By COLlive reporter
Shuls typically hope to have a least 10 men present to form a minyan. But what do you do when 10 just isn’t enough?
Shuls in New York City are only allowed to open for 10 people at a time until further notice, the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Marco Carrion said on Thursday.
The updated regulations as the coronavirus pandemic subsides means that shuls in Crown Heights and across the city are not able to fully resume operation.
Shuls such as Bais Gimpel Chaim and Rayim Ahuvim announced that they will hold davening by reservation, with some offering that overflow crowds are able to daven outside with social distancing.
But others are saying they are not comfortable with the dynamic and would prefer not to open at all until the guidelines are eased by city and state officials.
“I don’t see how it’s possible for our shul to open with the conditions of only 10 people being allowed,” Rabbi Kalman Weinfeld, Gabbai of Beis Levi Yitzchok in Crown Heights, told COLlive.com on Thursday.
“I don’t see how that’s possible for us to open because this means that women cannot attend. They are part of the Tefillos, part of the kiddushim, and they look forward to the Shabbos davening, and the Hallel on Yom Tov. So how can we say, we only allow men?” he asked.
Rabbi Weinfeld mentioned another factor on why not to reopen at this time. “If you only have 10 men, if even one person goes downstairs for one minute, then you don’t have a minyan. It’s just not practical – I think the people who made these rules did not speak to any shul gabboim.”
Another gabbai of a shul told COLlive.com that they are definitely remaining closed for this upcoming Shabbos.
As for Shavuos, he is not sure how they can open practically speaking, since allowing only 10 at a time would be very time consuming as well as difficult to maintain proper social distancing, with all the children and women pushing strollers. “We haven’t made concrete plans yet,” he said.
In an effort to find a united solution, rabbis and gabboim of Crown Heights will be joining a Zoom meeting with Badatz member Rabbi Yosef Braun, community physician Dr. Eli Rosen and the Gedaliah Society.
Organizers said the meeting will discuss guidelines for Shavuos, and other general questions. They said they hope to reach a consensus on plans for Shavuos, when the Aseres Hadibros is read.
As reported on COLlive.com, Pinny Ringel of the Mayor’s office said these regulations are not finalized yet, and are subject to change with the executive order by Governor Andrew Cuomo in the next few days.
Click here for a list of block Minyanim in Crown Heights
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The chiyuv of minyan is for men, not women… as for children, keep them at home until the situation stabilizes.
the rabonim said there isn’t a chiyuv of minyan for anyone at this time of tzara
so if you are making a minyan, its not halacha – more a hidur
since pesach…
I don’t think we can get more ‘situation stabalized’ than the high antibody and low new cases count that we have in ch. Unless we choose to wait to hear from a mayor who blamed the Jews for this problem while jogging around town in parks or a governor who has the blood of hundreds of innocent elderly on his hands. Are those the ones whose opinions we are waiting for?
Regarding a shabbos shacharis this is true. However the rebbe’s stance on aseres hadibros was very clear. That men women and children even the smallest babies need to hear the aseres hadibros because everyone heard them by matan torah
Have the streets closed so that families can stand apart and yet hear aseres hadibros
That’s not fair to the non Jewish residents of our neighborhood.
we would love to come from outskirts too, we did not hear Torah reading at all in this pandemic.
If we can close the street for a kinus, we should be able to close the street for aseres Hadibros!!!
Have people use Brooklyn& Kingston to come & go. Qe can layin the Torah in middle of eastern parkway.
From a health perspective, crown heights doesn’t need to do this garbage anymore. Who are we scared of, deblasios gestapo? I’m sure our doctors can work things out with the 71 precinct. There’s reason to keep this up besides giving the mayor more power
With this sentiment. Until now there was a legitimate danger from this virus, and thus the shuls were closed. At this point, we know that that danger is not a legitimate and immanent threat. Without listing everything, we know now that this whole business of silent carriers and this whole idea that once a person recovers they could still spread the virus is bubbeh-maises. At one point we did not know this, and so it was worthwhile to be cautious. However, today we know to the best of our ability that there are 5 studies performed by national research institutions,… Read more »
I completely agree with you and also furthermore, it is our constitutional right to gather to daven and it is not allowed to be taken away in any shape or form. Only the Rabonim have power over this. I think that their reasoning is that it would be a chilul HaShem. That’s the only reason I can think of.
Like Merium told amram you shouldn’t be worse than paro. Ie designate 10 at a time.
Or Who is counting?
If Shul is locked…let them get a warrant.
Or What Shul it’s a food distribution center. And a medical testing place. Get food and swabs and line up.
Safely of course.
Or Eh I like Davening outside better.
Or Everyone is heading to the mountains anyway
This is very hard for shluchim who would love to open their shul, but can’t just say no women allowed.
At shuls can make 1 minyan after the other starting early morning!?
And I’m sure if there’s 11 instead of 10 nothing’s going to happen ok gimme a break. if groups of 11 want to wake up early & daveen in shul why would anyone want to stop that ,it has to b all or nothing? Thats ridicules!
Pss don’t tell anyone . We had a Minyan in our building tonight . 15 people ! And we got arrested ! Just kidding nothings happened at all.
Wait 14 days from now before even considering reopening…watch to see if there is a surge, and hold back if that is the case. And these are part of the OU guidelines
I’d quicker listen to Dr Rosen and Hatzolah who actually deal with our community and have more of an idea of what is in our best interest. Dr Rosen is an incredibly caring doctor and has been a real leader during this time.
Thank you for speaking out for rhe women… We are often left on the side and no one cares about us.
Any shuls opening – 10 at a time? It’s going to be raining this Shabbat.
The Rebbe said all Yidden, especially children, should go to shul to hear the aseres hadibros. He didn’t say hear it at home. He knew that a time like this would come. All of the Yidden were healed at Har Sinai. Naaseh v’nishma- let us do – bring everyone to shul for Shavuos.it may not be a mitzva to daven with a minyan but is it a mitzva to listen to the Rebbe? Having all Yidden hear the aseres hadibros is pekuah nefesh.
Don’t presume to know what the Rebbe would have advised. Just like the Rebbe gave different advice to different people depending on the circumstances, so too here this probably would have been the case.
And the Rebbe never said not to use your own sechel.
This won’t end. Even when the limit is increased to 25, 50 or even 500 Who is going to be Number 501 to be pushed out. Who will decide??!!! it’s time to think about a Goiral NO