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From: Ezras Israel <ezrasisrael@ezrasisrael.com>
Date: 5/26/20 10:16 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: mates57564@aol.com
Subject: Letter from the CRC for the Community
CHICAGO RABBINICAL COUNCIL 2701 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL 60645-1303 773 465-3900 www.crcweb.org Fax 773 465-6632 5.24.2020 " " Illinois, Chicago Dear Community Members, For nearly three months, we have faced a threat
Congregation Ezras Israel |
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CHICAGO RABBINICAL COUNCIL
2701 W. Howard Street · Chicago, IL 60645-1303 · (773) 465-3900
www.crcweb.org Fax · (773) 465-6632
5.24.2020 ר"ח סיון תש"פ
Illinois, Chicago
Dear Community Members,
For nearly three months, we have faced a threat unlike any we have seen before. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 100,000 in the United States and hundreds of thousands more throughout the world. As a result, our community responded in ways we could have never imagined, closing shuls and schools, remaining at home and faithfully abiding not only by the law of the land but, even more, by our obligation to preserve lives.
Recently, the situation has begun to improve, and slowly our community is taking its initial steps to reopen shuls and permit small gatherings. Nevertheless, the Chicago Rabbinical Council continues to adhere to the OU/RCA
recommendations of not reopening shuls and minyanim until after the initial governmental reopening. This hesitation is based on our understanding of this pandemic, our consultations with medical and public health
experts, and our absolute commitment to the sanctity of life. As Rav Chaim Soloveitchik once said in a related situation, this is not a question of being lenient when it comes to the violation of Shabbos, but rather to be stringent when it comes to saving lives.
In anticipation of Governor Pritzker's order that we are about to enter into Phase Three of our re-entry, the Chicago Rabbinical Council has convened a select committee of rabbis, medical and health experts to plan for the reopening of our shul and minyanim. Based on current data, we hope that two weeks after the beginning of Phase Three, on June 15th, we will be able to begin a gradual return to our shuls.
The two weeks represent a full incubation period and is recommended by the OU/RCA based on consultation with infectious disease doctors and public health officials.
Of course, this long-anticipated reopening can only occur if the next phase does not create a resurgence of COVID in our communities, and will only happen with a complete and steadfast commitment to all health and safety measures, including facemasks, handwashing, and social distancing.
The pandemic is far from over, and each of us has a responsibility to do all we can to preserve our community's safety. While Hashem has protected our community in many ways, we have suffered losses, and we must never forget that each life is a precious gift from G-d, and we are duty-bound to follow the advice of the experts.
We are grateful for your understanding and participation and look forward, with cautious excitement וגילו ברעדה , to a return of the entire community to full-fledged tefillah b'tzibur soon.
Rabbi Yona Reiss
אב בית דין
Rabbi Shaanan Gelman
President
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Congregation Ezras Israel
7001 N. California
Chicago, IL 60645 |
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