Updates from the Halacha Commission and articles of interest
Yeshiva Tuition and Coronavirus
Tentative thoughts by Rav Gil Student, Director of RAA/Igud’s Halacha Commission
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Yeshiva Tuition and Coronavirus
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In Memory of Rav Mordechai Marcus
Rav Gil Student, Director of RAA/Igud’s Halacha Commission, writes in The Jewish Vues, June 9, 2020, in memory of Hagaon Harav Mordechai Marcus zt”l, Rav of the Lakewood Minyan of Flatbush and an editor for the Artscroll Gemara, who passed away due to Coronavirus [...Click headline above for more...]
All That Was Missed, Parts 1-4
by Rav Ya’akov Klass, RAA/Igud Presidium Chairman
Part I
Question: We are obviously in a very unique situation in this present Covid19 pandemic, which has caused a halt to almost all public gatherings; hence much of Jewish congregational ritual has come to a halt. Is there a way to deal with all that was missed? [...Click headline above for more...]
Torah Reading and Social Distancing
by Rav Gil Student, Director of RAA Halacha Commission
As ”stay at home” restrictions begin to loosen in certain places, and within weeks will probably begin to loosen in the New York area also, we need to reimagine what shul will look like in the interim stages before we fully return to normal. The OU, Agudath Israel of America and several poskim have published on the subject, each in their own way. I would like to explore possible alternatives in reading the Torah during a time when we must still wear masks and people living in different homes must stay more than six feet apart (some recommend eight or ten feet). [...Click headline above for more...]
Reopening Shuls
As communities start thinking about when and how to reopen shuls, the following documents can help guide you through the thought process. Attached are guidance documents from the OU and Agudah, as well as a recent teshuvah from Rav Asher Weiss urging caution and a slow pace. [...Click headline above for more...]
Hilchot Bishul: Rav Zeev
Rav Aharon Zeev, RAA/Igud member and rabbi of Aur Torah, the Sephardic Minyan of Staten Island, presents a shiur on Hilchot Bishul B’Shabbat
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Piskei Corona
Two seforim available for free download:
– Minchas Asher on Issues of Coronavirus by HaGaon HaRav Asher Weiss: Click here to download
– Piskei HaGaon HaRav Hershel Schachter on Coronavirus Issues: Click here to download [...Click headline above for more...]
Halachic Rulings from Rav Yitzchak Yosef
Israel has reduced its restrictions on movement. Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, issued the following halachic rulings (dated 28 Nisan 5780) that may apply more broadly. Of course, at all times: venishmartem me’od le’nafshoseichem. [...Click headline above for more...]
Porch Minyanim
by R. Gil Student
I. Pesach, Prayer and Bentching
In the current phase of the Coronavirus pandemic, all shuls around the world are closed and nearly every Jew globally is praying without a minyan. Even during its strictest period, the Israeli government allowed a few minyanim to continue under health department guidelines. In the US, I know of a family with ten adult men (a grandfather, father and eight sons above 13) who continue praying as a minyan. A widely discussed option is for neighbors to pray together on their front or back porchs, without anyone leaving their own property. Every community will have its own concerns about local health guidelines and the ability to consistently follow them, as well as anti-semitism that may be flamed by even perfectly legal and healthy minyanim. Setting all that aside, I would like to discuss whether in theory, if not in practice, neighbors can join together as a minyan, everyone remaining on their own property. The matter is less simple than many people think and is discussed by many recent responsa specifically related to Coronavirus. [...Click headline above for more...]