After the Gedalya Society released a new update switching Crown Heights to ‘yellow mode’ and stressing the need to follow health regulations, the Crown Heights Badatz released a letter urging all to follow the new guidelines, especially in regards to visitors.
By Anash.org reporter
After the Gedalya Society released a new update switching Crown Heights to ‘yellow mode’ and stressing the need to follow health regulations, the Crown Heights Badatz released a letter urging all to follow the new guidelines, especially in regards to visitors.
“As new information has reached us regarding the spreading of the coronavirus r”l, we urge everyone to heed the Torah’s call to listen to the doctors and follow all guidelines to stop the spread of the virus,” said the letter, signed by Harav Avraham Osdoba and Harav Yosef Braun.
The rabbonim reference to their earlier letter regarding guests coming to the Crown Heights community. There, they had urged that guests not come to Crown Heights for simchos or for the upcoming month of Tishrei. With the new letter released today, they double down on that request.
FREE TRANSLATION
B”H, Thursday Parashas Balak (“Behold, a people who shall dwell alone”), 10 Tammuz, the days preceding the Festival of Redemption, 12-13 Tammuz, 5780
To all residents of our neighborhood, Hashem has commanded blessing upon us, Hashem bless you all.
Since new information has been received regarding the spread of the known virus, may Hashem protect us, we wish herewith to encourage all about the necessary precautions according to Torah law to abide by the doctors’ instructions to do all within our power in order to prevent the spread of the sickness, may Hashem protect us that this should not occur. We’ve already expressed our position about the severity of this matter, most particularly about visitors from outside the community.
It is most obvious that doing the above to protect our and other’s health is included in the mitzvah of “Venishmartem me’od l’nafshoisaichem” (be very careful about your lives), and hence it is a must to do so even if comes across difficult due to physical or spiritual reasons.
It shall be pleasant for those who listen and a blessing of goodness shall come upon them.
May Hashem say enough to our sorrows and may we merit the fulfillment of the promise “all the sicknesses which I placed etc. I will not place upon you from the beginning, because I Hashem am your healer”, “Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction”. Redemption is adjacent to healing, liberation in the seventh blessing and healing in the eighth blessing, and from Redemption to Redemption, a star shall rise from Isreal, with the ultimate and true Redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu, now Mamosh
Horav Avrohom Osdoba
Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun
