by Doug Aronin
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
In his Times of Israel blogpost, Douglas Aronin discusses the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding restrictions on religious gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic as well as the responsibility of Jewish communities during the pandemic.
I view with some ambivalence the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, in which the Court, by a five to four vote, issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s restriction limiting attendance at houses of worship. Gov. Cuomo’s executive order had limited attendance in areas designated as red or orange zones (depending on the Covid positivity rate) to 10 or 25 worshipers respectively. The lawsuits in which the Court issued this injunction were brought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and by Agudath Israel, the preeminent advocacy organization for the interests of the chareidi community. …
What bothers me most about this case is not the Court’s decision but the fact that it was brought in the first place, at least by Agudath Israel. (I leave it to the Roman Catholics to worry about the involvement of the Diocese of Brooklyn.) It reinforces a general impression that the chareidi community, both here and in Israel, has not taking the pandemic seriously …
Read more at https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/religious-freedom-vs-pandemic-thoughts-on-mixed-feelings/
Enjoying UTJ Viewpoints?
UTJ relies on your support to promote an open-minded approach to Torah rooted in classical sources and informed by modern scholarship. Please consider making a generous donation to support our efforts.
Douglas Aronin is a retired attorney living in Forest Hills, Queens, who is continuing his lifelong involvement in the Jewish community.
A graduate of Columbia Law School, he practiced law for three decades (including a four-year stint with the New York State Attorney General's office) before retiring.
He served for many years as an officer of the UTJ and was a founding board member of the ITJ (Institute of Traditional Judaism) and editor-in-chief of Cornerstone 2.
Doug’s blog appears regularly on Times of Israel, where he addresses an array of political and religious subjects. His writings have also appeared in a wide range of other print and on-line forums.
Here are some of Doug's blog posts: