Dear Friends,
We are writing with an important update regarding COVID-19 and the ongoing health situation in our community.
Last night, the rabbis of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC), the presidents of our shuls, and the heads of our local schools gathered to meet with representatives of local government, including the Teaneck Department of Health and expert physicians from our three local hospitals: Englewood Health, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Holy Name Medical Center.
The message from the healthcare providers was clear. They need our help to slow the spread of the disease before their resources are overwhelmed. The doctors expressed significant concern regarding the capacity of our local hospitals to meet the growing needs of their patients in the event of a (expected) large surge in cases of COVID-19. They reported that while the amount of cases is still low, it seems to be increasing rapidly. Even if patients of COVID-19 will be treatable, we may deplete our resources and other patients who suffer from ordinary, serious illnesses will not be able to get the necessary care, putting their lives in danger.
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Slowing the spread of the disease will allow our hospitals to best manage this situation. The only way to do this is for us to socially distance ourselves from one another. Moreover, the doctors emphasized that the most significant community closure possible will make the greatest impact in potentially saving lives in our area.
We have therefore made the very difficult decision to adopt the following policies of social distancing in our community. We intend to re-evaluate our policies next week on the basis of the expert guidance provided by the medical leadership of the three local hospitals. This panel will guide us as we continually monitor the ongoing situation as it evolves. We collectively agree to abide by the decisions reached by our lay, educational and rabbinic leadership on the basis of expert medical advice, to uniformly adhere to these standards, and to communicate collectively.
We must all try our best to stay home with only our immediate family for now and to avoid unnecessary contact with others, and particularly with substantial groups. We should only leave when it is truly necessary. Thus
1. All community members are strongly encouraged to work from home, if possible, and to stay home whenever possible. It is critical for adults to set the right example.
2. As the schools are currently closed, there should not be playdates between children of different families. This would undermine the entire purpose of the school closing.
3. Shuls will be closed for all minyanim and shiurim effective Friday morning, March 13. There should be no house minyanim. All of the rabbis will be davening alone in their own homes. Please daven at home, individually.
4. There should be no public celebrations for smachot.
5. People should not have gatherings for Shabbat meals.
6. Shiva visits should be replaced by phone/video calls.
7. Levayot should be restricted to a small group of family members and a minyan.
8. Refrain from contact sports.
9. Restaurants should not seat customers. People should order for pick-up and delivery only.
10. The Mikvaot will remain open, at the guidance of CDC and local health authorities. Women under mandatory quarantine or who are experiencing symptoms of illness may not use the mikvah. Please consult your rav for further clarification or for specific questions.
As you can see, these represent significant changes to our lives and many detailed questions will certainly emerge. This brief outline cannot guide every particular situation. We will all have to address each circumstance as it comes up based on professional expertise and religious guidance.
It is with a very heavy heart that we are suspending so many of the most crucial routines of our daily lives and lifecycle moments. We do this only because of the compelling nature of our circumstance and the decisive medical testimonies that are consistent with CDC recommendations. These measures are adopted as a reflection of our overarching commitment to the sanctity of all human life, and we pray that these will be very temporary measures. Please take these days as a critical opportunity to intensify our tefilot to the Rofeh Ne’eman that all those ill will be healed and that our community will be shielded from any further harm.
Sincerely,
The Rabbinical Council of Bergen County
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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14 Responses
You can see statistics here.
https://ncov2019.live/data?fbclid=IwAR2Vpd7lH3HXfo0QQSeaMLZd1269QxUjyNGYZo3LOI_PsHcTrH877vadne4
At 10:39 PM last night there were 1,189 cases in the US. As of 10:15 AM there are 1,336 cases in the US.
US population: about 331 million
In New Jersey, there were 15 cases at 6 PM last night. As of 10:15 AM there are 23 cases.
NJ population: about 8 million
Our community leaders see clearly the dangers before us and the hishtadlus required to avert it. I hope that all members of the community will obey their instructions, and that B’ezras HaShem it will not be necessary to do so for a long period. We must do our part as we trust HaShem to do his.
And even if we daven physically alone in our homes, we will in reality be davening together as part of a kehillah that cares about its members and follows their leaders’ instructions.
May HaShem keep us all healthy.
how many cases were found in community if any? appears to be excessive and creating hysteria. hashem yerachem
what is unique about bergen county ? are these drastic measures in response to a bunch of local cases?
It seems that the main motivation was that hospitals in Bergen County already have more patients than usual. When hospitals are overwhelmed, as happened in Toronto with SARS in 2004, many unnecessary deaths may result ch”v.
This shows that Bergen county is a modern community. No Yeshivish Rav or gadal said not to go to shul & miss minyanim unless the virus is in that community. Even R Chaim Kanievsky will still be a Sandek @ Bris is there will be less than 100 people. If they wanted to make regulations how about setting smaller minyanim in people’s houses.
How many people are going to sit at home on their phones all day wasting time instead of going to shul, shiurim, learning, school, chessed, shopping for shabbos . . . . . .? Is that really better? Let’s face it we’re human and most people will waste this time and not perform nearly as many mitzvos
This will give people time to thank Hashem for viruses that are an amazing wonder of the world.
Bergen county went from 2 cases to 13 in 5 days. That’s about a 550% increase. At that % every 5 days (meaning if no one created “hysteria” by taking precautions) by 30 days there would be 150,748 cases. With a death rate of 3%, that’s 4,522 souls potentially lost. Death rate is actually higher for over 65 and immune compromised people. The “social isolation” medical experts are suggesting helps “flatten the curve” so large numbers of people don’t get sick at once and services and personnel don’t become overwhelmed (as I am personally hearing from friends is already happening in two Manhattan hospitals where ICU beds are in short supply). As Israel’s Chief Rabbinate was quoted this week: “One must remember the words of the Tosafot: ‘A man must take greater care not to harm others than not to harm himself.’”
>>>3. Shuls will be closed for all minyanim and shiurim effective Friday morning, March 13. There should be no house minyanim. All of the rabbis will be davening alone in their own homes. Please daven at home, individually.
I did not notice in their statement that these conditions were drawn up after consulting with Gedolim. What is right or wrong in situations like this are not simple and each place may have different conditions that apply. It seems to me that such issues need consultation with Tzadikim that see beyond just face value.
The wrong advice, unfortunately, can have the opposite affect of what is desired. Torah and mitzvos are what protect Klal Yisrael, not Yashav b’dad.
I’m not paskining, nor saying they are wrong. However, ruling without consulting Gedolim is wrong. I hope I am mistaken and they did indeed consult gedolim.
Eli51, The rabbis in what you call the “modern community” know how listen to the local health officials and took their advice. If you think the decision to close shuls was done lightly, you’re wrong. Small minyanim can spread the coronavirus just as easily, especially if it’s in someone’s crowded family room.
workingmom, If by staying at home, you’re preventing yourself from making someone else sick, It’s never a waste of time.
Softwords writes: “I did not notice in their statement that these conditions were drawn up after consulting with Gedolim.”
The Rabbonim in Bergen County were given smicha precisely for the purpose of making decisions such as the one at hand. They are intimately aware of the dangers, costs, and benefits, from the viewpoints of Torah and halacha as well as public health. It’s not a matter of matiring an agunah, where the highest levels of rabbinic expertise must get consulted.
So Eli51, how are you feeling about your comment now?