Halachot Related to Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic

All rabbinim agree that one should be cautious with all the health guidelines and social distancing set up by the government and other local institutions in order to stay safe and help prevent getting others sick. Coronavirus, as it causes a serious health threat to some people, inhibits any social gatherings and semachot, and has severely damaged the economy and livelihood of certain people, poses a serious challenge to everyone. We all need to daven and take advantage of the circumstances in order to best serve Hashem. As a thoughtful Jew, it is incumbent upon a person to take to heart some important lessons of life and re-strengthen himself in his commitments. Additionally, on a practical level, COVID19 has many implications for people, and below is a small collection of the relevant halachot.

Vaccine

1. The poskim recommend taking the corona vaccine.
2. Some poskim advise saying the bracha of Hatov Vehameitiv when receiving the vaccine because it is good news for everyone. It is made upon the first vaccine. Additionally, everyone agrees that one should recite the tefillah for doing any medical procedure. The text is: יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלקי שיהא עסק זה לרפואה כי רופא חנם אתה.
3. It is forbidden to violate Shabbat for receiving the vaccine, however, it is permitted to do amirah lnochri to get to the hospital, but they should not leave the hospital after taking the vaccine.
4. It is forbidden to jump the line, to get a vaccine before the government warrants you to get it by bribing someone to do that. Doing so is putting someone else at risk.

Tefillah

Praying at Home

When davening at home one should be cognizant of the following ideas:

1. The best time to pray is Netz. According to many poskim this is equivalent to praying with a minyan.
2. A person should daven in a makom kavuah.
3. It is preferable to daven with two people instead of one.
4. A person should daven in front of a wall so that there's no distractions in front of him.
5. A person can and should daven near a window that serves as a means of being inspired to look towards heaven.
6. A person can daven Shemona Esrei aloud if it helps his kavana. It also serves as a role model for children.
7. A person shouldn't daven in a room that is usually used for frivolity.
8. A person shouldn't daven in front of an open bathroom.
9. At a time of a plague such as our times it is advisable to say ketoret which has the power to end a plague.
10. According to some, at this time a person should recite Avinu Malkenu in Shacharit and Mincha, while others emphasize how one must focus on Teshuvah and reciting all parts of the regular seder haTefillah first. Avinu Malkenu should not be recited during Nissan.
11. Eating a meal before davening when the time comes to daven a certain tefillah should be avoided since generally we are lenient about this since we go to established minyanim but for when that isn't possible we should be more strict about this. See details here about eating and doing activities before davening.
12. A person shouldn't forget to recite Birkat Halevana by themselves when they see the moon. It can be said from indoors. See Birkat Halevana page for details.

Mechitza

1. When davening as a family, in a temporary fashion, some hold that it isn't necessary to have a mechitza and the men and women can simply daven on different sides of the room. One should be at least 4 amot away from a person of the other gender during Shemona Esrei. See Mechitza for more details.

Parts of Davening to Skip

1. On Friday night an individual doesn't recite Magen Avot after Shemona Esrei of Maariv. However, one should recite Vayechulu.
2. One doesn't recite Baruch Shemey when praying by oneself since it is part of the activity of removing the Sefer Torah.

Minyan via Porches or Technology

1. At an earlier point when it was more dangerous, it was forbidden to have a minyan in person whether it was in a shul, shteibel, home, or backyard. There however still is an exemption from tefila in a minyan due to the danger of the pandemic.
2. If there ten people standing on their own porches and can see one another, some say that one can not create a minyan in such a manner, while others hold that one can.
3. You can't create a minyan with a video (e.g. zoom or skype) or phone call but one can join a minyan of ten men in one room with a video or phone call in order to answer dvarim shebekedusha.
4. It isn't considered a minyan for people to join together to daven on a video conference but it is still spiritually valuable.

Answering Amen

1. Even if there is a time delay between the person reciting the bracha and the one answering it that wouldn't be considered an Amen Yetoma.
2. If there is a minyan in some place and someone hears on the phone or video a live stream some poskim allow them to answer kaddish, kedusha, and modim derabbanan, though for kedusha they should intend that they are saying it as psukim.

Megillah

1. There is a major dispute if a person could fulfill their mitzvah of listening to the megillah on the phone or through watching a live streamed video. Some rabbanim advised this, while others hold that one can't fulfill one's mitzvah at all. See this topic explained more fully here: Brachot_Through_a_Microphone.

Outdoor Minyanim

1. There is a great discussion among rabbis where, when, and how to have minyanim while there is still a concern of the virus spreading. The OU's policy is to allow outdoor minyanim 2 weeks after the local or state government allows it, and to resume gradually. Every person should follow his or her congregational rabbi.
2. It is permitted to pray outdoor and the minyan can join together as long as they can see each other and hear the Shaliach Tzibbur. As long as there are no walls between them they can join together even over a large area. There shouldn't be a public thoroughfare in between in the middle of the minyan.

Mechitza for Outdoor Minyanim

1. Technically an outdoor minyan which isn't permanent doesn't require a mechitza, however, everyone should be at least 4 amot away from the opposite gender.

