The Quebec Council of Hasidic Jews has filed legal action against the provincial government in connection with limits on religious gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Current public health guidelines in Quebec limit the number of worshippers allowed inside a building for a religious gathering to 10 people.
The Hasidic community is seeking to have the rules modified to allow for several gatherings of 10 people in the same building where closed-off rooms have distinct entrances to the outside.
In a news release, the council says taking legal action is a last recourse.
“After having exhausted all other means to get government authorities to make adjustments to allow members of our communities to be able to pray in a safe environment, communities are turning to the courts to ensure that their fundamental rights are respected,” said council member Max Lieberman.
(Sources: Global News / CTV News)
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4 Responses
Are they suing PQ Provincial Government in a PQ Provincial court? or in a Canadian Federal Court?
Isn’t there a Rabbinic authority left that can explain to the flock that during a deadly pandemic, the minyan rule takes a back seat to public safety? How many deaths are an acceptable number in exchange for public prayer? Before you reply, please don’t. I know the general modern Yeshiva position: “no one, especially a non jewish government, will tell us not to pray”.
Other frum outlets were reporting that the government actually apologized to the community for the incidents with the police, saying that the rules had been changed three times in a ridiculously short span of time. It seems that the community may have thought they were acting in accordance with the law. Why has YWN not reported this (as far as I have seen)? It’s so sad how so many people commented such disgusting things on the original article about the topic on YWN. Let’s try to remember whose side we’re on…
Of course, calling goyishe police “Nazis” is terrible anyways. Yet I’m sure only one or two people did that.