The frum community in Melbourne is facing an unprecedented situation not seen since World War II, a Rosh Hashanah without minyanim, a shuttered shul, and brand-new shul furniture which will remain unused.
As YWN reported earlier this week, the frum community in Melbourne, which is located in the state of Victoria – currently under strict health regulations due to a coronavirus outbreak – wrote a letter to the local authorities requesting a permit to daven in minyanim for Rosh Hashanah in accordance with social distancing regulations. Their request was not approved.
The restrictions preclude gatherings of even ten people and anyone who violates the regulations are subject to huge fines of thousands of dollars.
A video and photos obtained by B’Chadrei Chareidim show the new furniture ordered by the Adas Yisrael shul in Melbourne arriving at the shul – furniture that will not be used after all during the upcoming Yomim Tovim. The furniture was constructed in Kibbutz Lavi in Israel.
The Belzer Rebbe sent a letter of chizuk to Rav Shlomo Cohen, Av Beis Din of Kehal Adas Yisrael, encouraging the community not to become discouraged or succumb to sadness over the situation, stressing the obligation to be b’simcha on Rosh Hashanah. He also encouraged the community leaders to carry out a “bedak bayis” in light of the situation and clarify whether anyone in the community is in need of assistance or requires financial aid to purchase their Yom Tov needs.
“We were waiting for this furniture for a long time…and now there’s no hope that we’ll use it on Yom Tov,” one of the community members told B’Chadrei. “We were excited to receive it but we felt a deep sadness when we unpacked it. It’s like ‘sowing and not reaping’ – very disappointing.”
“The shul will be desolate over the Yamim Tovim. It’s forbidden to congregate here and the fines are very high – no one messes with the authorities. We hope we can return to shul soon.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
What is worse communism or fascism? Both impede on our freedom, These are the two choices that seem to be remaining in Australia The truth is it is the citizens vs the Power hungry greedy filthy rich (i.e. Bill Gates & George Soros & their likes), Do you understand how to define them? They are on both sides living in the shadows and want nothing but the common folks fighting about right or left ideologies while they continue to grab more power and control the masses & more corporations, Until people see this the game and rhetoric will continue.
I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but considering the enormity of not having a minyan on Rosh Hashanah, the whole issue of the furniture not only is not compelling but seems frivolous. I am sure they would be happy to stand all day if they could just daven together b’tzibbur.
As has happened many times in History, the Ministers of Victoria State Government who lauded their power over the masses and impeded a religious freedom to hold Minjanim on Yom-haDin, when Corona rate in Victoria is just as low as anywhere else, are going to suffer an awful frightening downfall & tragedy this coming year of 5781. It simply cannot be any other way.