Sep 19, 2021

the Covid Positive shul

Shortly before Yom Kippur I saw images online of an announcement by a shul (I think it was in Monsey) that was announcing its High Holiday services and let the public know that even people who are "Covid positive" are welcome to attend. (I have not been able to find the announcement image since as I couldn't remember who posted it online, so I can't share it here. UPDATE: someone found it, as per the comments, so I am posting it below at the bottom of the post)

Not surprisingly, the announcement was being shared with heavy criticism of this shul putting people in danger and for using a reckless policy.

Personally, I don't think it was a bad thing, not that it should have been done. But the fact that it was, gives people an opportunity to take precautions. A lot of Covid positive people were surely going to be going to services without telling anyone they are Covid positive - this has been happening in every other venue and there is no reason to think it would not happen with Yom Kippur services. That is besides for the people who violate and flout the rules openly and publicly just because they can or because they don't believe in the seriousness of the entire matter.

Having a shul announce that it is welcoming Covid positive people to pray with them would give others who do not want to be in the presence of someone Covid positive to find a different place to pray. It was almost definitely going to happen anyway, and this way it happened in a way that would allow other people who so desired to take any necessary precautions. And maybe all the Covid positive people who would feel uncomfortable and unwelcome elsewhere would see this type of a shul as a solution and all concentrate there to daven in a welcoming atmosphere.

I would like to know after the fact what happened - was the minyan full of Covid positive (and recovered) people? Did covid negative people attend as well? If they did, did the virus spread? How many people from that minyan got sick and/or seriously ill? I doubt we will get any such information.











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4 comments:

  1. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165878202595078&id=732755077&m_entstream_source=timeline

    ReplyDelete
  2. There was a מאומתים minyan in RBS on Rosh Hashana. I met someone on RH who davened there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. really? an official one like the one above? where was it held?

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