By: Aryeh Savir
The global spread of Coronavirus has forced Jewish communities around the world to modify their Purim celebrations to ensure that the communities’ health is safeguarded while those in quarantine can fulfill the holiday’s obligations properly.
Some 60,000 Israelis have been sent into quarantine, mostly at home, out of fear that they may have contracted the virus.
Some synagogues have announced they will hold special Megillah readings for those in quarantine, while other communities will live-stream the event to those in quarantine at home.
Following international travel during the semester break, a number of students and faculty members, about 45, have been required to self-quarantine based on the directives of the Health Ministry.
The Megillah reading from the congregation Shaarey Rachamim V’simcha in the French Hill community will be streamed from them.
As for Mishloah Manot, gifts of food or drink sent to friends on Purim day, and Matanot L’evyonim, gifts for the poor, those in isolation can appoint another person to be a messenger to deliver packages and give tzedakah, rabbis have ruled.
All should avoid shaking hands and kissing the mezuzah or a Sefer Torah, they added.
Cities throughout Israel have canceled their traditional public Purim events and parades.
“With God’s help, we will overcome the crisis together,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Saturday night.
On Feb 26th, TPS reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a government discussion on the Israeli economy’s readiness for the consequences of the Coronavirus and its spread around the globe.
Netanyahu highlighted the “steady hand on the steering wheel. We are meeting on a daily basis and there is a very orderly division of the areas of responsibility, management and backing.”
“Our policy is the same: Over-preparation and not under-preparation and above all, caution and not hysteria,” he stated.
The Ministry of Finance believes that the spread of the Coronavirus could reduce Israel’s GDP by NIS 3.6-14 billion, by 0.25-1%.
Tourism, the travel industry and the health system are sectors that are liable to be affected by the virus.
The Ministry of Economy has established a situation room that is monitoring the consequences for the economy, locally and globally.
The Finance Ministry will work to strengthen the financial system and develop procedures to enable it to continue to deal with the consequences of the situation for the Israeli economy, including the compensation process for those affected by the epidemic.
Global markets have been in the red in recent days as investors fear the effects of the virus on the world’s economy, including lower sales and supply disruptions that could cause damage in the coming months.
The export of goods around the world is being delayed, and scarcity may cause a rise in prices.
(TPS)
