Q&A: Opening Haredi Elementary Schools During a Lockdown
Opening Haredi Elementary Schools During a Lockdown
Question
A friend of mine argued that the comparison between Haredi and secular institutions is misplaced, because for Haredim educational institutions are more important, and that is clear from reality: they study more hours and more days, they do not close for every event, and they study Torah, which is almost the most important thing for a religious person. Therefore, just as during a lockdown distinctions are made between places according to how important they are, so too here.
This does not mean they should necessarily be kept open, only that the comparison is not correct.
What does the Rabbi think about this?
Answer
There is room for the argument that there is a difference, and still it seems to me that common sense says one should not distinguish between the two. If they go on vacation for three weeks for no particular reason, they can go on vacation when there is a public danger.