The Hisachudus HaRabbanim (CRC), originally founded by the Satmar Rov (Divrei Yoel) ZATZAL, published a pubic announcement on Thursday condemning the recent protests in Boro Park in the strongest terms and calling to adhere to all health regulations, including the wearing of masks.
“The difficult situation we’re facing recently is well-known, with the coronavirus spreading and many succumbing to it,” the Rabbanim stated. “We hope to Hashem Yisbarach, the Healer of the sick, that we won’t suffer further tzaar but it is from Hashem that recently the virus has begun to spread anew. The government published strict warnings regarding several frum neighborhoods and ordered the closing of shuls and Torah institutions and the restriction or closure of businesses. We’re all dismayed to see the Kodesh being swallowed, chas v’chalilah, and our hope is firm that everything that is Kodesh will be preserved.”
“However, we were appalled to hear that on Chol Hamoed Sukkos, some frum people took action and organized large protests in the streets of the city against the authorities, with unruliness and terrible riots in the presence of the police. To our dismay, they sparked a trend throughout the world of condemning Jews as worse than non-Jews, rachmana litzlan.”
“The small nation of Yisrael is in captivity and exile among the nations and Chazal said (Midrash Rabbah, Devarim 1:19) ‘מהו פנו לכם צפונה? What does it mean – “turn to the north?” Rav Chiya said: ‘If you see that [the Goyim] want to provoke you, don’t confront them directly but hide yourselves from them until it passes.'” [The word צפון means both north and hidden.]
“Therefore, this is the way the Gedolei HaDor throughout the generations have acted in all the years of our Galus. When Am Yisrael is in Galus under the authority of a nation, [the Rabbanim] always sought the welfare of the city officials, with humility and meekness, until Hashem had mercy and saw the plight of His nation.”
“And therefore we have come to clarify and declare that we have no part whatsoever in all these reckless acts – to rebel against the authorities of our lands in a haughty and arrogant manner. It is clear that this is not the way of the Torah and the Mesorah that we received from generation to generation. Whatever will be, will be, even if [the authorities] don’t consider us and act improperly toward us.”
The letter concluded by emphasizing the need to beseech Hashem and say Tehillim to end the pandemic and stating that all frum Jews have the responsibility to adhere to all health regulations, such as the wearing of masks, etc. And even more, anyone who suspects they may have the virus or has any symptoms of the virus has the responsibility to avoid contact with other people.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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26 Responses
A quick question. Did he translate correctly that the kodesh was swallowed. It means exposed I think?
Thank you. Its almost “too little too late?” Hopefully not. But Baruch Hashem we’re hearing something already. These BP Rabbanim are mum??
This Tishler sham needs to stop. Kudos to Rechnitz too. Great to see a erlicha perspective from a business guy too. Refreshing!
The Governor said to close the yeshivos, do they agree or not. Their yeshivos are open, so they don’t agree. So because we are in galus don’t we have to follow the Governor’s directives? Please. How about their protests against the medina. We are in galus don’t rile the government up. Please. They are the most professional protesters in the world. They should not musser about this issue.
Finally! Better late than never.
It’s a little late in the game!! I guess it’s better late than never!!
So they really think that if the Jews would “follow orders” The virus would disappear? Or they think the government wouldn’t close anything down? How can people not see the truth? The governor doesn’t care about you! Stop bowing down to them! When will you learn from history that those that “followed orders” walked straight into the trap , where arbet macht frei. This is why history repeats itself , cause our leaders tell us to submit to the goyish nonsense. Or maybe they don’t want to rock the boat because they want their funding…ohh, I think this is the answer . They don’t want to lose out on “free” money . We have to find rabanim that see that the government is corrupt and follows what Hashem says and not worry about funding , like this new group and Agudath Israel. They only look out for their own good, don’t really care about the people. Do you think they wanted to win with their week arguments, or just throw a bone to the Jews so they will be quiet , and say , we tried. Their loyalty is to the government, not to the average Jew. Keep that in mind . All they want is to make sure their funding is secure . End of story . Think twice before you support corrupt organizations that do nothing for you .
And who broke the law first. Did not the monroe Shul open for Shavuos despite it being forbidden. Why is Tischler’s rally an attack against the authorities and not all the heimisha shuls open during the a pandemic.
Not a single leader wore a mask. When people were asked they said it is embarrassing. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Go condemn the mosrim not the good jews like Tischler.
Shkoyach to YWN for publicizing this important letter to us all! BH for our true leaders – our Rabbonim
I’m waiting to see how many Satmar affiliated shuls will have gaboim giving out masks in shul and how many people will actually wear a mask in shul and in the street. I hope people listen. If they don’t then we will know why people like Tishler are glorified. Its simple, he is simply filling the void of a lack of leadership.
Please verify the authenticity of this tzetel. I saw on Twitter that it is not legit. No one signed it!
Too little, too late. I see Rechnitz started a trend.
Nonsense. The rabbis are ok with sparring with the goyim they just want to do it in a different venue under their own leadership. They were fully behind the filing of multiple lawsuits (some filed the same day this statement was released) where they accuse Cuomo’s rules of being anti Semitic. So they have no problem sparring in Galus. They do not believe that the Jew needs to bow his head and accept his beating. They just don’t like the tactics employed by a leader they did not appoint.
Call To Wear Masks If they were really serious about this, which they are not, why didn’t they already call for mask wearing during the spring & summer, instead of disdaining face masks?
chiddush
Better late than never.
It’s true, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER but why did it take so long for a statement from any Rabbinic, community askan or elected official to make a statement! Gosh, this should have come out mere than a week ago!
Can someone enlighten me? Who are the Rabbonim in the Hisachdus HaRabbonim? I’m asking out of ignorance and there are no signatures on bottom.
which rabbonim?
Finally, a Word from the Wise.
As Yidden, we need to direct our tefillos to our Ultimate Healer, and trust in Him.
After all, the spread of the virus is a message from Above and He can make it disappear quicker than it spread.
Trust in Hashem. Amein.
Finally!
Does this mean the Willy people will wear masks?
did the shabbos rioters in israel listen to their rebbes and desist?
Then why are all of the Chasidishe chadorim and Yeshivas in operation in defiance of the governor’s directive?
“with unruliness and terrible riots in the presence of the police”
While this “protests” really didn’t help and was absurd, this was FAR from a “riot” no need to say “terrible” riot.
Stop repeating fake news!
Hypocrisy at it’s finest. Obviously the moisodos won’t close and that’s currently as much the “law” as all these “covid-19 regualtions”. You are allowed to go to court which will “reitz up” the ploiticians and we can’t try to help oursleves by making our voices heard because we feel that raising our voices in protest is as vital as going to court?
Why don’t they stop the satmar wedding scheduled for Monday?