Rinat Health

March 12, 2020
 
Dear Friends,
 
Yesterday our local schools made the difficult decision to close through the end of next week, and have instituted remote learning whenever possible. Last night the RCBC convened an emergency meeting with all rabbis, presidents and principals in Bergen County, together with medical professionals, local officials and the board of health, to discuss the situation, and today the RCBC issued a broad and heavy hearted decision to cancel all minyanim and shul services, along with other strong measures, for the foreseeable future. Shul will be closed after the 9:15 maariv minyan tonight.
 
All of these steps have been taken in order to limit the heavy burden placed on our hospitals and healthcare system, and to ensure that the sickest people can get the care they need, by slowing down transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
 
Not only was this message agreed upon clearly by the attendees, but all of Rinat’s delegates at the meeting were in complete agreement; rabbis, administrators and healthcare professionals.
 
Therefore, we implore you to adhere to the guidelines laid out in the RCBC letter. While this is a very challenging time, we can get through it with the greatest success if we follow those guidelines. Furthermore, as parents and grandparents, we must set an example for the younger generation, and not violate (or even bend) the rules. Ensure your teenagers understand that we are taking this very seriously, and that the mall, movies and other social get-togethers are off limits. The physicians at the RCBC meeting repeatedly stressed how important it is to try and work from home, and to avoid public transportation if you must commute to work.
 
There are also ways our community is stepping up to help, and where are ways you can help your neighbors, including:
·       If you need assistance with meals, please reach out to Lisa Rothchild at lisahrothschild@gmail.com.
·       If you are a chiyuv this week, which Bina is as well, please ask someone to say kaddish for you who is davening in a minyan where there are no minyan restrictions.
·       If you do not have children living at home, and you are able to do so, offer to help out a neighbor with kids who needs to continue going to work.
·       Show support for the community decisions by adhering to the guidelines in the RCBC letter, and speak up if your friends and neighbors are not. (For example, do not convene a minyan in your home, and do not attend one arranged by someone else.)
·       And of course, if you need any other assistance, please reach out to one of us, or the members of Rinat’s board, and we will do our best to assist you in any way we can.
 
We understand this is not at all easy. With Hashem’s help we will get through this together, as a united community acting in unison, and we look forward to welcoming you all back to our beloved Rinat as soon as we are able.
 
Please remember to collect your all of your sefarim, tallesim and other personal items that you require during the closure by 9:15 tonight.
 
May Hashem heal all those who have taken ill, and guard over all of us at this difficult time.
 
Rabbi Yosef Adler
Bina Faber, President