In a letter seen by the JC, Golders Green senior rabbi Harvey Belovski has urged local MP Mike Freer to call on the government to reverse its decision on communal prayer.
“The role of public worship in terms of people’s wellbeing cannot be overestimated,” he wrote. “For many, it is a lifeline – not just in terms of their relationship with God and their fulfilment of religious duties – but for their mental health, physical wellbeing, sense of purpose, provision of rhythm and structure to their day and connectedness with others.”
Observing that his synagogue would soon be used as a blood donation centre – which the government deems essential – and had “often far exceeded” government guidelines for Covid security, Rabbi Belovski added that there had been no known Covid outbreaks at properly-managed places of worship.
“I expect that the government did not intend to relegate the sacred experience of communal prayer to the status of a cinema visit, for which an evening at home watching TV can substitute. But that is the message received by millions of people of faith around the country.”
Following Boris Johnson’s announcement on Saturday evening that England would enter into another, month-long lockdown from Thursday, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said it was “imperative” to close shuls once again.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chief Rabbi explained that allowing shuls to remain open for private prayer might tempt attendees to daven together. This would be a breach of the law and a “desecration of Hashem’s name”.
