'For Shame': 100s Of Rabbis Condemn Brooklyn Lockdown Protests

BROOKLYN, NY — More than 450 rabbis are banding together to urge the Jewish community to follow renewed coronavirus restrictions in Brooklyn and Queens, and condemning those who are citing claims of religious freedom to protest the rules.

"We stand united against any anti-Semitism of any kind...we also acknowledge that asking all of us to wear masks, observe social distancing and avoid large congregate gatherings is not an antiSemitic act," said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, co-founder of the New York Jewish Agenda, during a press conference Friday. "This virus is something we all must battle together."

Friday's press conference, organized by NYJA, included rabbis from all major Jewish denominations and Jacob Kornbluh, a reporter from the Jewish Insider who was attacked at a protest against lockdown measures in Borough Park this week.

The demonstrations — which included mask burnings and at least two assaults — came as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced closures to businesses, schools and limits on houses of worship in New York City areas seeing surges in the virus.

Several Jewish groups, along with the Brooklyn Diocese, have since filed lawsuits claiming the limits on houses of worship are against their First Amendment rights.

But leaders on the virtual press conference Friday contended that the "posturing of religious freedom" against safety rules is "blasphemy."

"We want to be crystal clear that there is no higher Jewish value than saving a human life," NYJA co-founder Matt Nosanchuk said. "Those that are fighting against COVID measures are a minority, they are fringe, and they do not speak for all Jews."

Rabbis said part of the problem has been "medical disinformation" in communities who believe they have antibodies or early on were promoting false "cures" to the virus. Health officials have struggled to dispel myths that herd immunity has been achieved in certain neighborhoods.

Following the new restrictions, as with those at the height of the pandemic, won't be without difficulty, the rabbis noted, particularly during Jewish on Oct. 9, 10 and 11 and for denominations that have restrictions on using technology.

But the group called on their fellow rabbis to take the lead in explaining the need for sacrifice.

"Of course there’s pushback, nobody wants to lose access to communal prayer," Kleinbaum said.
"The decisions are being made for one reason only — to protect all of us."