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

#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.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/966721/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-49-being-a-chazan-twice/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #49)]</ref>

==[[Sukkot]]==

# 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.<Ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/968540/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-51-inyanei-sukkos/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #51)]</ref>

#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.<Ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/968540/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-51-inyanei-sukkos/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #51)]</ref>

# 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.<Ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/968540/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-51-inyanei-sukkos/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #51)]</ref>

# 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.<ref>Minchat Asher (Yerach Eytanim Biydan Corona n. 14)</ref>

# 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.<ref>Minchat Asher (Yerach Eytanim Biydan Corona n. 15) based on Mishna Brurah 651:33</ref>

# 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.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/972253/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-55-hoshanos-and-hakafos/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #55)</ref>

# 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.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/972253/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-55-hoshanos-and-hakafos/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #55)</ref>

# 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,<ref>Biur Halacha 669:1 s.v. vchozrin</ref> while others hold that they should roll the Vezot Habracha one since it is closer.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 669:1</ref>

# 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.<ref>Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon (Corona Teshuva dated Tishrei 26 5781) cited the Shaarei Efraim (Pitchei Shaarim 8:43) as holding that the congregation should continue to do the regular order even though it means rolling it a lot, while the Shalmei Chagiga (Dinei Kriyat Simchat Torah s.v. vda) holds that the congregation may switch the order of Beresheet and Pinchas. It happens to be that the order of Beresheet and then Pinchas is the order initially recommended by the Tur 669, though our minhag follows the Avudraham. Rabbi Rimon advised following the Shalmei Chagiga this year out of a concern of extending the minyan during Corona.</ref>

==Shalom Bayit==