Dozens of rabbis die in Europe and US after New York City threatens mayor over weekend: If you continue to go to synagogues - we will close them forever
New York Medical Forces // Photo: AFP
At least 44 rabbis have died as a result of the Corona virus, most of them in the New York City metropolis. As of noon (Tuesday), more than 3,000 people died in the United States as a result of the virus, more than 1,200 of them in the New York area.
Most of the deceased rabbis are from the Orthodox Jewish community, but also include Rabbi Neil Kraft of the Edgware Synagogue in London, who died just weeks before his retirement. Two other rabbis who passed away are Rabbi Mordechai Jawari and Menachem Nissim from the US. They were both documented in Purim just a few weeks ago, and have now passed away following the virus.
The prevailing premise regarding the amount of carriers and layoffs among the ultra-Orthodox community concerns the social rituals of having multiple social contacts within the community, along with large gatherings that increase the chances of contracting the virus.
Last Friday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to shut down synagogues forever if religious gatherings continued. He emphasized that these are "a limited number of specific religious communities, specific churches, and synagogues, which unfortunately are not paying attention to this guidance even though it is so widespread," and warned: "If you go to your synagogue, if you go to church after being told so Many times not to do so - we will have no choice but to close these services. "
The precursor newspaper, published in Israel, published Tuesday pictures of 58 victims of the ultra-Orthodox world who died as a result of Corona. The picture, which was circulated on social networks, shocks and illustrates the magnitude of the disaster that has befallen the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel and around the world. However, the newspaper was severely criticized for publishing only the men's pictures.
