A database for comparative study
We hope that this update finds you well – healthy, and taking care of yourselves, your families, and your communities and institutions. These challenging times have certainly reminded us how critical our work is as rabbis.
Since we initially distributed funeral guidelines in late March, medical experts and public-health officials have learned much, and societal norms in combating COVID-19 have evolved.
originally published (with the following editor’s note) in Christianity Today
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article implied that people should not sing during gatherings. The author’s suggestion is to wear a face mask when singing or talking. (See updated table for more information.)… Read the rest
For the next who-knows-how-long, churches in many parts of the world will be unable to gather. So pastors like me are lovingly scrambling for solutions. There’s no playbook for this. When the church can’t gather physically, what can we do to encourage and nourish God’s people?… Read the rest
published on ejewishphilanthropy.com
As the weeks of mandated physical separation continue there is a growing and understandable desire around the world to reopen businesses and other institutions as quickly as possible.
Failing economies and ballooning job loss create tremendous economic pressure on our families and threaten the viability of our institutions.… Read the rest
What follows is a series of recommended sacramental guidelines for archdiocesan parishes as we foresee a return to public worship in the forthcoming weeks and months. It is anticipated that the reopening of our churches and the resumption of the public celebration of the sacraments will be a gradual process marked in phases:
Phase I – Churches Open for Private Prayer and Confessions
Phase II – Celebration of Baptisms and Marriages (limited to 10 attendees)
Phase III – Celebration of the Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass
Phase IV – Celebration of Daily and Funeral Masses with Limited Attendance
Phase V – Celebration of Sunday Mass with Supervised Attendance
Resumption of Full Parish Mass Schedules and Sacramental Activities
Commencement dates and a detailed description of each phase will be announced by the Vicar General’s Office in the coming weeks, in consultation with health and government officials and in consideration of current health metrics.… Read the rest
Rambam writes in Hilchos Rotzeach U’Shmiras Nefesh, (Laws concerning murder and preservation of life) 11:4:
… Read the restוְכֵן כָּל מִכְשׁל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לַהֲסִירוֹ וּלְהִשָּׁמֵר מִמֶּנּוּ וּלְהִזָּהֵר בַּדָּבָר יָפֶה יָפֶה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ד׳:ט׳) הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ [מְאֹד]. וְאִם לֹא הֵסִיר וְהֵנִיחַ הַמִּכְשׁוֹלוֹת הַמְּבִיאִין לִידֵי סַכָּנָה בִּטֵּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה וְעָבַר בְּלֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים (דברים כ״ב:ח׳):
Similarly, any obstacle which has the potential to endanger life — we are charged[2] to remove it, to be watchful of it, and to be very, very vigilant in this matter.
Rav Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary
… Read the restAll praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions, and those who followed.
The Resident Fatwa Committee of AMJA has received several questions concerning Taraweeh (tarāweeḥ) prayers in the midst of the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic as well as the stay-at-home orders which have been imposed on people to varying degrees.… Read the rest
Dear Friends,
We hope this letter finds you well and that you had a meaningful Pesach. As the Governor has declared his intent to begin the resumption of economic life, some of you have reached out to us to see what our plans are with regard to reopening shuls.… Read the rest