Tefillin

1. In some places the rabbis set up a policy to begin davening at Barchu to shorten the time that the minyan joins together. In such a case, there are few options how Tefillin can be put on:
   1. Ideally, Tefillin can be put on in the area where they will daven. But this might not be an option if there isn't time to put on Tefillin and daven Psukei Dzimra in that place before Barchu.
   2. Tefillin can be put on at home and then one would walk with the Tefillin on to the Shul. One should be very careful to be cognizant of the Tefillin while one is walking. Some say that a person shouldn't walk with tefillin on from one's house if the streets aren't clean or that there are non-Jews on the streets.
   3. Another option is to say Psukei Dzimra at home with or without Tefillin and then come to shul without Tefillin and put it on between Psukei Dzimra and Barchu.
2. It is permitted to place the Tefillin inside of the Tefillin bag upon the ground but ideally one should put them on top of another plastic bag or another item. Even though it isn't a tefach off the ground it is fine since they are inside of a double wrapping.
3. Technically it is permitted to wear tefillin over gloves.

Kriyat Hatorah

1. All the aliyot can be given to the baal koreh himself and then maftir is skipped.
2. Some say that there's an alternative to have other people get an aliyah and stand 6 feet away even if they can't see the words of the sefer torah.
3. Regarding consecutive aliyot for father and son it is permitted but it is only ayin hara and for this situation it is acceptable. It is acceptable for the father to get aliyot in one sefer and the son for maftir since maftir is separated with a kaddish.

Birchat Cohanim

1. Rav Zylberman on the topic of Birchat Kohanim in Outdoor Minyanim

Netilat Yadayim

1. If a person wants to wash his hands with soap and wash Netilat Yadayim for a meal, one should first wash Netilat Yadyaim for the meal, dry the hands, recite the bracha, and then wash one's hands with soap and then recite the Hamotzei.

Berachot

Birkat HaGomel

1. A person who was quarantined and got out of quarantine doesn't recite Hagomel since they were in no danger.
2. A person needs to recite hagomel in front of a minyan of ten men. Some suggest that this can be recited before ten people listening on a video or phone call and can answer amen. Even though they aren't present, the minyan in this context is purely to publicize the idea so it is permissible. Others disagree and as long as the minyan isn't in the same room one can not recite hagomel. Therefore, a Sepharadi may recite HaGomel in a Zoom meeting eoth ten participants.
3. According to Ashkenazim, if a person is ill with a sickness to the point that he is a choleh sheyesh bo sakana, a concern of mortal danger, he should recite Hagomel, but if he less sick than that there is no need to recite Hagomel. Sephardic tradition is to recite Hagomel anytime someone was sick in bed such as with a flu or bad cold even for a short period of time.

Shabbat

Early Shabbat

1. If a family wants to accept Shabbat early they may do so but should be careful that they recite mincha before Plag Mincha and arvit afterwards. See When_Is_the_Earliest_and_Latest_Time_to_Pray?#Maariv_Before_Sunset_If_One_Davened_Mincha_Early.
2. The acceptance of Shabbat of the husband doesn't impinge upon the wife so that she must accept Shabbat at the same time. Similarly, the wife's acceptance isn't binding for the husband. Additionally, the one who hasn't yet accepted Shabbat can do melacha for the one who did accept Shabbat.

Shabbat Davening

Friday Night

1. Although the reason for reciting Shalom Alechem on a Friday night is that the angels accompany you home from shul and you welcome them to your home, if one was unable to attend shul on a Friday night, he would still sing Shalom Alechem.

Davening for the Sick or Tehillim

1. It is generally prohibited to daven on Shabbat for our needs or for the well-being of a sick person. However, if the person is in a state of mortal danger one may daven for his well-being on Shabbat. See Shabbat_Davenings#Personal_Requests for all of the details of this topic.
2. Some say that one should say an extra paragraph of Tehillim at every davening and on Shabbat to repeat Mizmor Shir Lyom Hashabbat after davening.

Kriyat Hatorah

1. A person who is at home and can't be at shul should nonetheless read the parsha from a chumash between Shacharit and Mussaf as a way of remembering the concept of kriyat hatorah. He can use that reading as part of his reading of Shenayim Mikra Vechad Targum. Some think this doesn't accomplish anything.
2. When the congregation misses a kriyat hatorah they can make it up by reading two parshiyot next week in Shul. However, if they miss multiple weeks there is a discussion if they should or could make up all of the parshiyot that they missed. Some poskim advised making up the missed readings as a praiseworthy stringency and if they can't do it in one week they should do it over many weeks.
3. A person should not move a sefer torah out of a Shul for a home minyan. See Respecting_a_Sefer_Torah#Transporting_a_Sefer_Torah for more details.
4. There still is an obligation of Shenayim Mikra Vechad Targum when the there is no congregation doing the Kriyat Hatorah in shul.
5. One doesn't recite Baruch Shemey when praying by oneself since it is part of the activity of removing the Sefer Torah.

Anim Zemirot

1. A person davening alone doesn't have to recite Anim Zemirot.

Violating Shabbat for Pikuach Nefesh

On Shabbat or Yom Tov, if anyone has any concern whatsoever that they are in serious danger because of deteriorating health, they should immediately call a doctor or go to the hospital.

