The current state of COVID-19 in Israel

[Happyguy]

all mochrim are open as normal (at least the ones i have seen)

[yfr bachur]

Many stores are closed. Bus service is reduced.
Many shuls were open on YK
The Mir was emptier that RH. Had a separate minyan for bachurim in bidud (40+ in bidud, not all attended minyan).
Belz is on normal schedule. (No masks at all, went to jammed tish last night)

The question is really at what point they're going to start really enforcing the rules. Right now it seems to be understood that they are giving a light hand to avoid a political firestorm from Shas and UTJ.
Will it be before Simchas Torah or after?

[ExGingi]

Belz is on normal schedule. (No masks at all, went to jammed tish last night)

Sounds like they're walking straight into the fire with their eyes wide open.

[Mikes@Micro]

Many restaurants are doing phone orders.
Checkpoints are only stopping cars, not buses or pedestrians afaik and even cars only a randomized selection.
Packed tish in Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok in Meah shearim but Toldos Aharon closed the main entrance (so even once you figured out how to get in it was pretty empty - no American vacationers.)

I saw a few intercity buses but def less than usual.

[ExGingi]

Can someone explain what's going on there? I don't get it. It sounds like they are in a situation similar to NY right after Purim, rather than the situation after Pesach or Shavuos when a high percentage of the population had it and recovered. Yet despite the experience from NY it seems like they're ignoring the danger. And while treatment protocols are definitely better nowadays, how can anyone not call this ספק פיקוח נפש that calls for extreme measures?

Looks like מועצת החכמים is giving proper guidance.

[Ergel]

Can someone explain what's going on there? I don't get it. It sounds like they are in a situation similar to NY right after Purim, rather than the situation after Pesach or Shavuos when a high percentage of the population had it and recovered. Yet despite the experience from NY it seems like they're ignoring the danger. And while treatment protocols are definitely better nowadays, how can anyone not call this ספק פיקוח נפש that calls for extreme measures?

Looks like מועצת החכמים is giving proper guidance.

Agreed. People are just tired after 6 months of restrictions

[ExGingi]

Agreed. People are just tired after 6 months of restrictions

Maybe because those might have been senseless/draconian in certain ways? Or maybe because it's done with force rather than advice, consent and cooperation?

[Ergel]

Maybe because those might have been senseless/draconian in certain ways? Or maybe because it's done with force rather than advice, consent and cooperation?

Yes

[Mikes@Micro]

Can someone explain what's going on there? I don't get it. It sounds like they are in a situation similar to NY right after Purim, rather than the situation after Pesach or Shavuos when a high percentage of the population had it and recovered. Yet despite the experience from NY it seems like they're ignoring the danger. And while treatment protocols are definitely better nowadays, how can anyone not call this ספק פיקוח נפש that calls for extreme measures?

Looks like מועצת החכמים is giving proper guidance.

They are not exactly in the same condition as NY in terms of Living density  + move around differently (i.e. not many have cars, tend to shop mostly in smaller local stores vs in NY a few large central supermarkets, etc)

Also numbers from one NYC are being compared to numbers from the entire Israel and there doesnt seem to be much movement between cities.

Also variations in that tests are much more readily available now + people want to have a positive on paper to possibly avoid future quarantine. In NY families of 8 with symptoms were sending one person to be tested.

Agreed. People are just tired after 6 months of restrictions

Very true. In the last 2 weeks it seems like way less people are wearing masks.

[PlatinumGuy]

Im not sure why you think they are more reckless than the average Israeli as it pertains to Covid

https://twitter.com/n12news/status/1310985086771359751?s=24

[ExGingi]

They are not exactly in the same condition as NY in terms of Living density  + move around differently (i.e. not many have cars, tend to shop mostly in smaller local stores vs in NY a few large central supermarkets, etc)

I was referring to the Jewish neighborhoods of Boro Park, Williamsburg and Crown Heights which I think could be compared to Charedi centers in EY.

[Happyguy]

[Buruch]

The way they're enforcing things is really dumb. They're stopping a car driving on the highway, but the supermarket can be packed. So nothing is accomplished, yet many people are going out of business due to their shops being shut down. If you're going to put harsh restrictions, at least make sure they're effective.

[shulemw]

@Exgingi they are not at all in the same position of NY after Purim. in the ultra chareidi neighborhoods mentioned above that had full packed tishen almost everybody everybody had it already so....

And your saying about one community that you think are walking into the fire with open eyes once again shows the tragedy of chabad being a chassidus without a Rabbi. imagine someone saying this on chabad when the Rabbi still lived with us...

[jose34]

Where can I get anti body in Israel?

[Lurker]

@ExGingi they are not at all in the same position of NY after Purim. in the ultra chareidi neighborhoods mentioned above that had full packed tishen almost everybody everybody had it already so....

And your saying about one community that you think are walking into the fire with open eyes once again shows the tragedy of chabad being a chassidus without a Rabbi. imagine someone saying this on chabad when the Rabbi still lived with us...

What are you smoking?

[ExGingi]

@ExGingi they are not at all in the same position of NY after Purim. in the ultra chareidi neighborhoods mentioned above that had full packed tishen almost everybody everybody had it already so....

And your saying about one community that you think are walking into the fire with open eyes once again shows the tragedy of chabad being a chassidus without a Rabbi. imagine someone saying this on chabad when the Rabbi still lived with us...

I didn't mean to offend or belittle anyone. I apologize if I came across as insensitive or condescending based on limited news and information that comes here. I've heard of tragedies in Belz, I've heard of disregard for safety measures (is any of these rumors wrong?), and I was totally unaware of any directive or ruling from high up to disregard.

As for jumping into the fire with open eyes, Lubavitch has been known to do that, on directive. See: http://old2.ih.chabad.info/images/notimage/67338_he_6.pdf (excerpt quote is right on the second page - inside cover, though I recommend reading the whole thing) and https://he.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3227212

In the audio below jumping into the fire isn't mentioned explicitly, but מסירות נפש is mentioned.

[Happyguy]

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/517654

The leaders of the haredi Lithuanian public, Rabbis Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein, on Wednesday evening published a letter calling on worshipers not to pray in synagogues.

The two rabbis ordered that prayers only be held in the courtyards, that people refrain from visiting others’ sukkahs and to make sure to wear a mask.

[ari3]

The way they're enforcing things is really dumb. They're stopping a car driving on the highway, but the supermarket can be packed. So nothing is accomplished, yet many people are going out of business due to their shops being shut down. If you're going to put harsh restrictions, at least make sure they're effective.

This sounds exactly like NY/NJ in March-June. Home Depot Walmart and Target open, all small stores closed, resulting in serious financial distress to small businesses.

[Happyguy]

This sounds exactly like NY/NJ in March-June. Home Depot Walmart and Target open, all small stores closed, resulting in serious financial distress to small businesses.

Makolets and small food shops are still open