British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis orders the closure of all synagogues affiliated with United Synagogue, the largest network of Orthodox synagogues in the country.
“These extraordinary times call upon us to take extraordinary measures,” Mirvis says in a letter.
“(O)ur Torah obligation to protect the sanctity of life transcends all other considerations. Therefore, with much pain and with the heaviest of hearts, in consultation with the Dayanim (judges) of the London Beit Din (rabbinical court), I have concluded that we have a Halachic imperative to suspend all activity at all of our synagogues until further notice,” he writes.
The order includes prayer services as well as educational, cultural and social gatherings.
Mirvis stresses that he will be praying all weekday, Shabbat and holiday services by himself at home.
He adds that specific guidance for Jewish communal life and the upcoming Passover holiday would follow soon.
— JTA
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
