Q&A: Prayer Outdoors
Prayer Outdoors
Question
Given the Health Ministry’s view that gatherings should be limited to 20 people, even though that was not adopted by the government, is it proper to hold—and call for holding—prayer quorums outdoors instead of in the synagogue?
It’s true that this is being “more stringent” than the guidelines, and specifically in an important area like prayer, but it seems that the government’s decisions in recent weeks have been driven only by “trying to annoy as few people as possible.” In light of that, should one consider being “more stringent” in accordance with the Health Ministry’s position?
Answer
For some reason I seem to remember that I already answered this.
I’ll write it again. You are making a hasty assumption about the government’s decisions. I don’t think the only consideration is how many people you annoy. There are weighty economic considerations, among others. In any case, if you are concerned, then be more stringent for yourself. I don’t think there is an obligation to be stringent about this. The Health Ministry’s boundaries are not mathematics either (is it 20, 30, or 15?).