Ahead of the holidays, experts say: It is better for adults and risk groups to pray outside the synagogues Israel today

The first day of school on September 1st has passed, more than two million students have returned to schools and we are now approaching Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot prayers that are held with crowds in synagogues.

Against the background of these potentially explosive events, we turned to experts to find out what their recommendations were, whether it was worth praying in synagogues, or whether the risk of contracting coronary heart disease was still very significant.

The experts' answer to these questions is unequivocal, older people and at-risk groups must continue to be careful.

It is important that the public adhere to the rules of exclusion

Professor Hezi Levy, former director general of the Ministry of Health and currently director of Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, commented on the fight against morbidity in September and said that there is indeed a fear of infection in the month and an increase in morbidity. In morbidity. "

Vaccines in Tel Aviv, Gideon Markovich

He said, "Of course there is no need for closure but more caution of the public. That is to keep the gatherings in a closed place for 50 people as the Ministry of Health has determined, to wear masks, social distance, isolation for those exposed and immunization. The state and the general public "This is the main factor that can help at the moment. Therefore, if the public follows the guidelines, then despite returning to school and the holidays, there will not be a very large outbreak, although it is indeed expected to be contagious."

The concern: sticking to prayers in synagogues

Professor Hagai Levin, former chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians, an epidemiologist and public health expert, warned mainly about the large gatherings for the prayers of adults during the Tishrei holidays.

But in my opinion one should have a finger on the pulse and be on alert at all times.

In relation to this, I do not understand how gatherings of 400 people are allowed in synagogues.

"Even if only people with a green mark enter, there may still be illness and those are the people at risk of developing a serious illness."

The school year has begun, istock

Regarding the opening of the school year, Prof. Levin said that "we will not know this month whether the opening of the education system has caused an increase in infection or prayers. Here we need to focus and find out where these people have been infected and act accordingly. "They themselves will get there for the mitzvah, and there they will stick. I can note the call of the mayor of Rehovot, an ultra-Orthodox man himself, who issued a call not to gather in synagogues and enclosed spaces. More mayors should go in this direction, so we avoid difficult situations later."

Risk groups need to be guarded

Prof. Zvika Granot, from the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University, explains that older or at-risk people should take care of themselves and it is better for them to pray outside.

"Eventually we will have to learn to live with the corona until it disappears. However, until that happens, the elderly and those in the risk group need to take care of themselves. The point is that even people vaccinated with the three doses can get sick and catch. The synagogues do not constitute an insurance certificate for the public. "

Prayer with masks in a synagogue, archive,

"One should not frighten people or impose rules on them from the outside, but return responsibility to them. A person who knows he is in the risk group, it is better that he does the math alone. One should of course know that the vaccine does not provide one hundred percent confidence." "Those with background diseases, it is less good than young people and that is a good enough reason to be preserved. And so we will continue to live until the corona disappears or weakens."