Will Israelis celebrate this year's High Holidays in a nuclear-family format only, with cities on total lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus? Israel Hayom has learned that the Health Ministry is leaning toward a reinstatement of the closure policy it instituted for Passover of this year for the High Holidays, which begin on the evening of Friday, Sept. 18.
Senior Health Ministry officials told Israel Hayom that no final decision has been made, and policy for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot would be determined based on how the virus spreads in Israel and numbers of new confirmed cases in the next few weeks. However, the officials said, "The prevailing assessment right now is that there will be no alternative other than to issue orders to celebrate Rosh Hashanahh with the nuclear family alone."
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The officials said that assessment was based on analysis of information about how coronavirus was spreading throughout Israel and the rest of the world, "as well as on information and warnings from other nations and the World Health Organization regarding the next few months."
Another factor in the possible decision to lock the country down for the High Holidays is recent data showing that a large percentage of corona patients contracted the virus at home or at family events.
Healthcare officials observed that family holiday celebrations can include as many as dozens of relatives, some of whom are elderly and considered at high risk should they contract coronavirus.
Another option for the High Holidays is that the government will limit its involvement to PR outreach and explanations about the need to celebrate with immediate family only in order to prevent the spread of the virus, but will not officially restrict travel, as it did for Passover and Independence Day.
In related news, a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem published an opinion stating that "There appears to be some degree of stabilization in the rate at which the virus is spreading, but not enough."
The researchers wrote that "At the current rate, a decision will have to be made to step up preventative measures at the beginning of next week, ranging from closing down large areas to a full shutdown, in order to prevent things from getting so bad that the health care system will not be able to cope."
The team recommended that the government enforce a "total ban" on public gatherings in closed spaces, and wait until the end of the week to examine the effect of the preventative measures enacted since July 2."
According to the Hebrew University team, the rising number of hospitalized coronavirus patients on ventilators correlated with the rate of new cases: "Since the beginning of April, that parameter has accurately predicted the expected mortality rate, as well, and the burden on hospitals and the forecast is for another 100 deaths [from corona] by the end of July."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been saying he will not hesitate to institute additional restrictions if the number of new cases requires them. In a live Facebook stream, Netanyahu explained that there were no guarantees that the restrictions the government put in place last week would be enough.
"The toughest problem is that there is a gap of 10 to 12 days from the steps you take until you see results. Therefore, it's hard to know if the restrictions we enacted will flatten the curve before we add more. This is a problem the entire world is dealing with," Netanyahu said.
"The restrictions are not because of any desire to make things worse, but a desire to save people. It's like a side effect of medication. We need to be ready to accept the corona routine for some time," the prime minister added.
As it becomes increasingly likely that Israelis will be spending the High Holidays at home, rather than at synagogue or with extended family, preparations are underway to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of members of the public who participate in special prayers on the High Holidays and during the Days of Awe.
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While Rosh Hashanah this year begins the evening of Sept. 18, Sephardic communities begin reciting "slichot" at the start of the Hebrew month of Elul, which starts in mid-August. The Association of Community Rabbis recently reached out to the National Security Council to determine whether large synagogues could be permitted to allow more than 20 worshippers in. If that idea is nixed, prayers will have to be said at odd hours, at people's homes and in courtyards, to avoid bothering neighbors.
However, the major logistics challenge has to do with the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Association of Community Rabbis are working with municipal authorities throughout Israel to set up giant tents and sunshades that can accommodate large numbers of worshippers while maintaining social distancing.
In the meantime, an international umbrella organization representing synagogues is taking steps to shorten the traditional prayers, as worshippers will be unable to sit or stand for four to five hours in the heat of September.
