Covid policies - destroying our world!

Okay - I think we’ve had enough.

Our state government’s latest decree of no more than ten people in a domestic setting [1] has outlawed large families in our community from having guests at their Shabbos table as well as mourners in the neighborhood from having a quorum of visitors in their homes during Shiva. Both hospitality and consoling the bereaved, acts of gemilus chasadim, are essential to the Jewish religion, as per Shulchan Aruch.[2]

For the past weeks, a ten-year-old student at a local Chassidic school has been unable to understand his gemara and mishnayos teacher, who is forced by the school’s administration to wear a mask covering his face and nose while teaching. The boy, whose hearing is not the greatest, desperately needs to see the teacher’s mouth, and the inability to do so is impeding his studies.[3] Studying (and moreover, actually comprehending) Torah is essential to the Jewish faith. [4]

A twelve-year-old student was not allowed to attend Mincha services last month in a shul on President St. because he refused to don a face mask, which tends to disturb his ability to concentrate (let alone breathe), over his mouth and nose during Shemoneh Esrei. Wearing gloves or a mask during tefila is prohibited according to Shulchan Aruch [5], and concentration in prayers is essential to a Jew’s religious service [6].

The tyrannical restrictions and policies are no longer tolerable, as they interfere with religious observances, essential to Jewish life. The three above-mentioned items - a child’s Torah study, another child’s ability to pray, and the ability of families (or neighbors of a mourner) to practice gemilus chasadim - have been halted, due to covid courtesies.

The governor is not only interfering in our lives, he is destroying our world:

“The world stands upon three items; upon Torah, avoda (prayer), and gemilus chasadim” [7].

Let’s save the world - before it’s too late.

It’s time to protest covid tyranny, to demonstrate for freedom of religion, and demand justice!

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Footnotes:

[1]https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-restaurants-bars-other-sla-licensed-entities-must-close-person-service

[2] See Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazokein Orach Chaim siman 180 sif 6, “A person’s table lengthens his days and atones for his sins because [it enables] hospitality to be shown to guests, for great is the power of providing refreshment, for it causes G‑d’s presence to rest.” And see Darkei Chesed (by Rabbi Y.D. Ushpal) pg. 88-89, “It is a great mitzvah to console mourners… And there is a mitzvah to congregate in prayer at the home of a mourner in the morning and evening,” as per Yorah De’ah siman 376 sif 3 (Rama).

[3] see Maharsha in Chidushei Agados on Bava Kama 117b, “Seeing the teacher’s face adds in one’s comprehension of the teaching, ‘And you shall see your teacher’...”

[4] see Shulchan Aruch Admur Hazokein Hilchos Talmud Torah chapter 4 sif 2, “Torah study is equivalent to observing all the commandments, and universally takes precedence over practice.” 

[5] Orach Chayaim siman 91 sif 5, that one must be dressed during prayer as one would while greeting dignitaries. Wearing gloves, alternatively, is prohibited (S.A. Admur Hazokein, based on the Bach and Magein Avraham). See Piskei Teshuvos Ibid., that this prohibition includes wearing pajamas (as per Mishna Berura Ibid. s.k 11), work clothes for laborers or hospital staff, etc., which would normally not be worn while entertaining important guests, and that even a scarf during cold weather should be avoided during the Shmone Esrei itself (as cited in footnote 40, quoting Imrei Emes Likutim pg. 118, in the name of the Sfas Emes and Chidushie Harim, and Zachor L’avraham chapter 7 ois 19, that the Toldos Aharon was unhappy when a healthy person prayed wrapped in a scarf.

[6] See Likutei Amarim Tanya chelek 1, chapter 38, and Nachalas Avos (by Rabbi Yitzchok Don Abarbanel) on Pirkei Avos chapter 2 mishna 13 - “Prayer without kavana is like a body without a soul.” And see S.A. Admur Hazakein O.C. end of siman 101, “prayer without kavana is considered nothing.”

[7] Avos chapter 1 mishna 2