coronavirus

Rabbi Dr. Glatt says it again: No minyan, no how

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Step away from the minyan!

Rabbi Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, M.D., reiterated that warning in an interview published on Sunday by Hamodia. Rabbi Glatt is chairman of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau as well assistant rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere and Congregation Anshei Chesed in Hewlett.

“The reason why it’s still dangerous is because when you are dealing with a question of pikuach nefesh, which we have clearly seen this is, there cannot be any exceptions,” he said. “It is very difficult to make a minyan in a perfectly safe way that really poses no additional risk, and it’s not realistic to expect everyone to follow the rules. Indeed, I have been told by several people when they did this that it in fact deteriorated quickly into potential exposures.

"If someone is blessed to have nine sons above bar mitzvah living together in their house — kol hakavod. Daven for a refuah sheleimah b’tzibburfor all of Klal Yisrael.

“People should be looking to the gedolei Yisrael of every stripe who have said that these are rules that we absolutely must follow to the letter. We should not be looking for ways to be 'frummer' than them.

“No one goes and looks for a way to blow shofar when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos. Our attitude here should be no different. My rebbeim have taught me that the yezter harasometimes dresses up like a very religious Jew with a beard and peyos.”

[For the full interview, click here.]