Against the background of the dismal experience from last year, the ministry has already begun feverish discussions in order to prevent another outbreak of the virus • It seems that severe restrictions will be placed on celebrations and gatherings in homes for the Purim meal • Senior officials fear massive disregard for guidelines
Purim in Jerusalem (archive photo, the photographers have nothing to do with the news)
Photography:
Oren Ben Hakon
There are four mitzvot on Purim - reading a scroll, sending portions, a meal and gifts to the needy - three of which are almost impossible to observe without a gathering, not to mention the mass parties that last year caused the great eruption of the first wave and the closure of the State of Israel.
This is the reason for the grave concern facing the Ministry of Health and the severe restrictions that may be imposed on Purim this year.
At the end of Tu B'Shvat, the clock begins to tick back towards Purim, which will take place exactly in a month, on the 4th of Adar (February 26).
Exactly one year after the corona officially begins in the State of Israel, with mass contagion parties, the holiday will arrive, which is perhaps the most explosive in the Jewish calendar, because unlike other holidays - it is almost impossible to observe its mitzvos without violating the instructions. Between the evil Haman and Mordechai the Jew, "the violation of the guidelines may be greater than usual.
In the last few days, the Ministry of Health has begun discussions ahead of the holiday, understanding that both nationally and in the national and ultra-Orthodox religious sector, this is one of the biggest challenges this year, partly because unlike previous holidays, this time no small percentage of the population will be vaccinated against the virus.
This may cause many to underestimate even more the closure or restrictions that may very well be imposed on the public.
"The Ministry of Health does not consider this an ultra-Orthodox event, but a nationwide one with explosive potential," a source in the field told Israel Today.
Already a few days ago there was a focused discussion regarding Purim, and more intensive discussions are expected later.
"There is no talk yet of a closure, but it is definitely in the discussions."
The fear is divided into two - on the one hand large parties and adloyda events that may occur in the general public and become contagious parties, and on the other hand the ultra-Orthodox and national religious world who will have great difficulty coping with restrictions on reading a scroll in minyan, sending dishes and large meals that endanger the public.
"A first discussion is already underway and more discussions will take place in the coming week, with the main concern being pirate parties, Adlaid celebrations and gatherings in the rebbe's courts, with the fear of mutations operating at a faster rate than vaccines," said a Health Ministry source.
"There is a fear that people will get drunk and be less aware of distancing and caution, and this also involves Purim meals and parcel deliveries. All this together is a recipe for disaster and fear of a huge contagion attack," the source says.
One of the problems will be enforcement of the issue, as Purim meals are held in private homes, and the manpower provided for this type of enforcement throughout the country will be of immense scope.
Among other things, we will consider banning gatherings in homes and celebrations.
It has not yet been decided whether to impose a closure on the State of Israel, and it can be assumed that such a decision will only be made in a few weeks, by analyzing the numbers of verified and vaccinated patients.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Health is already talking about how Purim will not look like every year and that there may be such and such restrictions.
The question, in light of the experience of recent holidays in the various sectors, whether the residents will be disciplined.
"Nothing interests the violators even today. People are buried every day in dozens and it does not bother them. Those who violate will continue to violate, and what happened on Hanukkah, with all the parties, will also be on Purim," says a source in the pessimistic field.