1. It is a well established halacha that it is not only permitted but even a mitzvah to violate Shabbat in order to safe a life or to remove a situation that presents even a slight chance of danger. The question is how to define the threshold of danger.
2. In certain cases of emergency regarding corona virus it would be allowed to violate Shabbat. Obviously every single case is different and one should learn the laws of Pikuach Nefesh from a rabbi in advance.
3. If a person is discharged from the hospital on Shabbat and they need him to leave because of the lack of space that they have because of the numbers of people who are ill, his family member can drive to get him. They should do a Shinuy when turning on the car like turning the key with one's weaker hand, or pressing the button on the key with one's knuckle. Also, when turning off the car one should use a Shinuy. However, a similar question regarding a nurse returning from the hospital on Shabbat some poskim say that she may not drive herself but rather should take a non-Jewish cab and just be careful when in and after leaving the taxi.
4. If a relative is in the hospital and the family members would call the hospital that would indicate to the doctors and nurses that the family cares and the patient will receive better treatment, it is permissible to do so on Shabbat or Yom Tov.

Purim

1. It is a mitzvah to hear Parshat Zachor read from a sefer torah in a minyan each year on the Shabbat before Purim. If you can't come to shul in person because of quarantining, it is possible to read it oneself from a sefer torah without brachot. If that isn't possible to arrange, it is possible to have intention to fulfill the mitzvah when listening to Zachor in Shul when the week's parsha is Parshat Ki Tetsey.
2. When donating zecher lmachasit hashekel it isn't necessary to pick up the half dollar coin and pay a half dollar in its place, it is sufficient to donate a half dollar and that's it.
3. When Purim falls out on Friday, the seuda should be done in the morning but some say it can be done in the afternoon after davening mincha.
4. The mitzvah is to have meat, wine, and bread for the seuda even when it is done on Friday.
5. Because of the concern of spreading covid, it is preferable to give more matanot levyonim and less mishloach manot.
6. If a person can't go to the shul in person because of quarantining, he should listen to the megillah over zoom. If he has a kosher megillah at home, he should read along word by word. He should read along so that he can hear himself.
7. For the megillah at night, in extenuating circumstances when it isn't feasible to have the megillah read at night in enough places for everyone to hear, it is possible to read it from Plag Hamincha beforehand. Otherwise they should wait until Tzet Hakochavim or at least Ben Hashemashot.
8. For the megillah during the day, in extenuating circumstances when it isn't feasible to have the megillah read at minyanim all day it is possible to start from Olot before Netz. Otherwise they should wait until Netz.

Birkat Halevana

1. Ideally one should recite birkat halevana outdoors. If one can not do so one can recite Birkat Halevana from inside but initially one should open the window. See the Birkat Halevana page.

Pesach

Birchat Ha'ilanot

1. One can recite Birchat Ha'ilanot from indoors if one can see the trees but one may not recite them by seeing the trees on a video. See the Birchat Ha'ilanot for more details and sources.

Taanit Bechorot

1. A person should try to finish a short masecheta to make his own Siyum Masechet. Some say that learning one masechta with Bartenura is sufficient.
2. Many poskim say that he can rely on a siyum over the phone or video livestream.
3. Some say that in the event one can't make one's own siyum or even hear someone else's, one doesn't need to fast this year in order to maintain strength in this time of a health crisis.

Bedikat Chametz and Biur Chametz

1. A person should do bedikat chametz after praying by oneself at Tzet Hakochavim and then immediately begin the bedika. They should not have a meal within a half hour of the bedika.
2. Because one can't do a large communal Chametz burning because gatherings aren't safe and even doing it with a few people at a time can look to non-Jews as unsafe. Rather one should just do biur chametz with a Kezayit by flushing it down the toilet.
3. A person should sell chametz in the house or office if he left there before he had the chance to do a bedikat chametz. By selling the chametz there he is absolving himself of having to do bedikat chametz.

Selling Chametz

1. If a person doesn't usually sell chametz and is afraid that if he doesn't sell chametz one year he isn't going to have food afterwards he can sell his chametz. He wouldn't require a hatarat nedarim.
2. A person can sell his chametz on the phone or online and if possible a kinyan can be made virtually in order to appoint the rabbi to sell the chametz. The kinyan would take place as follows: the rabbi would ask if there's someone standing next to the one who wants to appoint the rabbi and if there is then that person can give a pen or a utensil to the one who wants to appoint the rabbi as his shaliach. This is considered a valid kinyan between the person standing there and the one who wants to appoint the rabbi on behalf of the rabbi to be appointed. If that isn't feasible it isn't necessary. Nonetheless, one could stipulate in the document that this appointment of the rabbi is done with the full knowledge of its legal ramifications and it is accepted completely.
3. There is no issue with the selling of Chametz even though the Chametz is in a locked building or in a place that isn't accessible to the non-Jew because of the coronavirus situation.
4. Some poskim allow ordering chametz on Pesach if one is certain that it will only be delivered after Pesach. If Chametz arrives while it is still Pesach by mistake, one must refuse the delivery.

Buying for Pesach

1. If you have raw chicken or raw meat you don't have to worry that it is chametz even if it was processed in a place where there was chametz. You can simply wash it off to solve any question.
2. Sanitizing alcohol gel, such as Purell, isn't chametz since it isn't edible and can be used on Pesach.

