A number of United Synagogue rabbis are writing to their local MPs complaining at the government’s decision to close places of worship for organised services during the latest lockdown. 

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet of Mill Hill Synagogue told the JC that he was among a large WhatsApp group of ministers – mostly from US congregations – who were “frustrated” about shuls been forced to shut once again. 

Rabbi Schochet said his own letter would stress that “whilst I am fully understanding and very sensitive to the concerns at hand – indeed, having endured a significant amount of loss in my community at the onset of Covid – I’m also mindful of how important synagogue life is to the community; how we’re slowly getting back to some kind of normality; and how we have been maintaining extreme safeguards.” 

He argued that in the time since shuls were allowed to reopen, the extensive precautionary measures taken had protected ministers and congregants.

In a letter seen by the JC, Golders Green senior rabbi Harvey Belovski has urged local MP Mike Freer to call on the government to reverse its decision on communal prayer. 

“The role of public worship in terms of people’s wellbeing cannot be overestimated,” he wrote. “For many, it is a lifeline – not just in terms of their relationship with God and their fulfilment of religious duties – but for their mental health, physical wellbeing, sense of purpose, provision of rhythm and structure to their day and connectedness with others.”

Observing that his synagogue would soon be used as a blood donation centre – which the government deems essential – and had “often far exceeded” government guidelines for Covid security, Rabbi Belovski added that there had been no known Covid outbreaks at properly-managed places of worship. 

“I expect that the government did not intend to relegate the sacred experience of communal prayer to the status of a cinema visit, for which an evening at home watching TV can substitute.  But that is the message received by millions of people of faith around the country.”

Following Boris Johnson’s announcement on Saturday evening that England would enter into another, month-long lockdown from Thursday, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said it was “imperative” to close shuls once again. 

In a statement on Sunday, the Chief Rabbi explained that allowing shuls to remain open for private prayer might tempt attendees to daven together. This would be a breach of the law and a “desecration of Hashem’s name”.