This week, the Modiin municipality recommended that all synagogues in the city be shuttered and prayer services should once again be conducted outside, in open areas. In light of the recent spike in infections, and the advent of the second wave of Coronavirus, this call was met by a legitimate and practical debate as to whether synagogues and rabbis should heed this call and close down, or if they could remain open, given that the Ministry of Health has not yet demanded otherwise.
Those who ‘oppose the move’ argue that it is untenable that the local libraries, shopping malls and a host of other places can remain open, while only the synagogues are forced to close their doors. On the other side of things, the people who ‘support the move’ contend that it is incumbent upon the religious community to be extra careful, given that an outbreak in a synagogue would bring mass condemnation upon the entire community. It is important to note that the local synagogues in Modiin, as far as I have seen and heard, are extremely cautious about following all of the Ministry of Health’s guidelines as best as they can.
Although I am more inclined to agree with those who feel that it is prudent to keep our synagogues open and conduct services inside, I nonetheless decided to close our synagogue and conduct prayer services outside, and I would like to explain why.
When the first wave of Coronavirus hit, we decided to close our synagogue even before the Ministry of Health instructed us to do so. The virus was still in its early stages and there was a general sense of uncertainty and lack of clarity. Similarly, it seemed that the Ministry of Health was moving, slowly but surely, towards a general lockdown. We therefore decided to take definitive preventive action and close our synagogue immediately. While only God knows if this was the correct move, to my very human eyes, this decision was a courageous one that saved lives.
The second wave of the Coronavirus is now upon us, and even after several months of dealing with it, we still do not know what to expect of this unnerving virus. In contrast though, we do know which rules and health guidelines are effective in helping us to protect ourselves. For example, we know that at-risk individuals should be discouraged from attending synagogue services, we know that wearing masks is beneficial, and we know that it is critical to disinfect our hands and surfaces and the like.
Therefore, it seems to me that going to shul at this stage is strikingly similar to going just about anywhere else. Each time we leave our homes we place ourselves at risk, to a certain extent. Each individual must make an informed and educated decision that suits his individual needs. Therefore, in my humble opinion, it seems that the city’s recommendations are somewhat out of line. The decision to attend synagogue services should be a personal one; a choice that each individual can make on his own.
Yet, despite all that I have said, I still chose to close our synagogue. Why? Because the local municipality recommended that we take this step. The local municipality bears responsibility for the wellbeing of the local population. When the local municipality requests of us to do something that can potentially prevent additional infections, despite the fact that I feel differently, I will respect the recommendation. In my humble opinion, this is what it means to be faithful to the city’s leadership, the elected officials and professionals who seek to protect the safety and welfare of the entire local population. In the interim, I pray that we have decided correctly.
Rabbi Shlomo Sobol serves as Dean and Founder at the Barkai Center for Practical Rabbinics and Community Development, and as rabbi of Kehillat Shaarei Yonah Menachem in Modi’in