Read It: Hagaon Rav Dovid Cohen Issues P’sak Against Davening B’tzibbur During Coronavirus Crisis, Calls it ‘Cheftza Shel Aveirah’ and “Atzas Hayeitzer’

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30 COMMENTS

  1. Why don’t you include in your headlines the other part of the letter, that you can make outdoors minyanim with everyone standing at a distance from each other and that all the Yeshivos and Bais Yaakov should continue classes through conference calls?

  2. How convenient it is to cover the part about davening outdoors with a minyan.

    We live in a pick-and-choose, do-what-you-want generation.

    Question: Why is this any different than baking Matzos. Reb Dovid shlita was seen last night spending a lot of time in a crowded Matzah bakery, for at least an hour before he actually baked. If it’s a true sakanah, why go in there? Just buy Matzah of the shelves. I am just wondering why this is different.

    • This is an outright falsehood. I am a close family member of R’ Dovid Cohen. He has not been out of his house for a week, and he has not been in a matzah bakery for twenty years plus.

  3. the Rav is saying that a chasuna should be held outside without people standing next to each other….a minyan however is forbidden.

  4. the Rav is saying that a chasuna should be held outside without people standing next to each other….a minyan however is forbidden.

  5. Rough translation:
    I am hereby forewarning all of Bnai Yisroel to not daven with a Tzibbur in this difficult time. It is not only a mitzvah that comes from doing an Averah but it is itself an averah. Often the Yetzer disguises himself in a Taalis to induce you to do an Averah.
    Professional doctors who are Yirei Shemayim have advised such.
    Others may wish to pray outdoors in a manner where there is space amongst them. Schools should arrange classes by telephone and the like .
    Sefer Yetzirah writes that “Olam”, “Shanah” and “Nefesh” were created by a Maaseh Beraishos. (Note- I think he means to allude to the letters that make up each word, i.e. Ayin, Lamed, Mem and then Shin , Nun, Shin, and then Nun, Peh, Shin. Created by pronunciation of the letters that make up the words. “World”, Year”, “Soul”).
    Shanah is superior to Olam because one does not build the Bais Hamikdash on Shabbos. (note- shanah refers to time, olam refers to the Bais Hamikdash. So olam is superior to Bais Hamikdash because it time, ie shabbos, voids building the BH).Nefesh is superior to Olam because Pikuach Nefesh pushes aside the Sabbath. (note- Olam representing time and therefore Shabbos, is inferior to Nefesh because saving ones life trumps the Sabbath). So, even though we cannot enter the Diminutive Bais Hamikdash, (our shuls), through the combination of our prayers nevertheless our Prayers will be effective from the Power strength/fusion of our collective Souls.
    And through this combination we will merit the Full Redemption shortly.
    Duvid Hachohen
    on the day the it says twice Ki Tov (Tuesday- . In Genesis it says twice the phrase “it was good” with regard to creation on that day.)
    21 adar 780 (5780)

    If I may paraphrase a little, R”Duvid is saying the preserving ones health/body which houses the SOul in this world, is superior to praying in a Bais Hamedrash where there is danger to the Body. Nefesh is superior to Sabbath as you can violate Shabbos to save your life, and Shabbos is superior to Bais Hamikdash as you cannot violate Shabbos to build the BH. Hence , preserving ones health is superior to everything, both Shabbos and Shul.
    He makes a play on words on the words “Metztaref” and the word “Tzeruf”. So even we cant be “Metxtaraf’ , ie join in a Minyan, through the “tzeruf”, fusion/combination of of our souls we will merit that our Prayers will be answered.

    Hope I havent butchered this too bad. I beg Mechilah from R Duvid if I have not properly conveyed his intentions.

  6. As many Rabanim have closed their Shuls, I respectfully recommend that they work with a Website developer to upgrade their current Web site (or create new Websites) to enable continuing participation of the members of their Kehilos from home.

  7. Paraphrased:
    1. Praying with a minyan inside is forbidden on the advice of God fearing doctors. Sometimes the yetzer comes dressed in a talis but he is only presenting a false argument to encourage aveiros.