Kitniyot

1. Out of a concern of the coronavirus, this year some poskim permit taking vitamins which have additives of kitniyot in order to stay healthy and to strength one's immune system.
2. Someone with Crohn's disease and needs to drink an enriched milk with kiniyot additives for his health can do so on Pesach. Also, he can do so within 6 hours after eating meat (see Waiting between Meat and Milk).

Kashering for Pesach

1. Some poskim allow kashering a dishwasher for Pesach even though there are plastic and other materials in there that are questionable to kosher. One should wait 24 hours without using it and then use with just hot water and no soap. According to Ashkenazim this should be used to kosher it from Chametz but not from meat to parve or milk or vice versa.
2. Some hold that one can kasher plastic, while others disagree. See on the Kashering_the_Kitchen_for_Pesach#Which_materials_can_be_kashered.3F page.

Pesach Davening

Hallel Pesach Night

1. There is a custom of Sephardic and some Ashkenazic communities to recite Hallel Pesach night in Shul. However, being that the current situation demands that a person needs to remain inside there is no way to fulfill this minhag and should not recite Hallel after davening. Rather one should only recite it at the Seder. Some Ashkenazic poskim would allow reciting a bracha.
2. According to Sephardim, one should recite Hallel the night of the seder after davening with a bracha even though one is davening at home.

Shir Hashirim on Chol Hamoed

1. Ashkenazim generally have the custom to read Shir Hashirim on Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach. This year since there is no minyanim available, when one davens at home individually, there is no obligation to read Shir Hashirim. One may do so but it isn't in fulfillment of the minhag.

Tefillat HaTal

1. One can recite the piyut for tal on Pesach was only instituted for a congregation, however if one wants to recite it one may do so.
2. In Mussaf everyone should stop saying Mashiv Haruach Umorid Hageshem and instead recite Morid Hatal because one is davening individually and one may not change from the practice of saying Mashiv Haruach of the congregation until the Shaliach Tzibur has done so and this year there are no minyanim switching at mussaf. After Mussaf, starting with Mincha, one should follow their regular minhag if they usually recite Morid Hatal or not. See Mashiv_HaRuach_UMorid_HaGeshem#When_to_Stop_Morid_Hageshem_and_Start_Tal for the background.
3. For Sephardim, one may begin to recite Morid Hatal in Mussaf even though he praying individually and there is no minyan nearby.

Yizkor

1. Ashkenazim generally say yizkor to mention the names of the deceased on the last days of Yom Tov. A person can say the yizkor even as an individual. The accepted practice is to recite both the paragraph of yizkor and the kel maleh rachamim even when praying without a minyan. If the community wants they can push up to do yizkor on Chol Hamoed with Zoom.

Machine Matza

1. It is permitted under extenuating circumstances to use machine matza for the mitzvah of eating matzah on the seder night.
2. Some say that there's no concern to have the hand baked matzot this year.

Using Zoom for the Seder

1. Although a minority of rabbis allow using Zoom for this emergency situation in a very extenuating circumstance where an elderly single person is alone for the seder away from family because of the quarantines to use technology to leave a video conference going for Yom Tov to join with a family seder, most rabbis consider this to be a breach of halacha. There is a discussion if the firstgroup of rabbis retracted.
2. It is suggested to perform a pre-pesach zoom seder for people who you can't invite to your seder in order to share divrei torah, songs, and the experience of the seder before Yom Tov.
3. For someone who is clinically depressed to the point that there is a concern of suicide or just losing one's mind it is permitted to use a phone to call him to cheer him up and check on him. However, if there's a way to check the patient before Pesach one should do so. A person should check with his rabbi in each case.
4. A person should recite Ha lachma anya this year as one would any other year, even though that phrase is a call for inviting guests and this year that is impossible.

Eruv Tavshilin and Eruv Chatzerot

1. A rabbi should establish an eruv tavshilin on behalf of his whole community. Even though usually he acquires it to another person who isn't a family member on behalf of the community, this year because of social distancing one can acquire it to one's wife.
2. An eruv tavshilin works to allow cooking from Yom Tov to Shabbat even though it isn't possible to have guests in most cases.
3. The communal eruv chatzerot continues to be effective even though the communal box of matzah's might not be accessible.
4. It is permissible to wear a surgical mask on Shabbat outside and it isn't carrying as long as it is fastened well and won't fall off.

Chol Hamoed

1. One can't buy stocks or sell them on Chol Hamoed, however, if not selling them could lead to a loss of one's original capital that one invested one can sell it.
2. It is permitted to do art projects with children on Chol Hamoed.

See Chol Hamoed for many details.

Sefirat Haomer

Haircuts

1. If someone couldn't get a hair cut because the barbers were all closed before Pesach, then if one reached the point when it very noticeably long and people would tell him to get a haircut he can take a haircut during Sefira. Today it can be estimated that if it has been more than 2 months since his last haircut he can take a haircut during the Sefira.

Music

1. Some poskim permit someone to listen to music to help them get out a state of sadness or emotional distress. It is preferable in that situation to listen to music that doesn't lead to dancing.
2. It is permitted to listen to music right before Shabbat in honor of Shabbat.

