Live Update From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Chief rabbi calls on public not to kiss mezuzot over virus fears
Chief Rabbi David Lau issues a directive to the Israeli public to stop kissing mezuzot, the boxes containing scrolls of biblical verses that Jews traditionally hang on their doorposts, for fear of spreading the new coronavirus.
In a statement, Lau points out that there is no requirement to kiss mezuzot; rather, the practice is merely a non-binding custom.