A database for comparative study
It has been suggested to utilize Zoom in order to connect families during the Seder Night.
Aside from the Halachic problems, this would also create serious practical problems. It is far more likely that this would cause great distress, rather than peace of mind.… Read the rest
Rav Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary
Dear Friends,
We are all called to support, respond, and minister to the needs of our congregations and communities. The coming days and weeks will also demand vigilant care for nourishing ourselves so we can welcome each day with hope and faith. Now is a moment to trust God to give us large measures of gentleness and kindness, for surely they will lead us to a promised land.… Read the rest
This year, with the need to physically distance and isolate ourselves collectively so as to curtail the spread of COVID-19, community has become something even more precious. We cannot gather around the seder table as we do most years. We cannot come physically to synagogues to make a minyan.… Read the rest
At this time of global pandemic and the urgent need to stop the spread of Coronavirus, we Jews find ourselves caught between a number of dearly held values. We have the desire and significant precedent of coming together in times of crisis, especially to celebrate holidays and observe family milestones, and we also understand the need to separate and physically distance ourselves from one another for the sake of the health and wellbeing of all of us.… Read the rest
Bishop, I heard Governor Cuomo’s address this morning and one of the things he noted is that the blanket action to close everything needs to be made with the added information they have gained. He said now strategic decision making needs to be brought to bear so that portions of the population that need to stay home should and others could be allowed to go to work and start the economy slowly and thoughtfully.… Read the rest
Considering the rapidly evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and taking into account observations which have come from Episcopal Conferences, this Congregation now offers an update to the general indications and suggestions already given to Bishops in the preceding decree of 19 March 2020.… Read the rest
Please find below a letter from Rabbi Joshua Heller, chair of the CJLS rites and ritual subcommittee providing guidance for communities affected by COVID-19. Thanks to Rabbis Aaron Alexander, Pamela Barmash and Ashira Konigsburg for contributions. Please note that this is not an official responsum of the CJLS. … Read the rest
If the government or a physician has decided that an individual must remain in isolation over the course of Yom Tov and this individual has a psychological condition where physicians who know this patient have determined that there is a possibility that this person being alone over the course of Yom Tov would be in a situation of pikuach nefesh (possible suicide) if the individual was not able to communicate or speak with family members, then the family members must reach out to this person over Yom Tov to speak on the phone or use the internet by leaving a connection open from before Yom Tov.… Read the rest
