by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com Yes, it is true.  The new interns are starting on July 1st, and they really did do their last semester on line. And yet people are asking: “Must we still wear a Mask?” “Can we fully go back to shul now?” “Is it still safek Pikuach Nefesh?” These questions and more are being posed throughout the frum community in New York, and the reactions are quite varied.  Some point to the dwindling cases of COVID in New York to justify a return to the old normal.  Others point to Florida, Texas and Eretz Yisroel to remain vigilant and cautious. A major Jewish newspaper chose to print pictures of a regular wedding with no social distancing whatsoever.  Many of its readers were horrified.  “Do they not give a hoot over those of us who are at risk?” Some Five Towns residents are maintaining the backyard minyanim –  even wanting to make them permanent.  In the meantime, many of the shuls are struggling to get minyanim. One Five Towns resident justified the BY minyanim, “First and foremost it is safer.  Secondly, the whole family is davening together.  Thirdly, I hate masks.  It’s closer. There are no mishebayrachs and no speeches. It is much shorter this way and I spend more time with my family. There is no talking and there is more kavanah.  Need I say more?” Although it is hard to argue with many of these points – were it not for COVID-19 – this sentiment can destroy Yiddishkeit.  There is a huge need to support the shuls – which are part of the very fabric of maintaining all we hold dear. Shuls are called a mikdash me’at for a reason. So where should we go from here?  Is caution being thrown to the wind?  Will more people in our community die, rachmana litzlan, if we assume that the pandemic is over and that we should return to normal? Because of the very strong sentiments behind this issue, the rest of this column will be viewed as controversial. Let’s begin with five observations, some of them, perhaps contradictory of each other at first glance. Hashem runs the world. Ain od milvado.  We must keep this in mind before we embark upon any decision. Hashem wants us to do proper hishtadlus – to take proper protective measures. It is a mistake to allow observation number one to color to or ignore observation #2. The metzius in our times is vastly different than what it ever was throughout Jewish history. Interstate and international commerce and travel has changed the dynamic entirely. Decisions, especially those that affect lives and especially those that deal with public policy, must be made with reason, logic and facts, not emotion. Anyone who doubts this should reread Rav Yisroel Salanter’s Igeres HaMussar. This author would like to suggest that there is very little historic halachic precedence to the concept of “reopening.”  In past epidemics when people stopped dying, that was generally a good indication that the danger had passed. Thus, any special protocols taken on were stopped upon seeing that there were no more deaths or illnesses. The possibility of resurgence was not even considered.  This explains the paucity of halachic literature on the issue. It is different now. We have seen the […]

The post Sure, Don’t Wear a Mask – Just Remember the new Interns Start July 1st, and their last Semester was Online appeared first on The Yeshiva World.