(By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com)
In light of the significant uptick in COVID-19 cases, four of Lakewoods Poskim issued a Kol Koreh as to how people should act exactly during the impending Yomim Tovim. It was signed by Rabbi Yaakov Forcheimer, Rabbi Uri Deutsch, Rabbi Chaim Meir Roth, Rabbi Henoch Shachar and Rabbi Ayreh Sharbenter.
In their ruling the Poskim reiterated the absolute imperative to make sure that Simchas Torah not be a source of further spread. They emphasized the obligation of the hour to express love and honor of Torah in a different way this year.
- They called for toned down Hakafos, no close contact, and shorter hakafos – preferably not longer than 5 minutes.
- All those who participate in Hakafos should wear masks. Women and children should wear masks as well.
- For kol hane’arim, chassan Torah and Chassan bereishis there should be no crowding
- A kiddush can only be held if it is short and not a social event.
- For hakafos they should be widely spread and preferably just one.
- The Rabbis of shuls were encouraged to explore adding a learning seder and enhance kavod haTorah in that manner.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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8 Responses
The idea of hakofos on Simchas Torah was taken from the hakafos for Hoshanos during the days of Sukkos. How long was a Hoshanos hakafah for you on the second or third day of Yom tov? Five minutes? I don’t think so.
Why should it be longer on Simchas Torah? A hakafah means going around, circling the bimah once. That’s it.
Don’t make up a paper and put people name on bottom
Where are the signatures?
Doesn’t matter how long the hakafos are, Lakewood’s Coronavirus is out of control, STAY IN YOUR HOUSE!!
Where is the “Science” that says 5 minute hakafos and a 5 minute kiddush is ok? The Rabbanim have lost credibility. This is not science and not torah. If there is a life threat, then even a minute not.
this article should be called halachic guidllines for simchas torah whats breaking here ? gor nisht nothing your making a sensation out of nothing you should be arrested for inciting the oilam you get everyone worked up in a frenzy more then tischler you were not this way 14 years ago when you first started you taka were a yeshiva man innocent and wanted to start a news website with a cute name and a way to make parnassah but you got extremely desensititzed and corrupted by the internet nebach do teshuva
PROUD REPUBLICAN “Don’t make up a paper and put people name on bottom”
Huuhh??
Are you also proud of your ignorance??? The YWN editors don’t “make up papers” or knowingly publish phony kol korehs
GHT, how do you know?