News
Board asks government to explain decision to stop religious services
From Thursday, only private prayer will be permitted, according to English lockdown plan
November 3, 2020 11:50
From Thursday, only private prayer will be permitted, according to English lockdown plan
November 3, 2020 11:50The Board of Deputies has asked the government for data on the spread of coronavirus to explain the decision to stop religious services in the new lockdown in England.
From Thursday, if the measures are approved by Parliament, places of worship will be open only for private prayer for the next four weeks; while funerals will be allowed, wedding ceremonies cannot go ahead except in “exceptional circumstances”.
Representatives from across the Jewish community, from Liberal to strictly Orthodox, questioned Lord Greenhalgh, a minister in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in a virtual meeting on Monday.
A Board official said, “We said we would like data from Public Health England on whether places of worship contribute to the spread of the infection. If they do not, there may be a case to allow them to open sooner than later.”
The government said it would see if such data were available.
The Catholic Church and the Muslim Council of Britain have already urged the government to review the prohibition of collective worship.
While Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said that synagogues under his authority should close, some United Synagogue rabbis have written to their MPs to call for communal prayer to be allowed to continue.
The meeting with Jewish community representatives was part of a series of government talks with faith groups on the latest social distancing measures. More detailed guidelines on religious practice are expected to be issued within a few days.
The Board also asked whether wedding ceremonies could be allowed to continue, if not receptions; whether a minyan could be held in order to allow people to say Kaddish; and whether outdoor services could be permitted.
Since synagogue kindergartens will be able to remain open, it sought clarification on other educational activities, such as beit midrash programmes.
Following the meeting, Lord Greenhalgh tweeted that Jewish faith leaders had raised the "need for clear guidance for Mitzvah Day" and "the importance of communal worship and weddings in our synagogues which will not be possible sadly during lockdown2UK.".
Just finished my round table with British Jewish #faith leaders who raised the need for clear guidance for #MitzvahDay + the importance of communal worship + weddings in our synagogues which will not be possible sadly during #lockdown2UK. pic.twitter.com/beSEt3fnGA
— Stephen Greenhalgh #HandsFaceSpace (@team_greenhalgh) November 2, 2020
Since mid-September, officials from the Cabinet Office have held meetings with representatives of the Charedi community from across the country.
A Board of Deputies spokesman said, “In late August, the Cabinet Office contacted the Board to ask for assistance in ensuring that Government messages were reaching all parts of the Jewish community, including the Charedi community.
“The Board worked with partners from across the Charedi community in Stamford Hill, North West London, Manchester, Gateshead and Canvey Island to ensure Charedi representation from all parts of the country.”
The group had been “very helpful,” the Board spokesman said, and had assisted in translating government messages into Yiddish.
