5 Towns Community Letter: Pesach 5780

April 2nd, 2020

To our Dearest Community,

We are all trying to adjust to what has become our new normal of social distancing, and in these times we would like to again review some social distance recommendations based on the medical advice we have received and discuss some halachic questions related to Pesach in social distancing.

It is important to be aware that Pesach in social distancing is still Pesach. We should try to have a joyous Yom Tov. There is a Mitzva of Simchas Yom Tov, and even if we won’t have all of our normal expressions of Simcha, we might not be getting new clothes and we won’t be celebrating with family gatherings, friends, or guests, we should still try to find ways of feeling and expressing Simchas Yom Tov. Yom Tov brings us days of sanctity, and we should express that sanctity by dressing in our regular Yom Tov clothing and enjoying our Yom Tov meals.

Chodesh Nisan is a month of salvation and redemption. Chazal had a tradition that as the Jews were redeemed in Nisan from Egypt, we will again be redeemed in Nisan in the future. We pray that our celebrations of redemption will result in an expression of redemption speedily in our days.

While celebrating Pesach we are recommending the following processes and procedures. We appreciate the contributions from Rabbi Dr Aaron Glatt and Dr. Akiva Bergman.

Social Distancing Reminders/Updates:
Social distancing has been hard for all of us. The closing of our beloved shuls and schools has been painful, and isolating from one another goes against our better instincts as Jews who strive for achdus. With that in mind, we plead with everyone to remember:

Rule #1: Stay home. Save lives.
We should not be having any guests in our homes, and we should not be visiting our friends’ or families’ homes. We have been fielding questions from many people thinking of having their children or parents for Chag, and we are encouraging everyone to stay home and not to have guests, even extended family. There are some reasonable exceptions for Pesach, including cases of proper 14 day pre-quarantining; please speak with your doctor and your Rav if you have any questions.
As difficult as this may be, children from different families should not be playing together, even if they do not go into one another’s houses.
We encourage everyone to minimize leaving your homes, even if it comes at the expense of some of our normal Pesach preparations. For example, this year, we should not do clothing shopping or go for haircuts.
When going for essential shopping, such as for groceries, please keep shopping to a minimum by only sending one family member to the store who can go as quickly as possible, pick up what is needed, and return home.
If you do have to go out, please take care to stay as far as possible from one another. Please wear gloves and wash your hands after removing them. Consider wearing a mask or face cover.
If you are not feeling well, stay home and let someone else do errands for you. If you don’t have anyone to help you, please reach out to your Rabbi or to Achiezer. No one who is symptomatic should be going out in public.
If you are in quarantine, please honor that quarantine absolutely and stay in your home or backyard.
We should all be extra vigilant about proper hygiene. Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap; sneeze into tissues and flush them in the toilet immediately after.

With regards to Davening there should not be any outdoor minyanim.
There are some people who have been saying Kabbalas Shabbos or Lecha Dodi outside on their own porches. If people want to do that, everyone should stay on their own lawns; people should not gather at street corners or walk to someone else’s lawn to join together.

Some have assumed that hosting guests is not a health risk if one or both households are COVID positive, have fully recovered, and have been cleared from quarantine. However, that is NOT simple; please remember that even when someone is asymptomatic they can possibly still transmit the virus.

Therefore, isolation precautions, as possible, should still remain in effect for a longer period of time.

A final reminder for those still struggling being separate from their families or leaving their parents alone for sedarim: Even people who are feeling healthy can be asymptomatic carriers of the disease for weeks. We cannot be certain who is carrying and who is not. Please, do not take chances with your health or with the health of your loved ones; stay home, stay safe, and save lives. For questions about difficult predicaments with elderly family members, please reach out to your doctor and your Rabbi.
Regardless of how we personally are feeling, this is a time of literal pikuach nefesh. Every effort must be taken to follow these guidelines.

Mikva Protocols:
Regular Appointments
Under these trying circumstances we are aware that many are concerned about using the Mikva. We are talking to Medical professionals and working with the Mikvas to take precautions to allow women to use the Mikva in a fashion that protects everyone involved.
The CDC is saying that “There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.” It would be ideal that we maintain our practice of using Mikva even in these trying times.
If someone has concerns about going to the Mikva they should speak to their Rabbi.
The Mikvas in town are now working by appointment only to better protect the people working at the Mikva and to allow for proper cleaning of the rooms between usage.
Women should do their preparations at home and should make every effort not to contact surfaces in the Mikva.

The mikvah contact details are as follows:
South Shore Mikvah (516) 569-5514; for appointments text (516) 666-3255
Grove Street Mikvah (516) 699-2000; http://www.grovestreetmikvah.org/

​​​​​​​Women may shower upon return from the mikvah.
All Mikvah attendants are taking extreme precautions.

Mikvah Protocols for Women Confirmed or Suspected of COVID-19
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you have experienced symptoms associated with COVID-19, do not return to the Mikvah until at least seven (7) full days have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and significant improvement of respiratory symptoms (eg., cough, shortness of breath). In addition, the first time you return to the Mikvah please request an appointment towards the end of the evening.
In the event that a woman lives in a house with someone who is symptomatic and she herself is not symptomatic, she should wait 14 days from the day that no one in the house is displaying symptoms, before going to the mikvah. This is out of concern that someone can be incubating the virus for 14 days. This scenario could be very difficult for families and we should be cognizant of the fact that we are making short term sacrifices for the long term safety of our entire community.
This protocol was approved Rabbi Dr. Glatt and has the haskama of Rabbi Willig, shlita.

