Q&A: Corona Minyan
Corona Minyan
Question
A.1. What do you think about a balcony minyan? On the face of it, this contradicts many of the laws of a minyan that emerge from the Talmud (for example, all the laws of courtyards that were opened into one another, and in Pesachim that “one who stands from the doorway outward is considered outside” — meaning that even someone standing in the synagogue doorway does not join). And even the medieval authorities (Rishonim) who discussed the synagogue platform explain that there the partition is made for decoration and therefore does not interrupt, unlike garden fences or balcony walls. To force all the cases into “where they cannot see one another” seems to me extremely strained.
A.2. From my own study of the topic, for now it seems to me that the Jewish law is that a balcony minyan does not count. The question is whether I may join such a minyan, given that the other worshippers rely on the lenient opinions. Also, does praying with them count for me as prayer with a minyan, since according to them it is halakhically valid? [I am not a rabbi or halakhic decisor, and I am not aware of any specific instructions from the city rabbi or neighborhood rabbi.]
B. Is it permitted to pray now in a street minyan?
From the standpoint of common sense and likelihood of infection, in this specific case these are very cautious people who keep distances of 3–4 meters between each person (especially since each one stands at the entrance to his home).
In terms of the regulations, this of course does not qualify, although it is within 100 meters of the worshippers’ homes. The question is whether there is an obligation to obey the law in this case (there is still no clear standard for when “the average citizen cuts corners,” but just as people go out more than 100 meters or function inside a supermarket).
Answer
A1. I also tend to think that a balcony minyan is ineffective. In my opinion, a minyan on Zoom is more plausible (I explained this in the last lecture on Jewish law and reality 2).
A2. You may join them, and according to their view they have a minyan. You yourself, however, do not fulfill the requirement of prayer with a minyan. I think it is preferable that you not serve as prayer leader. True, there is a problem with matters of sanctity, which may not be said with fewer than ten, but in my view this is a very puzzling law. On the face of it, there is no prohibition at all against saying various texts alone (so long as there are no blessings and the like). Therefore, if they are saying them and according to their view there are ten, there is no reason you cannot join them and answer after them. If you were to serve as prayer leader and say the repetition of the Amidah, that would be very problematic. But answering amen is not a problem.
B. I think the law of the land applies, and one should not violate it. True, there are people who cut corners with various laws (including this one), and in my opinion one need not be overly orthodox about the law of the land, but here this is a breach with a fairly real slippery slope, especially since we are dealing with matters of life and death. In addition, there is great public sensitivity about this, and it could create a desecration of God’s name. There has already been enough of that, and let us not add to it.
Discussion on Answer
It’s available on the site in audio and video recording. Jewish Law and Reality 2.
Anyone who is busy with minyanim while others are dying needs to examine for himself whether he belongs to the Jewish people.
And clearly he is a denier of the Torah, and even in praying the Amidah he violates “do not stand idly by your neighbor’s blood.”
Not to mention being occupied with a minyan; about this the prophet says:
Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their heart is far from Me, and their fear of Me has become a commandment of men learned by rote. Therefore, behold, I will continue to do wondrously with this people, wondrously and marvelously; and the wisdom of its wise men shall perish, and the understanding of its prudent men shall be hidden.
Wow, what a hysterical overreaction.
Was the lecture in question uploaded online in some format?
Because at first glance I would say that Zoom certainly should not work, since they do not even see one another in the simple sense. Whether the lecture is accessible or not, I’d be happy to hear the relevant novel idea (and while we’re at it, the whole Torah) in a nutshell, and whether you say this even with respect to the repetition of the Amidah, Torah reading, and the like.