COVID-19 Updates

Good Tuesday morning, DAT Minyan community!

We have a few important announcements today (tomorrow, G-d willing, I will post information regarding Mechirat Chametz, Biur Chametz, Siyum Bechorim and more!):

     1. Joint Statement to the Orthodox Community Regarding Pesach:

Rabbinic leaders and organizations across the Orthodox spectrum have, individually, declared the health threat presented by COVID-19 a mortal threat (Sakanas Nefashos). We, leaders of major American Orthodox Jewish organizations, join together again to further clarify our shared and firm guidance for our communities.

We have heretofore urged not only full compliance with all health guidance issued by federal, state and local governments, but have gone beyond those pronouncements in urging our communities to remain at home and avoid, to the maximum extent feasible, any outside interactions.

With regard to the upcoming Pesach holiday, we note specifically the following critical mandates, shared in consultation with leading infectious disease and public health experts:

1. We are accustomed to honoring Pesach to the fullest degree, including taking haircuts, purchasing new clothing and tableware, and preparing the fullest menus. This year’s public health crisis mandates us to significantly limit all of the above. Our responsibility is to refrain from any NON-ESSENTIAL outside interactions, including especially in-store shopping. If there is a need for truly ESSENTIAL purchases, send one family member only – who is neither ill, vulnerable, nor of known exposure to COVID-19 – as rarely and as briefly as possible. Stores serving the community should shift to home delivery or drive-by parking lot pick-up of pre-orders, and – to the extent this is not possible – must take substantive steps to minimize crowding, maintain hygiene, and maximize social distancing. (PLEASE NOTE: the East Side Kosher Deli has opened their online system for Pesach orders. Please consider that option, thereby limiting your time in the store.)

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 must STAY HOME; SAVE LIVES.

2. The Pesach plans of many have been completely upended. This creates severe difficulty for so many. We are deeply sympathetic to this enormous difficulty. Nevertheless, public health demands strict adherence to the current guidance. Travel to other cities must be cancelled, whether to vacation venues (Florida, etc.) or to family. Everyone must plan to celebrate Pesach where they are currently.

IMPORTANT: Individuals living alone or those absolutely unable to prepare for Pesach may choose to self-quarantine for 14 days, and then – if asymptomatic – may join with a welcoming local family that is similarly asymptomatic and that has been disciplined in staying home and limiting their interactions outside the home to the absolute minimum as described above.

These guests may join one family only for the duration, without additional company, and must carefully observe the mandated standards of scrupulous hygiene and social distancing. The elderly and high risk must seek medical advice before considering this.

STAY HOME; SAVE LIVES

We urge one and all – while strictly maintaining the prescribed guidelines – to look out for each other by reaching out to and providing for each other, especially those living alone.

We hope and pray that our sincere Tefillos (prayers) and Chassadim (acts of kindness) will move Hashem to swiftly remove this plague from the world and bless us all with health, peace and tranquility.

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, Exec. VP, Agudath Israel of America

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznick, Exec. VP, Igud HaRabbanim - Rabbinical Alliance of America

Rabbi Shmuel Blech, Chairman, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Weisberg, Co-Chair, The Lakewood Vaad 

Farley Weiss, President, National Council of Young Israel

Moishe Bane, President, Allen Fagin, Exec. VP, Orthodox Union

Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, President, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Exec. V,P Rabbinical Council of America

     2. OU DAILY TEHILLIM: Join the Orthodox Union community for the recitation of Tehillim (chapters 20, 27 and 130) – I do not know who will be sharing today's Divrei Chizuk. To participate, please dial 773-377-9170.

     3. NEW OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE EVENT: Three continents, and three speakers! The OU is offering a three-part virtual series titled "Seder Ideas and Inspiration" for women. World renown educators from three continents will present messages to take to your Seder tables. Sign up go.ou.org/wips.
- Sunday, March 22^nd: Mrs. Slovie Jungreis Wolff will speak about Powerful Pesach Insights: Emunah and Geula in Our Times
- Sunday, March 29th, Mrs. Raisel Freedman will speak about Changing Faces at the Seder
- Sunday, April 5th, Dr. Chani Tannenbaum will speak about The Surprising Roots of Yitziat Mitzraim

     4. KNOW ANYONE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE? If you know anyone in need of assistance (and that can include you, as well) with food, shopping, financial issues, please contact deverchesedtaskforce@gmail.com.

     5. NEED DISHES TOIVELED FOR PESACH? Rabbi Tzvi Steinberg has innovated a solution for when the Mikva’ot are closed. He has created a “Mechirat Keilim” system, not dissimilar to Mechirat Chometz. As indicated in Shulchan Aruch and the Taz, one may give items to a non-Jew, whereby that person obtains complete ownership. This is permitted as long as one has intent to reacquire the items after a short period of time. While the items are in the ownership of the non-Jew, one may borrow those items from the gentile and use them in the interim without Tevila. Eventually, those items are reacquired, and upon reacquisition (and being cleaned for any Chatzizot/interpositions), they are Toiveled as usual. To that end, he has set up a system that will make the transactions for you. Rabbi Steinberg will be conducting a utensil sale approximately every other day. For more information, visit www.MechirasKeilim.com

1. MIKVAH GUIDELINES: Yesterday, I posted the general community guidelines for the local Mikvaot. Here are the specific guidelines for the AISH Mikvah:

     a. Based on the CDC, WHO and Colorado Department of Public Health, they have established the following protocols regarding HEALTHY women. One may NOT attend the Mikvah without talking to Dr. Michael Milobsky (303) 957-8676 or Rabbi Sommers IF:

          1. You have ANY flu or cold like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, body-aches, tightness in your chest, intense headaches or a change in taste or smell.

          2.  You have been diagnosed with the Virus OR suspected to have the Virus, OR been around someone suspected of having the Virus.

          3.  After the 14-day self-isolation or quarantine and you are symptom free, please check with Rabbi Sommers (720)940-8962, as to when you can come to the Mikvah.

     b. All preparations including final shower MUST be done at home. Similar to “Friday night status.” At the Mikvah, just comb your hair and re-inspect yourself before immersion. If there is a problem in preparing at home, call Rabbi Sommers for direction.

     c. Our prep rooms are cleaned in between each use with disinfecting cleaners, emphasizing hand held items (door knobs, faucets, telephones, toilet handles and railings). *We impressed upon our staff the importance of their attention to washing their hands between each customer.

     d. All Mikvah pools are filtered daily and Brominated.

     6. PESACH CLASS: This Wednesday night's Pesach class is entitled, “Leading a Seder.” It will be held at 7:45 pm. Log in at: https://zoom.us/j/661971155.

     7. THURSDAY CLASS TIME CHANGE: Our class on "Biographies of our Tanaim and Amoraim" will be held weekly at 4:45 pm, and available at https://zoom.us/j/661971155

    8.   ​​​DAILY VIRTUAL (NON)MINYAN: Our daily attendance is growing! What a great way for both men and women in our community to start the day with positivity and unity! join us at our regularly scheduled times for Shacharit and Mincha/Maariv by logging in at: https://zoom.us/j/94819261580 or calling in at either 253-215-8782 or 301 -715-8592, using Meeting ID: 948 1926 1580.

Have an awesome day!

Rabbi Joseph Friedman

VIDEO MINYANIM

The community is invited to join us for our weekday video minyanim, using the ZOOM app, either through your phone or your computer.  Here is the call-in information:

EITHER:

• CLICK HERE to access it from your phone/computer: https://zoom.us/j/94819261580

Be sure to give Zoom access to your audio and video. OR:

• Call any of these numbers, and use Meeting ID: 948 1926 1580

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