Is it safe to purchase daled minim (Lulav and Esrog)?
I am concerned that having multiple people congregating in and around an daled minim store
(especially having multiple unmasked people touching the species), presents a very risky enterprise.
Each shul needs to work out methodologies whereby full kosher four species sets can be purchased
that are pre-checked by the Rav or a mumcheh (expert) and sold as is without individual examination
by multiple people in close proximity. There can be several standards for different prices, but a
system needs to be set up to minimize group exposures.
What about sharing daled minim?
People living together within the same family unit can share their daled minim with no concern
for transmission. If someone from a different family unit needs to shake your lulav and esrog, they
should wash their hands first, fulfill the mitzvah, return the set, and wash again afterwards. I would
not recommend doing this with multiple people unless there was absolutely no other option.
How should we do hoshanos?
Walking around in a large space with appropriate distancing between the “hoshana walkers” poses
little risk. Outdoors in general again is usually safer, but distancing (with masking of course) is
the critical factor. Such spacing may not be available though in many facilities, and it may be
necessary to alternate who “walks” the hoshanos while others recite them standing by their seats.
This will be especially important for Hoshana Rabbah. I dare say that davening the hoshanos is
far more important than walking.
What about hakafos?
The rules for hakafos are essentially identical as for hoshanos. Vigorous unmasked prolonged simchas Torah dancing in close proximity can be a super-spreader event and must be avoided. Again,
appropriately masked and spaced slow dancing and singing is doable – depending on each facility’s physical constraints and crowds. Maybe this year we celebrate and demonstrate our love of
Torah with a special shiur from the Rav, with the congregation masked and distanced instead of
dancing wildly.
