Corona virus and your shul

[CountValentine]

I can turn someone who isn't an anti-Semite into an anti-Semite in a matter of minutes with just a certain members posts.

No one is born a racist, anti-Semite or anything else. Some are brainwashed from birth, some are just evil but most become something because of what they hear, see and believe.

[yelped]

I can turn someone who isn't an anti-Semite into an anti-Semite in a matter of minutes with just a certain members posts.

No one is born a racist, anti-Semite or anything else. Some are brainwashed from birth, some are just evil but most become something because of what they hear, see and believe.

Dan doesn't require an IQ check to join the forums....

[CountValentine]

Dan doesn't require an IQ check to join the forums....

From the posts I seen I would say no. 

[flyingace]

If youre walking on the street with your tallis and tefillin bag youre probably going to a shul that shouldnt be open. Heard so many Hatzolah members complain early on that theyre job was so much harder seeing these people who dont care. Heard them say it over the radio too.

Agreed. Just addressing the kids in the street part. Is there a reason why Hatzolah and Misaskim, etc. can't make a dent here?

[Yehuda57]

I can turn someone who isn't an anti-Semite into an anti-Semite in a matter of minutes with just a certain members posts.

No one is born a racist, anti-Semite or anything else. Some are brainwashed from birth, some are just evil but most become something because of what they hear, see and believe.

I've also been turned into an anti semite from those posts.

[flyingace]

I'm not talking about the legal part (though social distancing is not respected), it's the picture it gives.

The same picture that any other public place in a densely populated city gives. Only these are hasidim and everywhere else it's "regular" people. The focus on Jews is anti-Semitic. The reality that is being described, however, is mind-boggling to me. What people don't get about this causing death is beyond me.

[CountValentine]

4) people are breaking the rules in larger numbers and in more flagrant ways than Orthodox Jews, but for many reasons only we are known about. We get a failing grade, but all the churches that remained open are fine? It's not about "but officer, he was speeding. It's not an excuse. We should see *why* the officer keeps pulling me over and consistently ignores everyone else.

1 - I see stories about "churches" all the time on the national news and provided links before.
2 - When you say "churches" you just lumped 100+ religions into one.
3 - AFAIK all "Catholic Churches" are closed.

[flyingace]

Just wondering if in densely populated areas, it would be safer to open schools and work. It might be more socially distant than what's going to happen once the weather gets even nicer.

[israshot]

The same picture that any other public place in a densely populated city gives. Only these are hasidim and everywhere else it's "regular" people. The focus on Jews is anti-Semitic. The reality that is being described, however, is mind-boggling to me. What people don't get about this causing death is beyond me.

Where do you see children in groceries ?

[flyingace]

Where do you see children in groceries ?

New Jersey has no laws preventing children from being in stores. Shoprite, Walmart etc. do not stop kids from entering.

[israshot]

New Jersey has no laws preventing children from being in stores. Shoprite, Walmart etc. do not stop kids from entering.

Why you bring me NJ when I'm talking about Brooklyn?

[yelped]

New Jersey has no laws preventing children from being in stores. Shoprite, Walmart etc. do not stop kids from entering.

All the Jewish groceries in Lakewood do not allow anyone under 16 to enter. Only one adult per family, too.

[flyingace]

All the Jewish groceries in Lakewood do not allow anyone under 16 to enter. Only one adult per family, too.

That's a self-imposed rule.

[flyingace]

Why you bring me NJ when I'm talking about Brooklyn?

Is it illegal for children to go into stores in New York? Also the post I was responding to did not mention kids in stores, just that they are on the streets.

[chevron]

The flu ?! We have vaccines for the flu .
It's a fraction as deadly
There's no hospitals overwhelmed
Medical workers don't drop dead from the flu

You show a typical stupidity and lack of cognitive powers.

As of today , 47,992 died in USA from covid19, while the flu killed 23,000

The ONLY reason that number is NOT 479,920 is because of serious measures.

You fail to understand the capacity of the US healthcare system.

They need to teach basic cause and effect in chareidi schools.. when I was bad, I got a good zetz, a potch in panim.

Prevention means the spread slows or stops, it means less get it, less strain on health resources and less death's.

We said this from day 1. You continue to walk with your head up your tuches speaking nonsense.

Unfortunately the death toll keeps rising. 50,401.

Did we flatten the curve ?  Is it declining ? We hope and pray..

It's still significantly worse than the flu. Not to mention thousands of death's that would have otherwise been prevented in a non pandemic time.

You have to really embrace the fact that even if one 5th of New Yorkers have it..or had it

That's another 80% who can get it. the lower death rate is comforting (unless you are lo aleinu dead )

If anything the virus shows, is that new York City can become rapidly infected and overwhelmed.

I can tell you, if God forbid a second round comes, and instead of 20% infection there's 40%..

I don't even want to think about that.. that's not double the death toll, probably 4x or 5x as hospitals will be overwhelmed and medical staff will be worn out

[chevron]

Parents need to accept responsibility for their kids. There should be law's yes. It's unfortunate that younger generation may not understand the implications.

Minyan is a problem if younger people who think they are healthy go, they could infect themselves or others at the minyan.

They then go home and infect their extended family rachmana litzlan

[JMHO]

Lichvod the Wonderful Members of our Far Rockaway and Five Towns Community שיחיו,

We sincerely hope that this letter finds you all managing well under the current difficult circumstances, and we daven continuously that HaKB"H send all Acheinu B'nei Yisroel the refuos, nechamos, and yeshuos for which we all so truly yearn.

