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FEATURE Friday 18 September 2020

Under lockdown, Israel faces bitter start of Jewish New Year

By ILAN BEN ZION "The unique circumstances
Associated Press that leave millions outside
JERUSALEM (AP) — Eating the synagogue doors this
apples dipped in honey year contain also the silver
on Rosh Hashana is a Jew- lining of helping them redis-
ish tradition to symbolize cover, reintegrate and cel-
a sweet start of the New ebrate the holiness of the
Year. But in Israel, bitter- true center of Jewish life
ness prevails on the eve of — the Jewish home," said
the holiday as the country Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin,
faces a second nationwide spokesman for Chabad-
lockdown to stem a raging Lubavitch.
coronavirus outbreak. An Israeli online application
Israeli Prime Minister Benja- is helping pair shofar blow-
min Netanyahu's govern- ers with those who want to
ment has imposed a three- hear the horn in their neigh-
week lockdown, beginning borhoods.
on Friday afternoon — just In the U.S., more liberal
hours before Rosh Hashana Jewish streams have pro-
starts. Israel's first lockdown, duced alternatives for con-
in March and April, put a gregants who use Zoom,
damper on Passover, the Facebook and other digital
Jewish spring holiday mark- platforms during the High
ing the deliverance of the An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays ahead of the Jewish new year at the Western Wall, the holiest Holidays.
ancient Hebrews from slav- site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's old city, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. The Union for Reform Juda-
ery in Egypt. Associated Press ism, North America's big-
Now, the Jewish High Holi- gest Jewish group, created
days look to be similarly tend synagogue services. demanding his resignation the nationwide lockdown. the Reflection Project, a vir-
subdued. Bars, restaurants, and cul- over his handling of the vi- Many Jewish worshippers tual experience designed
Israel has seen new daily tural venues will be shut, rus, the pandemic's fallout elsewhere in the world will to help people connect
cases of COVID-19 skyrock- but many ritual baths and and his corruption trials. have to forgo synagogue with spirituality through a
et in recent weeks, climb- other religious facilities will The lockdown rules have services due to social dis- series of activities.
ing to more than 5,000 on remain open. also deepened the rift be- tancing rules, hold prayers "For non-Orthodox Jews,
Wednesday — one of the Israelis have been frustrated tween secular and religious and hear the traditional we have incredible op-
highest per capita infec- since the gains made with Jews in Israel. A proposal to sounding of the shofar — portunities through virtual
tion rates in the world. Since the first lockdown — when lock down only on commu- a ceremonial ram's horn prayer, gathering, learning
the pandemic began this the virus seemed to have nities with high outbreaks — on street corners or at and spiritual practice to be
year, it has recorded more been brought under con- — mainly ultra-Orthodox ar- home. with others, and to learn
than 169,000 cases, includ- trol — were erased within eas where initial restrictions The Chabad-Lubavitch and draw strength from be-
ing 1,163 deaths, as of weeks, with authorities un- were ignored, allowing movement of Hasidic Ju- ing together," Rabbi Rick
Wednesday, according to able to stem the spike that infections to surge — was daism has recruited thou- Jacobs, president of the
Health Ministry figures. followed. Weekly protests scrapped, apparently fol- sands of volunteers to blow Union for Reform Judaism,
Religious and secular Israe- have drawn thousands to lowing pressure from ultra- the shofar at public squares told The Associated Press in
lis alike mark Rosh Hashana Netanyahu's Jerusalem res- Orthodox leaders, before and street corners world- New York.
with festive holiday feasts idence, with demonstrators Netanyahu announced wide. With gatherings in syna-
with family and friends. gogues across Israel limited
They pack synagogues, to 10 worshipers, some Israe-
often spending hours in lis are organizing services in
prayer, especially during courtyards and gardens. At
the fast of Yom Kippur, the Jerusalem's Western Wall,
Day of Atonement, which the holiest site where Jews
falls later this month. can worship, the plaza is
But this year, traditional crisscrossed with dividers to
family gatherings will be allow small groups to pray.
muted, synagogue prayers Jerusalem's Great Syna-
will be limited to small gogue, an Orthodox con-
groups and travel restric- gregation that has hosted
tions will leave many roads many Israeli dignitaries over
deserted. Some of the lib- the decades, announced
eral streams of Judaism, earlier this week that be-
particularly in the United cause of the pandemic, it
States, are turning to tech- would not hold High Holi-
nology to help connect day services for the first
people. time since it opened in
In Israel, movement dur- 1958. "It's heartbreaking,"
ing the lockdown will be said Zalli Jaffe, president
restricted to within 500 me- of Jerusalem's Great Syna-
ters (yards) of one's home. gogue. "We believe that
Gatherings are limited to safety comes first. Some-
10 people indoors, and 20 An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prays ahead of the Jewish new year at the Western Wall, the holiest times we have to protect
outside, restricting the num- site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's old city, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. Associated Press the congregation against
ber of faithful who can at- the congregation." q