Letter to Far Rockaway Community sent before Shabbos

BS"D
Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Ki Sisa/Parshas Parah
March 13, 2020/ 17 Adar 5780


Lichvod the Incredible Far Rockaway Community amu"sh:

Shalom U'vracha and A Gutten Erev Shabbos Kodesh to all. I sincerely hope that this e-mail finds everyone managing well, bi'ruchniyus u'vi'gashmiyus, under the challenging circumstances surrounding us at this time.

With a broken and heavy heart, I write to you all after an hour and half conference call with the Roshei Yeshivos shlit"a and Rabbonim shlit"a of the Far Rockaway community (and some beyond). Our final decision was in conjunction with the Posek HaDor, HaRav Dovid Feinstein shlit"a, in light of recent news that came to our attention this afternoon regarding some individuals within our
community. We spent a great deal of time weighing all of the different sides
and options available.

Li'ma'aseh: For this Shabbos, Parshas Ki Sisa/Parah, the local Yeshivos and Shuls will be closed as a necessary precaution to help ensure that the contagious Covid-19 virus not spread within our community, chalila vi'chas.

Please note that, at the current time, there is B"H no reason at all to panic. This is being done in consultation with our Gedolei Yisroel and reputable medical professionals/infectious disease specialists. Presently, we B"H do not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus in our community and, with Siyata Dishmaya merubah, we hope and continuously daven, with lev vi'nefesh, that it will remain that way.

The Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbonim will be meeting all together this coming Sunday morning to discuss the various options and next steps to be taken through the upcoming week. We will certainly keep the community posted and updated as new information and piskei halacha emerge.

Let us continue to pour our hearts out to HaKB"H, the true Shomer Yisroel, and daven sincerely, and with intensity, from our respective homes this Shabbos that we merit a yeshua gedolah bi'karov. May we be zocheh to join in only simchas and share besuros tovos henceforth IY"H.

With warmest wishes for a most meaningful Shabbos and only Kol Tuv always,
R' Eytan Feiner, together with the Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbonim of the Far Rockaway Community