Sunday, March 29, 2020

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.

Much of the yeshiva world from which Rabbi Wachman stems is now utilizing internet extensively on social platforms like ‘Zoom’ to give Shiurim to their students in their homes who would otherwise be in the Batei Medrash (study halls) of their Yeshivas.

It is true that internet use in the Charedi world was subsequently honored mostly in the breach. And since then  there has been a change in attitude that is more receptive to having it in the home if it is properly filtered. But it was still seen as an evil best avoided entirely. I can’t say for sure but I don’t believe there is anyone that thinks that now. It is a lifeline to the world that provides immediate lifesaving information on a daily basis. 

Sadly, there is no better illustration of a need like his than what is happening in Bnei Brak, perhaps the most Charedi city on earth. From the Jewish Press
(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. 
As sad as the situation in Bnei Brak is, they are not alone. Boro Park  might be characterized as the American Bnei Brak. According to this website - as of this past Friday, numerous Shuls were to remain open on Shabbos and used for purposes of public prayer. That list is veritable who’s who of the Chasidic world.  This has generated an astonishing but justifiable response from New York Mayor, Bill de Blasio. From the Jewish Press
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. 
I suspect that there are a lot of Chasidim in Boro Park that have internet access in a variety of ways. Last time I  was there, I saw plenty of Chasidim using smart phones. But there are plenty of Chasdidm that don’t and remain un - or under - informed. It is quite likely that many of those that are informed don’t believe it is a serious problem and are ignoring it. That is in part a plausible explanation of why these areas  are so highly infected.

One final note. It appears that the attitude of one of the strongest rabbinic resisters to the stay-at-home policy has changed his mind. In what might be called ‘the better late than never’ category, Rav Chaim Kaneivesky has apparently done a complete 180. From Life in Israel
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. 
Pretty strong words! Perhaps he feels that way now because according to a Times of Israel report almost half of all those hospitalized with COVID-19 are Charedim.

Thank God we are all on the same page now. I just wish it had happened sooner.

Updated - 2:33 PM CDT