Letter was written last night by Harav Micha Cohn shlita, kehilas Oakley Hills Jackson.
"I followed the unanimous advice of all three experts to put minyonim on hold as of now. As a shul I feel we can simply not take the responsibility to ignore the unanimous expert opinion. In such a situation we must err on the side of caution. If I overacted – I will be happy".
Dear Mispalelim Chashuvim,
I would like to update you as far as the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak as it pertains to our community. Sunday night there was a conference call with many local doctors and Rabbonim with Dr. Elliot Frank, a specialist in infectious disease from Jersey Shore University Medical Center. On Monday afternoon there was a Rabbonim’s meeting at CHEMED with Dr. Ahron Glatt, an Infectious Disease specialist from New York and Dr. Freidman CEO of CHEMED. Later last night I spoke with Dr. Kofsky, (our Tzvi Eli’s father) who is an Infectious disease specialist from Brooklyn.
What we need to understand is a few points;
• While there are few confirmed cases in Lakewood, this is largely a result of the difficulty to test. It is believed that there are numerous cases, if not more. I know of plenty of people closely related to our community that have been in contact with individuals that may have the virus.
• The officials this week became very concerned of a mushroom affect, as is being seen in Italy when cases multiply rapidly when there is not proper containment.
• While the over 60 age group is at a far greater risk there are plenty of young people being hospitalized without preexisting conditions.
• A person could transfer the virus even before symptoms arise. This means that one person in a shul can infect many others, especially elderly, without knowing it
. • As of Monday the CDC prohibited gatherings of more than 50. Dr. Frank on Sunday night wanted the number to more like ten or max twenty.
• I was hoping that we could have small minyonim, possibly with 10-15 people outside with space apart. As of last night, given the rapidly changing situation, all the above doctors advised against that.
Specific to Minyonim:
• We must realize that the obligation of tefila be’tzibur is a chiyuv to be to’rai’ach (less than a regular chiyuv de’rabanan). (See Igros Moshe OC 2:27)
• We have an achrayus to the tzibur, as Reb Yisroel Slanter’s famous psak of making everyone eat on Yom Kippur during a cholera epidemic demonstrates. Even if these abovementioned recommendations are overblown it certainly is enough reason to say this is considered a tircha and there is no obligation of tefilla betzibur.
• Minyanim are very difficult to control, for example on Monday there were 26 people at our weekday minyan in a small space. This means that the proper precautions of 6 feet apart etc. were certainly not met. Additionally, as of Monday evening because of the seriousness of the situation I was advised that we cannot take responsibility on such gatherings. This is different than a work environment that is easier to control.
• We must understand that davening with a minyan can be a prolonged exposure which is much more serious that a casual encounter when one goes shopping in an uncrowded store.
• The status of children, if they are vectors who transmit disease, is still being debated. Furthermore, the concern with letting all the schools out is that the 41,000 children of Lakewood will be congregating in all different places and spreading the virus. This is why there are differing opinions about school closures.
• At the Rabbonim’s meeting on Monday evening many Rabbonim based on the urging of Dr. Glatt and many local doctors expressed the feeling that their shuls should not have minyonim. It is too difficult to control and the risk to the tzibur at large is too great. However, it will take time before a conscious emerges. My friend, Rabbi Moshe Rotberg of Hatzolah, is working very hard on this
. • It is not my way to make these decisions in a vacuum. However, I saw at the meeting how rapidly the situation is changing and how painfully slow the Rabbonim will take in order to reach a consensus. After my discussion with Dr. Kofsky about our shul in particular, I saw no way out. After numerous requests to decide if there should be minyonim I followed the unanimous advice of all three experts to put minyonim on hold as of now. As a shul I feel we can simply not take the responsibility to ignore the unanimous expert opinion. In such a situation we must err on the side of caution. If I overacted – I will be happy.
• As things change, we will certainly reevaluate and will continue to be in touch with other Rabbonim and communal leaders.
• However, each individual is certainly entitled to do their own research and act accordingly. I would be happy to discuss the situation with anyone that wants to. I hope that soon things will return to normal and we can once again have the great zechus of tefilla be’tzibur.
Mikvah
• All doctors were in agreement that the virus does not live in chlorinated water and therefore mikvah for women is fine. Mikvaos should be disinfecting surfaces between uses.
• Mens mikvaos are not kept as clean and men often congregate, therefore it would probably be better to avoid.
.......
Very truly yours,
Micha Cohn
No comments:
Post a Comment