Will This Deadly Crisis Change Some Minds?

People gathered in prayer in Bnei Brak a few days ago (Jewish Press)

If there is one positive development, from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that the idea of banning the internet has finally been laid to rest. (At least I hope it has.) It is now being used by the very people that organized or supported the Asifa (gathering) a few years ago. Where Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman basically told those gathered that (based on a the words of one of our medieval sages - Rabbenu Yona’s Shaarei Teshuva ) Jews would lose their place in Olam HaBah if they did not listen to the words of R’ Shmuel Wosner, ZTL. Who  followed Rabbi Wachsman immediately and forbade anyone from having the internet in their homes.

(Bnei Brak) has the highest contamination rate in Israel due to gatherings that have taken place at weddings and other events, despite government restrictions.

Part of the reason for the lack of cooperation with those restrictions has to do with communication difficulties stemming from lack of electronic communications – many strictly Orthodox communities shun the internet altogether, as well as smart phones, televisions and even radios. Some of the communities within Bnei Brak continued to hold minyanim (prayer quorums) despite the government restrictions against the gatherings, intended to stem the spread of the virus. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned the Jewish community, again, not to hold services in the synagogues. Failing cooperation, he said, permanent closure would be the next step.

Although many shuls have closed in deference to the city’s COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions, some have not and instead continued to hold minyanim despite the city’s orders to close in order to prevent the spread of the virus…

if you go to your synagogue, if you go to your church, and attempt to hold services after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services. 

Rav Chaim Kanievsky just issued a psak a short while ago that they hope will be more effective in making people stop and take notice.

Rav Kanievsky paskened, currently specifically for Bnei Braq and not in general, that people should daven alone at home and not in any shul. People should NOT make private minyanim. It is pikuach nefesh.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky adds that anyone not davening at home but in a minyan has the status of a rodef and if you are aware of such a minyan or person you must report him to the authorities, even with the knowledge that this might lead to him being arrested or slapped with a large fine. If you are aware of someone who is meant to be in quarantine but is not following the quarantine rules, you are allowed to shame him publicly over this.

Rav Kanievsky also added that this is not just for davening, but people should also learn Torah at home and not in shuls, even alone in shuls and batei medrash.