Dear Rabbi, Why do the shuls need to be closed? Why are even the outdoor Minyanim banned?

 

Dear Rabbi,

I have thought all my life that one needs to listen to Rabbi’s and doctors, but I have searched the CDC website and I have not seen a single place where it says ten people can’t gather in a room or outdoors. Can you please let me know what the basis is?

Thank you in advance for your time and attention.

 

Answer:

This decision was reached after discussion with local doctors and medical professionals.

 

Followup Question:

Thank you very much for your previous response,

The problem I am having is, explaining it to my kids and I hope you can help me with this, and I’m sure that others can also find it helpful.

My 12 year old asked me if there was ever a time like this in Jewish history where a minyan was not allowed, and I don’t know any, even during the Black Plague when a third of Europe died, or Spanish flu, Jews did not stop to davan with a minyan. Why is today different, and why are the rabbis not looking find a solution?

 

Answer:

Although this is NOT  the basis, there clearly were many such times in history.

It’s a clear Gemara and brought as a psak halacha also by the Alter Rebbe (Shmiras Guf V’Nefesh 13) that in a time of plague all must remain sealed in their homes. Rava (Baba Kama 60b) made sure the windows were closed too. Obviously, with all people sealed at home there was no minyan.

There were other considerations. I prefer not to share in detail as I’ve unfortunately seen the yetzer hara work overtime in creating excuses why this doesn’t apply to so and so based on far fetched arguments.

We often find in halacha that in places where there is concern that people will take lightly the edicts, we are enjoined not to disclose the reasoning.

 

 

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