Shavuot

1. An individual does not have to recite Rut when he is at home without a congregation, however, one may do so if one wants to.
2. There is no minhag to say Akdamut when praying by oneself at home, however, one may do so if one wants to.
3. There is no reason to adorn the house with flowers on Shavuot. The minhag was to adorn the Bet Midrash, around the entire area, or around the bimah in a Shul.
4. Making early Yom Tov sheni is generally a dispute. Some allow starting Yom Tov Sheni early, while others oppose it so that a person doesn't come to violate preparing from the day of the first day of Yom Tov for the nighttime. Additionally, this year when the second day is Shabbat and there's no concern of preparing because of the Eruv Tavshilin, one can be lenient to start early. With regards to Shavuot there's another factor that perhaps one shouldn't start early the second night of Shavuot since the Kiddush needs to be on the actual date of Shavuot. Most are lenient and allow starting the second day of Shavuot early especially this year when the second day is Shabbat.

The Three Weeks

Shaving

1. As with every other year the discussion of shaving during the three weeks is equally relevant. Some are lenient for those who usually shave every day or every few days to shave once it is has been twice the amount of time that they would normally shave. Others hold that one may not shave during the three weeks. See here for the discussion.

Music

1. A person who is listening to music to alleviate pressure or tension may do so even during the three weeks.

Prayer

1. In order to minimize interactions and time of davening together on Shiva Asar Btamuz it is permitted to daven as a minyan and then say selichot on zoom without the 13 middot of rachamim. Alternatively, they can be said before mincha.

Laundry

1. Although generally it is forbidden to do laundry during the nine days, if a doctor or someone else who is concerned for catching corona needs to do extra laundry during these days they can.

Tisha B'av

Washing

1. Despite the prohibition of washing on Tisha B’Av, if one has regularly been following the CDC recommendation of washing hands, one may continue doing so on Tisha B’Av. If one has not been following the CDC recommendation, one must follow the washing prohibition. If someone isn't concerned to always disinfect their hands but they are working for a hospital or others who are concerned for this he can wash his hands.

Fasting

1. Someone who is healthy and has no symptoms should fast on Tisha B'av whether or not he is in quarantine. Others disagree.
2. If the doctor told someone not to fast out of a concern that he not get sick he should only eat less than the amount of a Kezayit of food and less than a Reviyit of liquids in the time of Kdei Achilat Pras.
3. Someone who has symptoms of corona should not fast on Tisha B'av.
4. Someone who starts to feel symptoms in the middle of the fast, such as a fever, cough, loss of sense of smell he is considered sick and can break the fast.
5. A doctor or nurse treating patients with COVID and if they fast will not be able to do their job, especially because of wearing all the protective gear could make a person overheat, he can be lenient to eat and drink. It is proper to eat less than the requisite measures of food described above.

Prayer

1. In order to minimize interactions and time of davening together on Tisha Bav it is permitted to daven as a minyan and then say kinot and eicha at home over zoom.

Fast Days

1. If the rabbis declare a half fast day until Chatzot according to Ashkenazim an individual can recite Anenu in Mincha Shemona Esrei assuming he is still fasting when he prays Mincha. According to Sephardim one can only recite anenu if one fasts the entire day.
2. A person should accept the fast from the day before, as is traditionally done at mincha time. If one didn't do so, according to Sephardim one shouldn't recite anenu, but according to Ashkenazim one can recite anenu.

Yamim Noraim

Selichot

1. We're strict to consider the 13 middot of mercy to be a dvar shebekedusha, holy matter, and requires a minyan. There is a dispute whether an individual can answer a congregation reciting it over the phone or zoom.

Rosh Hashana

1. If a shul needs to abbreviate the davening in order to accommodate all of those davening together at several times it is permitted to skip all of the piyutim as well as the extra shofar blowings.
2. If the congregation for health concerns needs to shorten the davening on Rosh Hashanah, they can do so by onyl blowing 30 blows before Mussaf and 30 during Mussaf and not 100 which we usually blow. They can skip reciting Lamnase'ach 7x and say it only once or skip it entirely. They can skip the piyutim in Chazarat Hashatz.
3. If someone is davening by themselves they don't blow the shofar together with Mussaf. If possible it should be before Mussaf, otherwise it can be done afterwards.
4. In a dire situation it is theoretically possible to daven mincha on Shabbat before Plag Hamincha and Maariv after Plag before sunset. The reason for this would be that if they're davening outside and it is dark and they can't see for Maariv they can daven early. They could do this for Shabbat or the second day of Rosh Hashana. They may only do this if the local rabbi agrees considering that such an instutition could possible lead to terrible mistakes to think that Shabbat is over early when praying early which is not the case.

Substituting Shower for Men's Mikveh

1. The minhag is for men to go to Mikveh on Erev Rosh Hashana. For a concern of COVID-19 the men can fulfill their obligation by taking a shower having 9 kav fall on their head. See Preparations_for_Davening#Going_to_Mikveh for details.

Hatarat Nedarim on Zoom

1. It is permitted to perform via zoom. However, the Bet Din needs to be in one place and they need to be aware of who it is they are doing hatarat nedarim for. They don't need to know them personally but they need to be aware of who it is and if they can see them that is effective. They should recite the text of the hatara together over zoom.

