Dear Member
Sadly, as a result of the lockdown due to take effect from Thursday this week, we have to close down once more.
I am immensely proud of our community in having managed to maintain the services we have over recent months, and we will of course return to services as soon as conditions allow.
Meanwhile if any member is in need of practical assistance during the forthcoming lockdown, please contact either myself, Jack Hecht or the Rabbi.
I reproduce below a letter from the Chief Rabbi, explaining the current position.
Robert Pinkus
President
07768 400144
On behalf of St. Annes Hebrew Congregation www.shulbythesea.co.uk
Dear Rabbis, Rebbetzens and Chairs,
Over recent months, during times of unprecedented challenge, I have been inspired by our remarkable Rabbis, Rebbetzens, lay leaders, staff and communities as you maintained the vitality of our Synagogues through regular services, events and programmes. Public health professionals and government officials have recognised your determined commitment to protecting the sanctity of life before all else, in what has been a true Kiddush Hashem.
I have no doubt therefore that, whilst you will share my sense of profound pain, following the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday, that places of worship must once again close for congregational prayer, you will also share my desire to take whatever further action is necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This directive from the government confers an imperative upon us to close our Synagogues from Thursday.
As I have noted at a previous time, it would be tempting to use the permission granted for Individual Prayer to open our Shuls so that we can daven privately in the presence of others which would certainly be a מעלה (meritorious). However this is significantly outweighed by the potential forלפני עור (placing a stumbling block before the blind), because those present for Individual Prayer might be tempted to daven together in a מנין which would be a clear breach of the law and aחילול ה’ – a desecration of Hashem’s name.
Detailed guidance will follow shortly.
It is my fervent prayer that our shuls will very soon be able to safely re-open once again.
May the Almighty bless all of humankind with healing and a speedy end to the Pandemic and all the suffering that it has brought in its wake.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis