Halachot Related to Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic: Difference between revisions

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# The RCBC also stated that Mikva's are remaining open for the time.<ref>[https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1839350/no-shul-yeshivas-shabbos-guests-levayos-shiva-vaad-harabanim-of-bergen-county-releases-letter.html RCBC letter on yeshivaworld.com]</ref>
# The RCBC also stated that Mikva's are remaining open for the time.<ref>[https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1839350/no-shul-yeshivas-shabbos-guests-levayos-shiva-vaad-harabanim-of-bergen-county-releases-letter.html RCBC letter on yeshivaworld.com]</ref>
==Tevilat Kelim==
==Tevilat Kelim==
# 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. 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. 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.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/949232/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/hilchos-pesach-shiur-04-pesach-with-covid-19/ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz]</ref>
# 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. 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. 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.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/949232/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/hilchos-pesach-shiur-04-pesach-with-covid-19/ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (min 5-9)]</ref>


==Bar Mitzvah's==
==Bar Mitzvah's==

Revision as of 14:14, 20 March 2020

3D medical animation corona virus.jpg

Tefillah

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

  1. A person should daven in a makom kavuah.[1]
  2. A person should daven in front of a wall so that there's no distractions in front of him.[2]
  3. A person can and should daven near a window that serves as a means of being inspired to look towards heaven.[3]
  4. A person can daven Shemona Esrei aloud if it helps his kavana. It also serves as a role model for children.[4]
  5. A person shouldn't daven in a room that is usually used for frivolity.[5]
  6. A person shouldn't daven in front of an open bathroom.[6]
  7. At a time of a plague such as our times it is advisable to say ketoret which has the power to end a plague.[7]
  8. At this time a person should recite Avinu Malkenu in Shacharit and Mincha.[8]
  9. 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.[9] See details here about eating and doing activities before davening.

Video Conferences for Tefillah

  1. 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. 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.[10]
  2. It isn't considered a minyan for people to join together to daven on a video conference but it is still somewhat spiritually valuable.[11]

Kriyat Hatorah

  1. A person who is at home and can't be at shul should nonetheless read the parsha 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.[12]
  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.[13]

Hagomel

  1. 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.[14] Others disagree and as long as the minyan isn't in the same room one can not recite hagomel.[15]

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.[16]
  2. A person can sell his chametz on the phone 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.[17]

Machine Matza

  1. It is permitted under extenuating circumstances to use machine matza for the mitzvah of eating matzah on the seder night.[18]

Tanit Bechorot

  1. A person should try to finish a short masecheta to make his own siyum but if he can't he can rely on a siyum over the phone.[19]

Mikveh

  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.[20]
  2. The RCBC also stated that Mikva's are remaining open for the time.[21]

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. 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. 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.[22]

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.[23]

Weddings

  1. A rabbi should not officiate at a wedding that isn't abiding by the CDC guidelines of health because he is furthering unsafe practices.[24]

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.[25]According to Sephardim one can only recite anenu if one fasts the entire day.[26]
  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.[27]

Shalom Bayit

  1. It is critical to be mindful of other people when everyone is under stress and no one is completely comfortable. [Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz 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[28] since everyone is in distress it is incumbent on everyone to take upon himself an aspect of distress.[29] The same is true for any time of societal distresses.[30] Others disagree.[31]
  3. It is permitted to have tashmish on mikvah night.[32]
  4. It is permitted to have tashmish for a couple who didn't yet fulfill pru urevu.[33] Once his wife is pregnant this leniency doesn't apply.[34]
  5. If he has a strong yetzer hara and there is a concern of hashchatat zera it is permitted.[35]
  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.[36]
  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.[37]

Links

Sources

  1. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  2. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  3. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 90:4 writes that there should be windows in a place where one davens. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz suggested that the same should be done for when we daven at home to daven in a place where there is a window.
  4. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  5. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  6. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  7. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz citing Rabbi Akiva Eiger teshuva 71
  8. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz quoting Rav Schachter
  9. ↑ Mishna Shabbat 9b, Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
  10. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards middle)
  11. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards middle)
  12. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz quoting Rabbi Willig
  13. ↑ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz based on Rama and Magen Avraham
  14. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards middle)
  15. ↑ Divrei Dovid 4:3
  16. ↑ Rav Schachter (min 20), Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (min 9-11)
  17. ↑ Rav Schachter (min 1-5) explained that the minhag is to make a kinyan to appoint a someone to sell something for you. This is classically done with a handing of a handkerchief from the rabbi to the one selling chametz. However, when they call on the phone that isn't possible. The Steipler held in such a case it isn't necessary to be careful about that minhag and simply have the person orally declare that he appoints the rabbi. However, Rav Soloveitchik felt that we should try to fulfill the minhag in any event. How can it be fulfilled? One can have someone standing in the room next to the person on the phone give something to the person on the phone on behalf of the rabbi. That is an effective halachic kinyan on behalf of the rabbi (see Kiddushin 7a).
  18. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards beginning). This is acceptable for Sephardim as well even with a bracha as described by Rav Ovadia Yosef in Yachava Daat 1:14 and Chazon Ovadia (Pesach Hilchot Leil Haseder 5763 Edition p. 76)
  19. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards beginning). Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (min 1-4) explained that Rav Schachter and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach hold that it is enough to listen and join with the siyum over the phone or video call. However, other poskim don't like this leniency.
  20. ↑ Rabbi Shay Tahan
  21. ↑ RCBC letter on yeshivaworld.com
  22. ↑ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (min 5-9)
  23. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards end)
  24. ↑ Rav Schachter (towards beginning)
  25. ↑ Rama 562:1 writes that Ahskenazim hold that even for an incomplete fast oen can recite anenu. Mishna Brurhah 562:48 references this Rama in discussing a fast that was accepted to fast until chatzot.
  26. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 562:10-11 holds that a incomplete fast is not considered a fast with respect to saying anenu. Therefore if one only fasts until chatzot one should not recite anenu.
  27. ↑ Shulchan Aruch and Rama 562:5
  28. ↑ Gemara Tanit 11a, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 240:12
  29. ↑ Mishna Brurah 574:9
  30. ↑ Rama 240:12 based on Yerushalmi Tanit
  31. ↑ Shaarei Knesset Hagedola (Hagahot Tur 240:5) writes that tashmish is only forbidden during a famine, plague of the crops, locusts and the like which cause a famine but not for other tragedies or troubles.
  32. ↑ Shulchan Aruch O.C. 574:11 writes that it is permitted for a couple to have tashish on mikva night. Mishna Brurah 574:11 cites the Magen Avraham who argues with Shulchan Aruch but then he cites the Bigdei Yesha and Nahar Shalom who are lenient and there's what to rely on to follow Shulchan Aruch. Mishna Brurah concludes that certainly one can be lenient at a time when it isn't a famine and it is just another time of distress in the world.
  33. ↑ Shulchan Aruch O.C. 240:12, 574:4, Mishna Brurah 240:47
  34. ↑ Mishna Brurah 574:12
  35. ↑ Mishna Brurah 240:46
  36. ↑ Tzitz Eliezer 13:21
  37. ↑ Rabbi Ehrman on yutorah
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