A loophole makes COVID davening kosher
Police in Melbourne cannot charge a group of ultra-orthodox Jews for breaching COVID-19 lockdown regulations for gathering because they claim to be a “support group” rather than a group of worshippers.
Ultra-orthodox men flaunting COVID regulations in March
In Victoria, a support group is allowed to meet as long as there are no more than 20 people in attendance and social distancing is observed.
Police in Ripponlea and St Kilda East cannot charge the worshippers who have been described as a breakaway congregation from the Adass Israel.
They are thought to be the same group who flouted lockdown laws in the past.
Residents near to their meeting place have told media they walk in the streets carrying tallits.
Jennifer Huppert, President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn, President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, Caulfield MP David Southwick MP and Federal MP Josh Burns, Member for Macnamara issued this joint statement.
“The reported behaviour of a small breakaway sect in flouting COVID19 restrictions is reprehensible.
The Victorian Jewish community has zero-tolerance for those who ignore the law and put lives at risk – behaviours that are in absolute contravention to Judaism’s most basic tenets.
Victorian Jewish Community leaders fully support Victoria Police and the Department of Health and Human Services in working to ensure that all Victorians comply with COVID19 restrictions.
The vast majority of the Victorian Jewish Community have been abiding by the restrictions put in place. Together with all Victorians, we will continue to do all we can to ensure we can reduce the cases of COVID19 in Victoria as quickly as possible.”
Praying outdoors is permitted and is safer as would be a support group
Support groups require PPE also and hazmat suits .