There has recently been much discussion regarding the loosening of social distancing restrictions. We would like to specifically address herein the numerous calls and requests that have been presented to all our community Rabbanim regarding outdoor Minyanim.

Many individuals have been asking Rabbanim to demonstrate leadership by issuing clear guidelines for the establishment of safe outdoor Minyanim. We all understand that Tefilla Bi'Tzibbur is a crucial imperative for Klal Yisroel, especially in a time of crisis, and that davening together could provide us the זכויות and the connection that we so desperately need. People are requesting that Rabbanim, in conjunction with medical professionals, create guidelines for safe and legal Minyanim in our neighborhoods, with all participants wearing masks at safe distances, perhaps on separate properties, with safeguards in place to ensure that there is no significant risk.

We, the undersigned Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshivos, after much thought and careful consideration, feel obligated to communicate- in unequivocal terms- our united decision to reinforce our previous mandate, and bid our community against the creation of any Minyanim, as well as to cease unauthorized Minyanim. This includes porches, front-/backyard, Minyanim--with no exceptions whatsoever. We will continue to reassess and reanalyze this decision on a regular and ongoing basis as new developments unfold.

Pikuach Nefesh is the greatest imperative in the Torah, and overrides almost any other Mitzva. Although on an individual level it may be possible to safeguard against risk, it is impossible to allow the establishment of Minyanim across a community without also accepting the unavoidable violations of safety guidelines and inadvertent health risks that will inevitably result (especially with hundreds davening three times a day, every day). כל המקיים נפש אחת מישראל...כאילו קיים עולם מלא-- סנהדרין לז. Easing the prohibition would be, at the very minimum, a Sa'fek Pi'kuach Nefesh that could endanger participants, and could increase the likelihood of illness and loss of life in our community, chalila vi'chas. And this simply cannot be allowed. At this point in time, this overarching principle is docheh the imperatives of Tefilla B'tzibbur, Aveilim reciting Kaddish, and many other Halachos. We call upon each and every member of our community to adhere to the safeguards that are essential for the protection of us all. Let us do our absolute utmost in following the Torah's mandate of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם.

Our responsibility to be proactive and vigilant against any possibility of health risk and sakanah extends to far more than just Minyanim. It should be obvious that if we have taken this extraordinary step of temporarily being mi'vatel Tefilla B'Tzibbur in order to save lives, we most certainly must be extra cautious when shopping and engaging in any other activity outside the home. We strongly urge our community to not only adhere scrupulously to all laws and protocols regarding social distancing, but also to exhibit extra zehirus and care to stay within your homes, and to limit any outside social interactions- even while wearing masks- to only that which is extremely important, absolutely necessary, and truly unavoidable. This includes avoiding trips into restaurants and other situations of potential exposure that are not truly essential.

We know that current conditions have been extremely difficult. We truly commiserate and are in constant deliberation how best to make the matzav more bearable. Please take comfort in the fact that, B’Ezras Hashem, your admirable efforts and sacrifices have made a dramatic difference: you have saved, and will IY"H continue to save, countless lives.

Yi'yasher Ko'chachem for all your tremendous concern, patience, and understanding.
!חזק חזק ונתחזק

We will get through this crisis together as a unified community, with abundant Siyata Dishmaya each and every day IY"H. Let us continue to give the Ribbono Shel Olam נחת רוח in carrying out Ratzon Hashem at this time, and merit to emerge from this crisis stronger and better than ever before.

With boundless love, profound care and concern, and sincere admiration for this incredible and special community,

56 Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbanim in the Five Towns/Far Rockaway/Bayswater Community- in alphabetical order:
R' Shalom Axelrod
R' Yaakov Bender
R' Dovid Bender
R' Hershel Billet
R' Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz
R' Meyer Bodner
R' Simcha Bondi
R' Meir Braunstein
R' Dov Bressler
R' Moshe Brown
R' Pinchas Chatzinoff
R' Shaul Chill
R' Ariel Edelstein
R' Menachem Feifer
R' Aaron Feigenbaum
R' Eytan Feiner
R' Yaakov Feitman
R' Eliezer Feuer
R' Tzvi Flaum
R' Binyamin Forst
R' Aryeh Zev Ginzberg
R' Daniel Glatstein
R' Dr. Aaron Glatt
R' Nosson Greenberg
R' Kenneth Hain
R' Simcha Hopkovitz
R' Yaakov Horowitz
R' Naftali Jaeger
R' Yudi Jeger
R' Muttel Katz
R' Moshe Zev Katzenstein
R' Aryeh Lebowitz
R' Simcha Lefkowitz
R' Yoni Levin
R' Avi Miller
R' Motti Neuburger
R' Uri Orlian
R' Yechiel Yitzchok Perr
R' Ephraim Polakoff
R' Zvi Ralbag
R' Isaac Rice
R' Elysha Sandler
R' Shay Schachter
R' Yehuda Septimus
R' Aaron Stein
R' Asher Stern
R' Mordechai Stern
R' Moshe Teitelbaum
R' Yaakov Trump
R' Shmaryahu Weinberg
R' Moshe Weinberger
R' Pinchus Weinberger
R' Akiva Willig
R' Eliyahu Wolf
R' Zalman Wolowik
R' Mordechai Yaffe

[Lurker]

Thank G-d for some sanity!!

[CountValentine]

Thank G-d for some sanity!!

Will it work?

[Lurker]

Will it work?

In those communities? I'd say for the vast majority.