e. receiving a third jab, does offer a bit of protection. However, every day in the newspapers we read about people who have received even 3 jabs of the vaccine getting sick with Covid. why do you write that vaccination makes you not at risk against Omicron? It is 100% NOT true, according to all the doctors and experts all over the world. Anyway, they definitely made the right decision. Also, although Omicron is generally milder than the previous Delta variant, plenty of… Read more »
I’m sure that this was nor an easy decision to make, and I feel that it would be unfair and unkind to send in negative comments here, or to simply be unkind . . as we find there are those of us who can be just that! Its a wise and long thought out decision, lets respect those who came to this, and if it means protecting the vulnerable, the pregnant amongst us, etc, then so be it; Our health should and must come first! Thank you to the Vaad, its much appreciated by so many of us, despite the… Read more »
Crown Heights is dealing with strep, flu, covid and another virus in huge numbers. Everyone I know has at least one person sick in their households for weeks now. The doctors offices are flooded, there are no appointments. This is not a good season to bring in thousands of women and children. We cannot cope with the local medical needs already.
I had an 104 fever (Covid) and couldn’t stand in line for 2 hours at Lefferts urgent care. they do their best but they are overrun with people needing care. I could barely get an appointment at Dr. Rosens because they are overwhelmed too. [want to mention I just learned that Lefferts urgent care does have a “in home” testing service for a fee that is likely worthwhile for very ill people]. We don’t need to have more spikes and more people coming here. A large scale event is not in the best interest of the shluchos or the Crown… Read more »
Mass awakening of all ‘Sleepy Heads!’ In the state of ‘Uttar Pradesh,’ in India, with 230 million people, living in close proximity with each other, Covid-19 has been completely wiped out using Ivermectin!
It seems India is far more advanced than America or Israel in fighting Covid-19.
DO SOMETHING!
Get back to normalcy!
Why not ask for a vaccine passport like everyone else does for other large events?
Oy the organizers of the women’s Kinus don’t live here… if they did, they would definitely cancel it! We are swamped with illnesses here! Flu, covid…. good luck getting home with a negative test – almost impossible at this point… looks like we’ll have guests here for the next few weeks. Streets are quieter, classrooms are closed due to no teachers, hundreds of students are out.