Opening the Aron Kodesh

1. An outdoor minyan which uses a Torah from a nearby house ideally should get an Aron Kodesh for the purposes of having the Aron open and closed for certain parts of davening. If that isn't the case, there is no reason to bring the Sefer Torah to the minyan or open the Aron where the Sefer Torah is residing.
2. If a minyan is partially inside and partially outside it is appropriate to open the Aron Kodesh at the times when the minhag is to open it. Even if the Shaliach Tzibbur can't see the Aron open but others in the minyan could it is nonetheless worthwhile to open the Aron at those times.

Yom Kippur

1. On Yom Kippur they should not skip the Vidduy at the end of Chazarat Hashatz nor the Avoda during Mussaf. The tefillah of Hineni the Shaliach Tzibur can recite quietly and not aloud.

Shaliach Tzibbur Twice

1. It is permitted for a shaliach tzibbur to be the shaliach tzibbur twice, once for an early minyan and again for a later minyan. This is applicable to Shemona Esrei but not Birchot Kriyat Shema. Also, he would not repeat the silent Shemona Esrei at the second minyan.

Sukkot

Eating in the Sukkah

1. In order to maintain social distancing with a Sukkah it is critical to plan ahead to be in a place where they is a proper sukkah that can accommodate everyone. In a communal sukkah they might need to have shifts to in order to accommodate everyone. If that is the case if the later shifts are very bothered to have to wait so late into the ight it is potentially possible that they are exempt from the sukkah. However, this does not apply the first two nights according to Ashkenazim when even someone in discomfort is not exempt from the sukkah.
2. If there's going to be several shifts it is possible to be lenient to have the first group say kiddush before nightfall and have a kezayit of bread in the sukkah after tzet hakochavim. The first shift could do this by praying Mincha before Plag and Maariv after Plag. Even going into the second day of Sukkot which this year is Saturday night it is possible to do this. However, the congregation may only do this with the permission of the local Rabbi considering that it is possible that davening Maariv early on Shabbat could lead to mistakes.
3. If they are having shifts to eat in the sukkah, they should only recite Kiddush, eat bread, and then recite Birkat Hamazon. The rest of the foods they may eat indoors.
4. If it isn't possible to get a Sukkah at home and the only way to have access to a Sukkah is by going to a hotel or motel one should do so. If it is very uncomfortable to do so, theoretically one is exempt from sitting in a Sukkah.

Sleeping in the Sukkah

1. Generally there is no reason that sleeping in the Sukkah is different this year than any other. There isn't any danger of catching COVID with sleeping in one's own Sukkah under regular circumstances.

Shaking the Lulav

1. One should fulfill the mitzvah of shaking the lulav without anything in between one's hands and the lulav. Therefore, one may not wear gloves while shaking the lulav. Instead if one needs to share a lulav one can sanitize one's hands before and after using someone else's lulav.

Hoshanot and Hakafot

1. For Hoshanot or Hakafot to avoid any health concerns only the Rabbi or Shaliach Tzibbur should hold the Sefer Torah and circle the Bimah and not the entire congregation. See footnote for other suggestions.

Kohelet

1. Kohelet can be read after Kriyat Hatorah in the morning as usual or after Kriyat Hatorah of Mincha if time in the morning doesn't allow.

Simchat Torah

1. If there's only two Sifrei Torah for Simchat Torah, some say that they should roll the Beresheet Sefer Torah to Pinchas for Maftir since it is the Sefer that the congregation just finished using, while others hold that they should roll the Vezot Habracha one since it is closer.
2. If there's only one Sefer Torah for Simchat Torah, some say that the congregation should still read the aliyot for Vezot Habracha, Beresheet, and Pinchas in that order and roll it each time. However, others say that it is permissible to switch the order of the Aliyah from Beresheet and Pinchas, making Beresheet the maftir.
3. If a minyan is not going to do a kiddush the kohanim should do Birkat Cohanim during Mussaf. If they're doing a kiddush between Shacharit and Mussaf they should do Birkat Cohanim in Shacharit.
4. If a person is eating together with others and for health concerns are eating outside if they want to eat in the Sukkah on Simchat Torah they need to invalidate the Sukkah. They can use a Shlock to cover the Schach if they have that set up. Alternatively, they can ask a non-Jew to remove some schach.

Chanuka

1. If there is an outdoor minyan or a minyan not in an established shul there is a dispute whether they should light Chanuka candles there.

Shalom Bayit

1. It is critical to be mindful of other people when everyone is under stress and no one is completely comfortable. Dr. Pelcovitz discusses the implications quarantine can have Shalom Bayit.
2. It is forbidden for a couple to have tashmish at a night of famine since everyone is in distress it is incumbent on everyone to take upon himself an aspect of distress. The same is true for any time of societal distresses. Others disagree.
3. It is permitted to have tashmish on mikvah night.
4. It is permitted to have tashmish for a couple who didn't yet fulfill pru urevu. Once his wife is pregnant this leniency doesn't apply.
5. If he has a strong yetzer hara and there is a concern of hashchatat zera it is permitted.
6. There is what to rely upon to have tashmish at a time of war and there is no midat chasidut to be strict, especially for young couples even for someone who fulfilled pru urevu.
7. During the time then the plague of corona virus is rampant in the world there is a lot to rely upon to have tashmish. Someone who wants to be strict can do so.

