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Brookline synagogue cancels Purim festivities over coronavirus concerns
By adamg on Mon, 03/09/2020 - 10:16am
Young Israel of Brookline announced yesterday that it's canceled tonight's Purim festivities - which would have included a children's parade and communal meal - "based on the advice of medical professionals and due to an abundance of caution."
The congregation's readings of the megillah - the story of how Esther saved the Jews from the evil Haman - will continue, but "due to a concern of large gatherings, we will be having additional readings so that each group will be smaller and less crowded."
Also, anybody experiencing flu-like symptoms should stay home.
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Comments
"Abundance of caution"
You'll be seeing that phrase a lot in the coming weeks.
Can see Purim megilah readings livestreamed
Some synagogues of various denominations, including Orthodox, are livestreaming their megilah readings for those who stay home but want to fulfill the mitzvah. You can google to find links.
Orthodox livestreaming
is fine, because this isn't one of the holidays where observant Jews must refrain from using electrical devices.
In theory could't they live
In theory could't they live stream something even if they had to avoid devices? There is already the custom of hiring non Jewish people to turn on lights. I could envision a scenario where someone sets up the device for the presenters, then it would just be a matter of people who wanted to watch hiring or having someone stop by the click the switch or maybe even an Ipad that is on a timer to turn itself on to the page at the right time?
I believe there's also a
I believe there's also a prohibition against doing something that would cause another person to break a rule, so livestreaming a ceremony on a holiday might be forbidden since the primary audience would presumably be other Jews who are not supposed to be using technology anyway.
Fortunately like any weird what if scenario in halachic law I'm sure this has been discussed in extensive detail already, possibly even somewhere on the internet.
I'm not sure if a very
I'm not sure if a very observant person would consider that a livestreamed meets the obligation to hear the Megillah reading. Unless their rabbi determined that it was permitted for health and safety reasons.
Should the S.B. St. Pat's Day Breakfast/Parade be canceled?
If all these meetings, conferences, and big events are being canceled/suspended, shouldn't the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast and Parade be canceled?
St. Pat's Day
YES!!!
Not cancelling a parade in Philly during the 1918 flu pandemic ended in disaster.
I'm sure part of their
I'm sure part of their reasoning was the 11 cases connected to Young Israel of New Rochelle, includinng the rabbi. Many congregants are now under quarantine, and the Yeshiva University campus is closed.