We continue to advise delaying 14 days prior to the opening of any Minyanim. Among the well-known leaders from the Agudath Harabonim's past are Rabbis Eliezer Silver and Moshe Feinstein. While the unfailing dedication of Jewish women to this practice is profoundly inspiring, we must address its safety with the utmost seriousness, both for the sake of public health, and to allay fears.Everyone must respect a woman’s wish to delay her immersion in the Mikvah and resumption of intimacy until the pandemic has passed. Yes, we as individuals have made it without some of these for months, but we would be mistaken to dismiss their value for the long term. In addition to enhancing our camaraderie with family and friends, the celebration of Purim provides us, as shuls, communities and individuals, the opportunity to focus on our obligation to bring warmth, lightness, and joy to the isolated, to the exhausted, and to the community, young and old. At the current time, the OU is not recommending that communities cancel minyanim, Shabbat services or other gatherings unless directed to do so by a community’s local health department. For this reason, the consensus of our major poskim (halachic decisors) is to encourage us to use vaccinations to protect ourselves and others from disease. Due to the unfolding community crisis, we are gathering together to beseech HaKodosh Boruch Hu for His unlimited mercy and compassion. Significant developments have compelled this updating of the guidelines we issued on Friday March 13. Continuous cleaning, chlorination, and filtration of Mikvah waters. Many people will require or prefer an outdoor option and/or a briefer service for health reasons. At the current time, the OU is not recommending that communities cancel minyanim, Shabbat services or Purim gatherings unless directed to do so by a community’s local health department. Nowadays, it would be difficult to find someone who has not heard about the coronavirus. In other words, bats are the likely hosts of the disease. We are sharing a guide that can be accessed here developed by our partners at the Secure Communities Network (SCN) offering important tips about avoiding scams during this difficult time as well as best practices of public events and operational protocols. Difficult Choices: There is significant halachic and tangible value to davening in a beit knesset, a facility designated and maintained as a House of G-d; to davening “b’rov am,” within a large group; and to following the prescribed and customary order of prayers. While at times – given our strong community culture – we must exercise a somewhat elevated level of caution, this too should be done carefully and proportionally, in consultation with responsible experts and authorities. The OU and @RCArabbinical present Purim Guidance for Shuls and Communities. Per the guidance of our medical and scientific advisors, for those who have had the virus and an already demonstrated sustained antibody response the vaccine remains safe and potentially helpful but appears to be less necessary. Wherever possible there should be personal and individual outreach to all members and past seat-holders. Community members should ensure that they have Yom Tov food (including simanim), a Machzor, guidance for davening at home, and additional helpful reading material. Those feelings of love for the Torah and its values are expressed on Simchat Torah by old and young, and by those more and less learned. It cannot be stressed enough that this situation is constantly evolving, sometimes by the hour. אבינו מלכנו מנע מגיפה מנחלתך Today’s divrei chizuk will be shared by Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob in Atlanta, GA. To participate, please dial 773-377-9170. The rabbinic and medical leadership of shuls and communities should determine local policy in consultation and coordination with local public health officials, meeting and exceeding their standards. [3] Margolies was from Europe, and equally at ease in Yiddish and English, had feet in both camps, with a personality well suited for the modern American congregation. Orthodox Union Kosher, known as OU Kosher or OUK, is a kosher certification agency based in New York, New York. In recent years, the organization has been under the direction of Rabbi Tzvi Meir Ginsberg. Most Orthodox rabbis are affiliated with the Rabbinical Council of America, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, or the Rabbinical Alliance of America. It may have merged with Knesseth shortly after its founding. We reiterate that the measures that this pandemic have forced our community to adopt are exceptionally painful. After refusal of three, the Beth Din sent this. Nathan J. Diament As in past years, rabbis and communities across the country will do their very best to provide this service to members of their community. The Orthodox Union dedicates significant resources to its OU Kosher division, which certifies an estimated 660,000 products in 77 countries around the world. We encourage you all to join and to share this invitation with others. In particular, Rabbi Gavriel Wolf "Velvel" Margolis felt that the Union was too lax in some areas of kashruth, too exclusive, and too interfering in the kashruth work he had been hired to do by his congregation. We have a sacred duty to open our hearts to Hashem to ask for mercy on behalf of the people here and around the world already affected by the virus, and for the containment of the virus’ further spread. We restate that due to the variety of experience and data between communities, there can be no “one size fits all” national schedule for reopening. It is extremely important that if anyone is in quarantine or has symptoms of illness, including fever, coughing, or other symptoms of a potentially contagious condition, that they refrain from coming to shul or other communal gatherings, either during the week or on Shabbat. “As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the United States, more attention must be focused on disruptions to America’s charities. In communities where there are not as yet confirmed cases, significant restrictions should be placed on how shuls gather. While – Baruch Hashem – the levels of hospitalization and death are significantly less than at the earliest stages of the pandemic, the disease continues to be present, highly contagious, and often very dangerous. In addition, the two currently leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates are mRNA vaccines which employ a new vaccine technology. 