Statement from the Executive Committee
17 March 2020
Pursuant to the definitive statement of the Sydney Beth Din dated 17 March and with a heavy heart the Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand urges all Synagogues to close their doors for all social and religious gatherings, including prayer services, as soon as practicable.
All shiurim and talks which can be facilitated online should proceed. We encourage an increase in the number of shiurim and Torah study online.
We recognize that many families have Smachot planned during the coming weeks. However, Jewish Law states unequivocally that life threatening situations and even suspected life threatening situations override all other considerations and given the rapid rate at which COVID-19 is spreading throughout the community regular gatherings at Shule presents an unacceptable risk.
We hope and pray that G-d will protect us but it is imperative that first we do all that we can to protect ourselves.
RCANZ Executive Committee
President: Rabbi Yaakov Glasman (VIC)
Vice President: Rabbi Nochum Shapiro (NSW)
Immediate Past President: Rabbi Moshe Gutnick (NSW)
Secretary: Rabbi Netaniel Friedler (NZ)
Treaurer: Rabbi Nir Gurevitch (QLD)
Executive Member: Rabbi Noam Sendor (VIC)