Mikveh

Niddah

1. Each community rabbi needs to decide these sort of questions; however, in theory, it is possible for the Mikva to remain open and allow women who aren't having symptoms or aren't quarantined to go to Mikva. They should be extra careful about hygiene and prepare completely at home, go to the Mikva where there is no contact with anyone besides a brief contact with the water which has chemicals for cleanliness. Then upon returning home there are poskim who allow the woman to take a shower when she gets home to clean herself off.
2. On Shabbat, if a woman goes to mikveh she can not take a hot shower when she gets back since turning on the hot water is causing cold water to enter the boiler and cook. Rather she should either decide to take a completely cold shower or delay the mikveh until Motzei Shabbat. She should also not decide not to take a shower at all because one shouldn't do something unsafe when there's an option to delay going to mikveh.
3. On Yom Tov, according to those who are lenient to permit showering on Yom Tov, when a woman returns from the mikveh should do so. Rav Schachter's opinion is that it is only permitted to take a shower on Yom Tov with water that is just hot enough to remove the chill from the water (less than lukewarm). If she decides she doesn't want to take such a shower, she should delay going to mikveh until after Yom Tov.
4. The OU has established health guidelines in order to allow a mikveh to remain open.
5. The RCBC also stated that Mikva's are remaining open for the time.
6. The men's mikveh's should be closed at this time. Even if a person is careful to go to mikveh each day he can fulfill this custom by taking a 5 minute shower. See Preparations_for_Davening#Going_to_Mikveh for details.

Tevilat Kelim

1. Each community should decide whether or not close the kli mikveh out of a safety concern. You can do the tevilat kelim in the ocean.
2. Alternatively, one can use tevilat kelim in the mikvah while wearing gloves, then throw out the gloves, wash off the kelim with soap and water. If the community has other procedures for safety one should observe them.
3. As a last resort one can avoid tevilat kelim by giving the pots to a non-Jew and borrowing them back. One can rely on this until the virus passes. If one can't sell or gift the pots to a non-Jew oneself one can do so online through Zomet.
4. Another option is for a person to declare the pots that need tevilat kelim to be ownerless (hefker) in front of 3 Jews. One has to have full intent that the pots are ownerless and if someone took them one would have no claim upon them. If these Jews can't be there in person it is sufficient if they are present through social media technology but they should be people who live in the neighborhood. They should then leave the pots outside their house for a few minutes so that if someone wanted to take them they could. Others disagree.
5. If there's are no solutions, some poskim would allow using the pots without tevilat kelim in this extenuating circumstance.
6. Regarding a seder plate and kos shel eliyahu requiring tevilah, see Tevilat Kelim page.

Lifecycles

Brit Milah

1. A Brit Milah can be done without a minyan since gatherings aren't safe.
2. A grandfather or someone else involved in a brit milah via zoom can recite the naming of the baby but he should not recite the bracha of asher kidash yadid mbeten.

Naming a Girl

1. Although normally we try to name a baby girl at an aliya to the Torah, a person doesn't need a minyan in order to name a girl and under the circumstances should do so without delay.

Pidyon Haben

1. In order to do a Pidyon Haben the father has to give 5 shekalim (of the days of the Torah) to a kohen. If they can meet in a safe way while following all of the social distancing practices they should. If not, then the father should leave the money or equivalent outside his door for a neighbor to pick up on behalf of the kohen and that acts as a kinyan for the kohen to acquire the money. Then the father should video the kohen to recite the bracha and the rest of the text for the pidyon haben.
2. The money to be used for the pidyon haben needs to the pidyon haben coins, silver, or any other valuable item which has actual worth. One can not use cash or check for this. These item collectively need to be worth 100 grams of silver. See the Pidyon Haben page for details.

Bar Mitzvah's

1. A message for Bar Mitzvah Boys in the Lockdown by Rabbi Pesach Krohn
2. A bar mitzvah boy who missed the opportunity to read his parsha in shul when he became bar mitzvah'ed when it is next possible to go to shul he can add his parsha as a hosafa and read it then. Additionally, the haftorah can follow that hosafa. Some disagree and suggest instead that they could take out the sefer torah after davening mussaf and lein the parsha without brachot.
3. The father of a Bar Mitzvah boy who couldn't layn should wait until he can do something that shows he's Bar Mitzvah like layn or daven as Shaliach Tzibbur to make such a bracha.

Weddings

1. Ideally a wedding shouldn't be pushed off if both parties are ready even though it means having a tiny wedding.
2. A rabbi should not officiate at a wedding that isn't abiding by the CDC guidelines of health because he is furthering unsafe practices.
3. It has been asked whether or not the poskim are more lenient this year regarding weddings during Sefira but the answer is that it is not determined because the situation is still unclear. Some are lenient but it is best to schedule for Rosh Chodesh.
4. If in this dire situation it isn't possible to have a minyan, it is possible to have a wedding nonetheless without Sheva Brachot.
5. A minyan for sheva brachot can not be created via Zoom. Additionally, one can't recite a bracha of sheva brachot for the couple via Zoom.

Mezuzah

1. A person should not kiss any mezuzah, or any siddur or chumash of a shul or a public area at this time because of concern of spreading COVID19.

Kibbud Av Vem

1. If one's parents ask him to do something which the department of health has deemed unsafe a person should not listen to his parents in such a case and that isn't a breach of Kibbud Av Vem.

Doctors Working in the Hospital

1. Regarding the larger issue of halachic triage see Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #15 Updated). Here is a relevant sourcesheet on Halachic Triage. Rav Asher Weiss (Teleconference April 6 2020, min 5-15) discusses triage in halacha and what doctors should do.
2. A doctor may and is encouraged to perform a life saving procedure if he is wearing the correct protective gear.
3. A doctor returning from the hospital on Shabbat and needs to shower for health reasons so as not to catch the corona virus on his body or clothing, may do so. If he can manage with a cold shower, he should do so. If he can't, he may turn on the hot water with a shinuy.

Bikur Cholim

1. A person doesn't have to and shouldn't visit someone who has a virus that contagious such as corona.
2. A person fulfills the mitzvah of bikur cholim on the phone according to many poskim.
3. Someone who is praying for a mortally ill patient to get better and doesn't know if he is still alive should pray for his well-being and not specifically for him to get better.

Burial and Mourning

Burial

1. Each place should follow the guidelines that are in place for safety. If a minyan isn't possible, then the next thing that is to try to have is Jews doing the burial. If they don't even let that, then afterwards a Jew should check that the burial by the non-Jews was done properly in the ground.
2. It is forbidden to cremate and it is still considered not dangerous to properly do a burial with no tahara and minimal involvement of the fewest people or simply the cemetery workers. Recently, the situation in NY changed and it is possible to do a minimal tahara with proper safety guidelines.
3. At this time the chevra kadisha should not perform a tahara for the deceased since it could lead to danger.
4. A person who was buried in America because of the corona virus but was planned to be buried in Israel can later when the virus isn't an issue be reburied in Israel, even though generally we don't rebury someone who was buried. See the topic of reburying a corpse in general.
5. Regarding burials on Yom Tov and Yom Tov Sheni, see Rav Schachter's Guidlines for burial on Shabbat and Yom Tov
6. The chevra kaddisha should make sure not to bury in a plastic bag. The proper procedure halachically is not to use a plastic bag or to tear it.

Kriyah

1. The rabbi could do the Kriyah for the mourner with gloves and a mask or he can simply tell the mourner to do it.

Avelut

1. A person who is no going to be involved in the burial anymore because the deceased was given to the chevra kaddisha then he is not considered an Onen anymore and should begin Avelut (mourning). However, if he is going to call relatives to tell them about the levaya then he is still an Onen.. If he is going to watch the burial with Zoom or listen on the phone it is unclear if he is still an Onen.
2. On Erev Pesach if someone is buried before Chatzot (midday) the relatives should observe Avelut (mourning) before Chatzot and then at Chatzot it is considered like a Yom Tov and the rest of the Shiva is cancelled. If the person is buried after Chatzot they should observe Avelut before Yom Tov and then the Yom Tov will come and cancel the rest of Shiva.
3. A mourner shouldn't eat his first meal after the burial, the Seudat Havrah, from his own food; other should provide that food. If at this time when people are concerned for COVID19 and might not send food, if the mourner knows that he isn't going to be sent food, he can eat the first meal from his own food.
4. A mourner whose relative isn't going to be buried for some undefined time because of the backlog at the cemetaries, once he completed preparing for the burial he isn't considered an Onen and also doesn't begin his period for mourning. However, if he knows the date of when the burial will begin and will not be able to be involved in the burial, he is considered to have begun his mourning period once he completed preparing for the burial.

Kaddish and Iyluy Neshama

1. Under the circumstances a person can not recite the kaddish because minyanim aren't available. Therefore, a person should take upon himself to learn mishnayot for the deceased.

See Practices_in_the_Mourner's_House#Iyluy_Neshama and Kaddish pages.

Monetary Issues

Laid off Workers and Cancelled Contracts Because of Corona

1. If there's a employee that is unable to work because of a societal or national crisis the employees should continue to be paid by the employers according to many opinions or at least they should make a compromise.
2. This applies to contractors for cancelled events as well.
3. If someone rented out an apartment to someone and then he wants to retract because of a concern that the potential tenants have the virus, some say that it is forbidden to back out of the contract. The same is true of a hotel or pesach program that was cancelled.

Yeshiva Tuition

See previous section about the background for this question.

1. Even though the question of whether a person should pay tuition while it is closed is subject to debate a person should make sure to pay in full as the yeshivot do not have enough money and it is critical to give tzedaka at this time, which is a great merit to protect oneself from any danger.

Mesira and Rodef

1. If your doctor actually ascertains that there is a sakanat nefashot, mortal danger, involved with a certain large gathering that someone is doing then it is permitted to tell the authorities. However, otherwise it is forbidden because of informing upon another Jew (mesira). This can be a very difficult measure to actually properly assess. Some say that it is obligatory to be moser to the police on someone who is supposed to be in quarantine and isn't.
2. Some hold that if a person is supposed to be in quarantine and they are not they are considered a rodef. However, obviously one should first speak to him and convince him to do what is safe.

Links

• Rav Nevinsal Q&A about Corona
• Transcription of Q&A with Rav Schachter by Rabbi Dunner
• RCBC letter calling for the closing of Shuls and Schools
• TorahWeb hosts many resources for Corona halacha including Rav Schachter's Teshuvot
• KolCorona.com a Torah resource, initiated by Rabbi Reuven Taragin, for those affected by Corona