admin | May 21, 2020
As life in Europe ground to a shuddering halt when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, so too did religious life, including communal prayer, study and celebrations for Jewish communities across the continent.But, with several countries opening back up after a steep reduction in the number of daily COVID-19 cases, communities in Italy and Germany are now able to return to their synagogues and some semblance of communal life is restarting.Synagogues in Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, opened again on Monday, albeit with strict government restrictions for how to operate, while synagogues in some German cities have been open since the beginning of May with similar restrictions.In Rome, morning prayers on Monday in the citys great synagogue were attended by some 80 worshipers, its maximum capacity under the current regulations, while several other synagogues in the city also opened their doors.Others were forced to remain outside due to the restrictions on the number of people allowed in the synagogue, which in normal times can house hundreds of worshipers.Worshipers must wear masks, and singing any of the prayers is banned for the general congregation since it increases the range of spittle emitted during prayers, although the individual leading the prayers can sing since he is isolated on the prayer platform.This means that a central feature of the Shabbat prayer services, the choir, will also be banned for now.It was very moving to start back prayers, and we even had a Bar Mitzvah Monday morning, although those who couldnt be accommodated were obviously disappointed, said Rabbi Shmuel Di Segni, Chief Rabbi of Rome.He said the prohibition on singing reduced the atmosphere in the synagogue, but conceded it was better than nothing.The upcoming Shavuot holiday will be impacted by more than just restrictions on the number of worshipers, but also by the fact that communal meals over the holidays, a common feature of Jewish life in the country, will not be allowed.Di Segni said that the synagogue is considering forming extra, outdoor prayer services in order to cater to the large number of people expected to attend the Shavuot prayers.The rabbi said that while the mood in the community has been lifted somewhat by the reopening of the synagogues, congregants are still nevertheless concerned about their economic situation.Store owners and those involved in the tourism industry have been hard hit by the pandemic, and there does not appear to be a quick return to business as usual for.In Frankfurt, Germany, the Jewish community has been able to pray since the beginning of May, but only in the great synagogue, and not the citys three other synagogues.The grand synagogue can usually hold up to 1,000 worshipers, but due to the necessity of staying 1.5m.
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Comments Off on Prayer with masks and no singing returns to synagogues in Italy, Germany – The Jerusalem Post
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admin | May 21, 2020
BOSTON Despite the inclusion of houses of worship in Phase 1 of Gov.
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Comments Off on Synagogues wary of reopening too soonFree Access – Jewish Advocate
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admin | May 21, 2020
JERUSALEM (JTA) Israeli synagogues reopened on Wednesday morning, two months after being ordered closed to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. The joint announcement from the Health Ministry and the Prime Ministers Office came late Tuesday evening and following pressure brought to bear by Israels chief rabbi and other religious officials.
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Comments Off on Israeli synagogues reopen with requirement that ‘corona official’ enforces the rules – Cleveland Jewish News
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admin | May 21, 2020
The government approved the reopening of synagogues following the COVID-19 shutdown Tuesday night, dependent on several restrictions. Up to 50 people will be allowed in one prayer hall, and they will need to ensure a space of two meters between worshipers, wear a mask and be stringent about hygiene standards
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Comments Off on Govt allows synagogues to open with limit of 50 worshipers – The Jerusalem Post
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admin | May 21, 2020
It has been over a year since the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting, which took place during Shabbat morning services on Passover. Today, Chabad of Poway synagogue members may find some solace in knowing that a ceremony has taken place in Southern Israel in memory of one of the victims of the attack in order to perpetuate her memory.On Monday, 25 olive trees were planted at a ceremony in southern Israel in memory of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, who was tragically shot and killed in the antisemitic attack at the Synagogue in California. The ceremony took place at Kfar Silver Youth Village, a part of the World ORT Kadima Mada school network, where local children helped to plant the trees
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Comments Off on Olive trees planted in memory of Poway Synagogue shooting victim – The Jerusalem Post
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admin | May 21, 2020
Sarah Davis survived the Holocaust.
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Comments Off on The Whole World Is Sitting Shiva – The Atlantic
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admin | May 21, 2020
There was a 50% increase in "arrests and plots linked to domestic Islamist extremism" in the United States during 2019, according to data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism.Thirty of those arrests were connected to domestic Islamist extremism, nine of which were designated as "terror plots." The ADL reports that seven of the "terror plots" were being devised by home-bred United States citizens.According to the ADL, a portion of the 2019 plots focused on targeting religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, mosques and community centers.
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Comments Off on ADL: 50% increase in US arrests ‘linked to domestic Islamist extremism’ – The Jerusalem Post
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admin | May 21, 2020
Students gather at Shoresh Hebrew High School, which will not reopen in the fall.Photo courtesy of Shoresh Hebrew High School After 20 years of trying to fill the educational gap for Jewish students between their bnai mitzvah and college, Shoresh Hebrew High School will close next month.
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Comments Off on High school program Shoresh closes after 20 years – Washington Jewish Week
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admin | May 21, 2020
Amid nationwide closures, the Museum at Eldridge Street (aka the Eldridge Street Synagogue) is swinging its focus, by expanding its offerings to a global audience through virtual programming.
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Comments Off on How the Museum at Eldridge Street is Faring in the Time of COVID-19 – Bowery Boogie
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admin | May 21, 2020
Read this article in Yiddish Last September, the Forward published an article about a very curious incident in 1926, in which the rabbi of a Yonkers Orthodox synagogue opened the aron kodesh, the ornamental closet in the synagogue housing the Torah scrolls, and cursed the congregation. The author of that article, Nancy Klein, whose parents joined the synagogue, Ohab Zedek, several years after the incident, remembers hearing the grown-ups whisper about the scandal but was never able to ascertain why the fiery Hungarian-born rabbi, Philip (Shraga) Rosenberg, resorted to such a dramatic demonstration
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Comments Off on Why the Rabbi Cursed his Congregation – Forward
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