    2. If one wishes to daven with a minyan outside it is permissible but should be done following safety guidelines of distancing.

    3. Yeshivos and seminaries should continue but in a remote fashion, either on the phone or through comparable means.

    4. [With artistic license:] Our lives are precious and our unity is very powerful. Even though we cannot join together in our shuls, our “standing together” as one people, with sincere care for each other – albeit through individual prayer – should serve as a powerful voice and merit us the coming of Mashiach soon!

  8. Is this a Psak for his Shul and his followers or did he just decide to pasken for the world? Just curious because there are so many shuls (including Rav Hillel David who is also from the senior Rabbonim of Flatbush) Who are allowing Minyanim in Shul OF COURSE only with following the CDC guidelines of social distancing.

  9. Is this a Psak for his Shul and his followers or did he just decide to pasken for the world? Just curious because there are so many shuls (including Rav Hillel David who is also from the senior Rabbonim of Flatbush) Who are allowing Minyanim in Shul OF COURSE only with following the CDC guidelines of social distancing.

  10. I Rabbi Webdass with the powers vested in me by the manufacturer of my cellphone manufacturer hereby declare that all should follow the dictates of the mishna and have a Rov!
    Signed electronically

  11. on some level inside or outside are the same thing SPACE is what matters most this virus is not airborne its been called DROPLETS with have a ~6 foot reach that means when people say something they are SPRAYing something and sneezing is another issue if EVERYONE wore face masks and wore even clear sunglasses it would cut the spread but i cannot account for our bad habits of rubbing out eyes and nose sometimes countless times a day
    correct me if i am wrong

  12. Unfortunately the Matzav.com logo is covering essential words in the letter. So the result is we have a bunch of commentors just ploppling away. R’ Cohen is saying that those who wish “to get married should arrange the chuppah outdoors, utilizing safe distances”…

  13. It does not say to make a minyan outside. People are assuming that’s what it says in the part that is covered up. I saw the full text. It says those who wish to get married should make the chuppah outside.

  14. I have the original, it says “eilu sherotzim linase- to get married” should do so outside etc.
    the logo is covering it up but if you look closely that is what it says.

    • thank you! true the logo was covering this up.
      Also I mis spelled/mis typed Shanah, it is Shin Nun Heh, not Shin Nun Shin.
      Point of Sefer Yetzirah is that the world was created with the power of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Unlike English or other common languages, the words in Hebrew are related to the meanings of the words.

  15. From Rabbi Feitman from the Five Towns in an email to his shul:

    As you know, in an e-mail which I sent today I took a strong stand that no one should be attending outdoor minyonim. Inadvertently, a misunderstanding seems to have arisen regarding the position of Rav Dovid Cohen shlita about this matter. I quoted him as follows: “a number of Gedolim including Rav Dovid Cohen…has now changed his Psak and urged that no one should attend Minyanim.” I translated this from Rav Dovid’s Hebrew which said

    שלא יבואו להתפלל בצבור לפי המצב שלפנינו

    Apparently, this has been transmitted to people as a ruling by Rav Cohen that he is against outdoor Miyonim. Rebbetzin Leah Cohen has informed me that this is not the case. He does allow outdoor Minyonim which follow the protocol of people distancing themselves six feet from others etc. I apologize for this misunderstanding but I must maintain my position for the members of my Shul and those who follow my advice in the Five Towns. I do not presume to pasken for Brooklyn or anywhere else but my location. As I explained in my earlier e-mail, based upon the facts on the ground here and upon the strong recommendation of the physicians in the field, I still feel strongly that people here should not form outdoor Minyonim.

    • Every kehilla and to be more precise evrey indvidual is mandated to have a Morah Horah. The beauty of klal yisroel is that we can have different opinions and both are correct. This is not c’v happenstance, it is by devine design.

      Following is a story to bring to “light” the function of a Rov:

      At the installation ceremony of the Rov in the famous shul in the five towns commonly known as the White shul, Hgaon Reb Mordechai Gifted zt’l spoke. He said the difference between the installation of a Rov and the installation of a bulb is that the control for the lights is accessible by the switch. Wheras upon the installation of a Rov the control is transferred to the Rov!

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