The ministry, together with the World Synagogue Organization, has decided on certain facilitations in the operation of the courtyards - with the understanding that it will be necessary to change the nature of the prayers • Among the recommendations: rain shelter and wind barrier • Opening of synagogues is not yet on the agenda • First publication
In the run-up to the upcoming winter, including heavy rains and winds, the World Synagogue Organization and the Ministry of Health are announcing certain emphases and facilitations in the activities of the courtyards, with the understanding that it will not be possible to perform the prayers in the open air as they occur at this time.
Edelstein talks about corona restrictions, archive // Photo: GPO
At the beginning of the document it was stated that even if a prayer is approved inside the synagogues, it is recommended to continue praying safely in an open area.
In preparation for the rains, it was recommended to prepare a shed that is resistant to the rain and as wide as possible, which can accommodate the number of worshipers allowed, provided the required distance between them.
"In places where significant cold or strong winds are expected, only one side of the open space can be closed, in order to minimize the difficulty of praying in these conditions," wrote the organization's leaders, David Ben Na'a and Rabbi Shmuel Slotki.
The Ministry of Health understands that the courtyards' buildings may be facing collapse, due to the weather expected in the coming weeks and months.
In the mountains, it is already difficult for those following to pray to do so, due to the extreme cold and humidity, and this is just the beginning.
"This story of a quorum outside is over in a moment," said one of the court quorum collectors pessimistically as he folded the tefillin in the dew-wet playground.
One of the concerns facing the Ministry of Health is that without a choice, traditionalists who follow the instructions of the corona will also enter the buildings, following a sudden rain or cold that will not allow prayer outside.
Angry voices are already being heard that ten people are allowed to gather in the building, but it is forbidden to perform prayers in a closed building.
"Moving film" method
The ministry is examining several options for prayers during the winter, including the possibility of making capsules in buildings or a kind of "moving film" method, but a source in the Ministry of Health clarified in a conversation with Israel Today that the possibility of opening synagogues is not on the table.
Although synagogues do not appear to be opening at the moment, the World Synagogue Organization is already preparing to open them in accordance with the law.
As part of the recommendations, they wrote that "Prayers inside the synagogue (when approved by the official authorities) will be held only in a ventilated place, by opening windows and doors. In the case of heating, priority is given to heating elements over air conditioners. Existence of a few limited quorums at different times (and if necessary - fast) over a multi-participant quorum. "
In any case, the organization adds that "if the opening of synagogues is approved in the coming weeks in one form or another - it is still important that at the same time prayer quorums continue to exist in the open space, so that worshipers who want to pray more safely or those in risk groups can find Their place. "
In any case, they recall, "the guidelines of physical distance, hygiene and adherence to wearing masks should be sharpened, while emphasizing and ensuring that those who do not feel well will not come at all to pray in the minyan."
Also, care must be taken to appoint a responsible corona in the building, as occurred prior to the closure of the synagogues.