NYC Mayor is Pushing Synagogues to Shut Down

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned the Jewish community that synagogues that continue to not comply with Wuhan virus regulations by holding services will be permanently closed.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the majority of synagogues have closed in compliance with city orders aimed stopping the spread of Wuhan Virus by limiting social gatherings.

“We’ve had extraordinary, across the board rabbinical support from all the different elements of the Jewish community and the same is true of other faiths as well,” de Blasio said during his March 27, 2020 news briefing, according to The Jewish Press.

There are still some synagogues holding minyanim, social gatherings of 10 worshipers or more, to carry out prayer services.

“A small number of religious communities, specific churches and specific synagogues, are unfortunately not paying attention to this guidance even though it’s so widespread,” de Blasio stated.

“I want to say to all those who are preparing for the potential of religious services this weekend: If you go to your synagogue, if you go to your church, and attempt to hold services after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services,” he admonished. However, he admitted that he does not “say this with joy.”

“I understand how important people’s faiths are to them, and we need our faith in this time of crisis. But we do not need gatherings that will endanger people.”

The mayor asked religious citizens who witnesses services taking place to talk with the congregation’s officials and demand they cease services. If that is not enough, the authorities may “need to take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently.”

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