(no subject)

[seekingferret]

Over Shabbos I went for a walk around the neighborhood. A few blocks from home, I ran into a street minyan. Like, there were a few more than ten people on the sidewalk on both sides of the street, each standing probably ten feet from the next so that they stretched for most of the block, and they were davening Mincha together. I turned and immediately walked in the other direction.

Earlier this week the Vaad HaRabanim of Raritan Valley sent out a letter to the community urging people not to form such minyanim.

We maintain that these minyanim should not be formed and believe that anyone who participates in them may be putting lives at risk. While the number of new cases in hospitals is decreasing, which is a positive development, there are still too many people getting sick. This is still a case of Safek Pikuach Nefesh, which would allow for the desecration of Shabbos and therefore pushes aside any Mitzvah. It is not yet the safe, prudent, or responsible thing to do to make any minyanim. This is true for indoor and outdoor minyanim and is applicable regardless of the number of people in the minyan. Even with social distancing, having a minyan is a slippery slope which may lead to other gatherings where distancing is not properly maintained. Also, neighbors and those who pass by will see the minyanim and this can become a Chilul Hashem.

I was glad to have this clear p'sak to lean on, otherwise I might have been conflicted and possibly stayed to answer to Kaddish. It's not clear that they were doing anything directly unsafe, and there would be so much comfort in being able to pray alongside fellow Jews. But as the Vaad's letter notes, such a practice might still lead to serious indirect harm.

Comments

[jack]

Oh, gosh. Yeah, that's so close to being plausible, 10 people widely spaced outside, I really wish people could do it. But yeah, I think the incremental risk, and the risk that people take it further, just about makes it a bad idea. Very impressed and glad when do manage people to put safety before tradition.

[rosefox]

Oh, the heartbreak of having to turn around. But you did the right thing, and I'm glad you had that p'sak to bolster you in doing it.