14. 1. The core mission of the OU Advocacy Center is to protect and promote the interests of the Orthodox Jewish community in the realm of public policy. and for inspiration and wisdom for our researchers to find a cure. However, it is extremely important that if anyone has symptoms of illness, including fever, coughing, stomach bug or any other sickness, that they refrain from coming to shul or other communal gatherings, either during the week or on Shabbat. To that end, OU Synagogue Services connected with a wide variety of educational experts to compile a list of tools that can be useful for shuls to connect with their constituents. The food companies have kept secret from the general consumer the meaning of the (U) and the amount of money they have to pay the Jewish Rabbis. Each and every day, countless Jewish individuals around the world are positively impacted by the work of the Orthodox Union, with its array of religious, youth, social action, educational, public policy and community development services, programs and activities. Orthodox Union Rabbis are waiting to help! In addition, we urge all those lighting Shabbat candles before the advent of this Shabbat to again include chapter 130 of Tehillim in their candle lighting recitation and encourage shuls to insert Tehillim on Friday night between Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. This basic ritual may be supplemented as each of us thinks creatively of alternative methods to express our love and admiration of the Torah. At the same time, it is critical to respond proportionally, in line with expert advice, and avoid creating a situation of panic. Generally healthy individuals should attend public Megillah readings as usual, where the community is exercising the proper precautions. First, during this time G-d decides our fate, as individuals, as communities, and as a world. The clear majority of Halachic authorities do not consider Halachically adequate a Megillah reading heard over the phone or online. Go outside, but avoid and maintain significant distance from others. "In January 1920 Gabriel Wolf Margolis finally received the recognition that had eluded him when, together with 135 other he formed the Assembly of Hebrew Orthodox Rabbis of America. Celebration of Succot may continue while conscientiously applying the principles that have governed our behavior thus far. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Most important, where possible they can have someone regularly checking in with them, safely distanced visitors, as well as someone to blow the shofar outside their home. In the new age of clean meat, Rabbi Gavriel Price of the Orthodox Union (OU), the organization responsible for the “Ⓤ” kosher certification on food, is considering the question. We are certainly encouraged that downward trends in disease have moved many states towards re-opening. Word is now circulating that the four-story pre-war tenement at 235 East Broadway just changed hands. These efforts appear to have been successful beyond all expectations and have produced more than one vaccine with an unusually high rate of effectiveness with no indications of any significant risk. Protecting and preserving communal health supersedes other considerations. Even the Assembly of Orthodox Rabbis entered the fray, sending telegrams to Wilson, President-elect Harding, and various congressmen. The new coronavirus, which is also known as 2019-nCoV, is an upper respiratory virus that has grabbed headlines globally for its virulence, lethalness and fast-spreading pace. Executive Director Seating Plans: In addition to masking, we continue to urge social distancing, leaving six feet between seats occupied by non-family members. Due to the rapidly changing situation, we may issue additional general guidelines as the situation evolves. Please note this is a work in progress and we appreciate feedback as this resource evolves. Specifically, we join the call of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America, and encourage individuals and communities to recite additional tefillot tomorrow, Monday, March 9th. We acknowledge the pain and confusion that these efforts have imposed on everyone, especially those who will celebrate Pesach away from family and/or completely alone. Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America, Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, President, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President, Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbi Shmuel Blech, Chairman, Rabbi Moshe Weisberg, Co-Chair, the Lakewood Vaad, Farley Weiss, President, National Council of Young Israel The request to Congress would help nonprofits maintain operations, expand scope to address increasing demands and stabilize losses from closures throughout the country. We are currently working on digitizing a large part of the non confidential archives which are currently being stored by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis & will be made available to the public in the near future. We will truly honor Pesach by limiting our purchases to the truly ESSENTIAL, ensuring that all of us – especially the vulnerable – are able to celebrate Pesach in good health. We recognize the great need for practical guidance for shuls and communities with regard to the continuing situation surrounding COVID-19. Those who are actively sick must stay away from communal gatherings. The Agudath Harabonnim was founded on July 29, 1902, in New York City with a goal of strengthening the weakened hands of the rabbinate and to 2. Mikvaot that are able to adhere strictly to these protocols may safely remain open.Individuals who do not pass the screening process must respect the current processes that are put in place to protect public health. We pray to the Almighty for the recovery of all those already affected by COVID-19, and for the swift success of the efforts of our government for testing, containment, treatment and prevention. He founded a competing organization, the Knesseth Harabonim (Assembly of Hebrew Orthodox Rabbis). We are recommending that handshaking should be avoided at this time. As the pandemic evolves, we are doing everything we can to assist our communities and customers worldwide. Three hazmanas (summons) were sent. Its symptoms typically include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Contact. As always, shuls and communities should follow, at a minimum, the guidelines provided by local and national authorities, including the CDC and local health departments. In consultation with Poskim and regular monitoring of the CDC and local health department websites, we are sharing the following guidance and recommendations. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. The warring seems to have died down in the late 1940s or 1950s; Knesseth and Degel faded away as a separate organization. Individuals may not attend shuls that remain open, nor convene minyanim in homes or other indoor or outdoor venues. The approaching Adar and Purim represent the sobering milestone of a year since the arrival of the pandemic on these shores. Similarly, decisions must take into account the immediate and long-term impact of the continued functioning of our shuls and yeshivas, our community’s truly “essential services.” We must work to keep these institutions operating in a truly safe manner and pursue safe ways of restoring more opportunities for social connection. Tonight’s (3/18) program features Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb with words of inspiration, Dr. Henry Abramson on the unprecedented historical setting of our time and special musical guest star Shulem Lemmer. Orthodox rabbis and communities have expressed disregard for women rabbis, whom they see as "violating tradition." OU Live is a new nightly hour-long program, bringing you front row seats to our conversations with our community’s most inspiring and uplifting leaders. As the immigrants adjusted to the new food habits, they quickly forgot some of the foods of their poverty, like krupnick, a cereal soup made from oatmeal, sometimes barley, potatoes, and fat. It is the certification agency of about 70% of kosher food worldwide, and is the largest of the “Big Five” major certification agencies, which include OK, Kof-K, Star-K, and CRC. The Orthodox Union has the most trusted kosher certification in the United States. A group of leading Hasidic (‘ultra-Orthodox’) Jewish Rabbis have signed and released a letter effusively praising Donald Trump for his suppor for religious freedom, particularly in light of government shutdowns. The poskim recognize that the COVID-19 vaccines have been developed with unprecedented speed and are expected to be made available under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Bringing Joy to Our Community. In addition, we urge all those lighting Shabbat candles before the advent of this Shabbat to again include chapter 130 of Tehillim in their candle lighting recitation, and encourage shuls to insert Tehillim on Friday night between Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. We pray that G-d speedily eradicate this plague from our midst, and allow all aspects of our lives, as individuals, families and communities, to be fully restored. HETER (Permission) Above is the Heter from the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada. Please use this link to connect to the call. In addition, communal singing and words of Torah enhance our shul experience immensely. The joy of Purim is specifically expressed through extending expressions of friendship and providing needed support, Mishloach Manot and Matanot l’Evyonim. Though we embrace and celebrate the Torah’s directive to take extraordinary steps to protect our health and those around us, we are simultaneously deeply pained by the absence of Torah and Tefillah from so many of our shuls. In place of the seven circuits of singing and dancing, consider assigning seven individuals to “sing the praises” of the Torah by sharing a few words expressing how Torah learning or living positively impacts their life. We are deeply sympathetic to this enormous difficulty. In addition to these practical efforts of mitigation, we as Jews must always engage in tefillah, praying to G-d consistently and sincerely, both privately and publicly. The opinion of our Poskim is that Pikuach Nefesh concerns dictate that the return to communal Davening wait until after the experiment of reopening has been conducted successfully for two weeks, without a rise in disease. Join and to share this invitation with others decides our fate, as communities, and various congressmen can be., is a Kosher certification in the late 1940s or 1950s ; and. Continue to advise delaying 14 days prior to the call, whom they see as `` violating tradition ''! 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