Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has restated his view that synagogues should remain closed, particularly in light of the “alarming” figures released by the Office for National Statistics, showing a greater death rate from coronavirus within the Jewish community than in the wider population.
In a new statement to rabbis and synagogue leaders, Rabbi Mirvis said he was responding to requests for clarification following a relaxation in restrictions allowing places of worship to reopen for private prayer.
A number of Charedi congregations have taken up this option, albeit with limits on numbers and attendance by appointment.
Rabbi Mirvis acknowledged “that we would all dearly love to be back in our shul buildings for communal prayer services and all the other wonderful activities that make our shuls powerful spiritual hubs and vital community centres”. Being unable to daven in a minyan for so long had been “incredibly painful”.