Tevilas Keilim
At the current time, we recommend not using keilim mikva’os.
Rabbi Schachter has given us some guidelines for Tevilas Keilum under these circumstances:
The ideal way to do Tevilas Keilim at such a time is to take the new vessels to the ocean and do Tevila with a Bracha. Included in this option is Doxy Pond between Woodmere and North Woodmere. This should be done with caution for basic safety and also, with the regulated social distancing.
Another option is to use disposable vessels as much as possible which according to Rav Moshe Feinstein do not require Tevila. Under the circumstances we can even rely upon the positions that disposable vessels can be washed and reused without tevilah.
If these options are not reasonable, in times when we cannot do Tevila we can sell Keilim to a non-Jew and borrow them back for usage. At a later point in time when our Mikvas will reopen we can buy our Keilim back from the non-Jews and do a proper Tevila. The Beth Din of America is organizing a sale of Keilim to non-Jews, you can authorize to sell your Keilim via this link. This sale is for vessels which will be used before or after in addition to being used on Pesach. Keilim which will only be used on Pesach, but not before or after Pesach, may be included in the Mechiras Chametz authorization form with each Rabbi.

If the sale to a non-Jew is not possible there is a possibility of making Keilim Hefker and then using the Keilim as ownerless. The method of Hefker is to declare to three people, two of whom are valid Halachik witnesses that these Keilim are ownerless. You have to really intend to renounce ownership of the Keilim which would allow someone else to take them at any point. After making the declaration leave the Keilim outside for a few minutes which will allow anyone who wants to take them the opportunity to do such. When the Mikvahs reopen these Keilim should be reacquired and taken to the Mikvah.

Purell and alcohol based sanitizers:
Purell and all alcohol-based sanitizers may be used on Pesach.

Car cleaning:
Those who are not able to properly clean their cars for Pesach on their own may hire someone else to do it. It is best for them to disinfect the steering wheel and door handles and leave the windows open when they have completed their cleaning. It is also best to pay via electronic means or leave payment in an envelope or bag.

Mechiras Chametz
We will all continue doing Mechiras Chametz online or in dropboxes this year, and not in person.

Taanis B’chorim
Because this fast is not a strict prohibition Rabbi Schachter is allowing the use of a live Virtual Siyum.

Biur Chametz
This year we will not be doing a communal burning of Chametz.
Rabbi Schachter has ruled that in these circumstances we may flush the chametz down the toilet.

Seder and Technology
Usage of Technology to have Seder along with family members in different locations who may be alone for Pesach is not allowed.
If someone has family members who they feel being alone could cause them physical or psychological harm they should contact their Rabbi to discuss ways to stay in touch over Chag.
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon has suggested that for families who are separated for Chag that they can convene over technology and share a Pre-Pesach Celebration. In the days when the Beis HaMikdash was standing the hour or two before Pesach were when the Jews brought their Korban Pesach in preparation for the Seder that night. When the Jews brought the Korban Pesach the Leviim sang Hallel. The hours right before Pesach were historically part of the celebration of Pesach and we can take advantage of those hours to celebrate together over technology. While we cannot fulfill the Mitzvos of the night before Pesach starts, we can sing songs of Pesach and have families join together in celebration. Wearing Yom Tov clothing, children can virtually ask their parents and grandparents the Ma Nishtana, we can sing together songs of Chag, share Torah, and then turn off the electronics before we light candles and accept Yom Tov to have a full Seder repeating anything we did before. This is not the same as being together for Pesach, but it is a meaningful experience linked with the historical celebration of Pesach.

Davening on Pesach
On the first two nights we should not say Hallel at Maariv even if your regular custom in shul is to say it. The minhag of nusach Sefardi, nusach Ari  and some nusach Sefard is still to say it. You should consult with your Rabbi about your practice.The Hallel in shul on the first two nights of Pesach is meant as Pirsumei Nisa and is not for individuals.
At Shacharis of the first two days of Pesach we will be davening full Hallel with a Bracha, and from Chol Hamoed onwards we will be davening ‘half’ Hallel with a Bracha.
Rabbi Schachter paskined that one does not have to say Tefilas Tal without a minyan, but everyone should say Morid HaTal in their Musaf on the first day of Pesach even if your custom is not to say Morid HaTal throughout the summer. After that first Musaf, beginning with Mincha on the first day of Pesach, those who daven Nusach Ashkenaz can stop saying Morid HaTal.
On the last day of Pesach one may, and should, say the Yizkor piyutim and pledges. One needs to remember that the main part of Yizkor is the commitment to give Tzedakah on behalf of the niftar. One should try to give Tzedakah as soon after Yom Tov as possible. Everyone, even those who are not saying personal Yizkor for relatives, should still be saying the Yizkor prayer for those who perished in the Holocaust and those who lost their lives defending the State of Israel.

The Seder experience is characterized by, “Maschil B’genus Umsayem B’shvach”; we start with troubles and we conclude with praise. This year, unlike any in modern times, we are experiencing the Genus, we pray that we will soon merit refuos and yeshuos so we can gather together with friends and family to sing praise as we did when we left Egypt in those days, in these times. We all remain optimistic that these challenging times will pass soon. We are looking forward to the most memorable Pesach of all our lives. Pesach is about hope and redemption. Free people have hope. Your courage and hope will help all of us get closer to our freedom from fear and despair

With heartfelt blessings for a full redemption,
Rabbi Shalom Axelrod
Rabbi Mordechai Benhaim
Rabbi Hershel Billet
Rabbi Dovid Cohen
Rabbi Aaron Feigenbaum
Rabbi Ya’akov Feitman
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt
Rabbi Kenneth Hain
Rabbi Simcha Hopkowitz
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz
Rabbi Avi Miller
Rabbi Uri Orlian
Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff
Rabbi Isaac Rice
Rabbi Zvi Ralbag
Rabbi Shay Schachter
Rabbi Yehuda Septimus
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum
Rabbi Ya’akov Trump
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger
Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf
Rabbi Zalman Wolowik