Rabbi Adler Communications during Coronavirus pandemic

Chaveireinu HaYikarim,
 
I share with you some important information relevant to the coming few days. 
 
1) On Tuesday evening after 7:30 pm please engage in a regular bedikat  Chametz . Do not use very large pieces of bread as will be explained in item # 2.
 
2) There will be no communal burning on Wednesday morning. I believe it is too risky to have everyone burn chametz in their own backyard . So try to get rid of most of your chametz before Wednesday and with the remaining items either crush them up and flush them down the toilet or just  put it in the garbage can outside and recite the bittul as if you mean it seriously.
 
3) Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin  on  Wednesday to enable you to cook and prepare for Shabbat on Friday, second day Yom Tov. 
 
4). Regular Yom Tov Maariv anytime after 7:20pm but the Seder should not begin till 8:12pm.  Hallel is not recited after Shmoneh Esrai.
 
5) During davening on Thursday do not recite any part associated with taking the Torah out or returning it from the Ark. Tefilat Tal is not recited, however, Morid HaTal is inserted in tefilat Musaf replacing Mashiv HaRuach. 
 
6) If for some reason stores are permitted to open during Chol HaMoed or during the Omer it is permitted to take a haircut because we were unable to take one prior to Yom Tov.
 
7) On Shabbat Chol HaMoed we will not read Shir HaShirim . If you choose to read it yourself no bracha is recited.
 
8). CRITICAL - if you have a family member in the hospital make sure to leave your phone on to respond to hospital inquiries if his/her condition changes. If the hospital releases that family member drive to the hospital to pick him/her up. If possible, try to start your car in a somewhat unusual fashion ( left hand or if push button ignition use your knuckles instead of your fingers ). If you have an elderly parent home alone or in the hospital and you feel that going 3 days without contact would lead to depression or getting very irritated keep your phone on and call them at least once a day.
If, G-D forbid, someone appears to have passed away in your home I'm sure you will have already called 911. Should their death be confirmed the police will not call a funeral chapel . Please walk to Naftali Ratzerdorfer's home at 410 Ogden Ave to make arrangements with Gutterman's to transport the deceased to a chapel. I believe it would be too difficult to maintain a deceased for a three day Yom Tov. This should be followed on Thursday or Friday. If it takes place on Shabbat one should wait until after Shabbat to make arrangements for the removal of the deceased. If Naftali is not available, you can walk to Michael Richmond 280 Ogden Ave. If a family member is transferred do not ride along to provide shmirah on Yom Tov.
 
9) On the last day of Yom Tov yizkor can be recited at home as it does not require a minyan.
 
I wish you and your family a meaningful Yom Tov under these most difficult conditions. As always Rabbi Wiener and I are ready and able to handle any of your questions.
 
Rabbi Yosef Adler