Dr Gouttman – thank you for your informative article on the subject in the AJN which I read with interest. I think it has been some 18 or so years since our time at the ADC – my how time flies!

By saying that the case of the Moriah student testing positive has almost no impact on the community, and no impact on the holding of services at the Great and many other synagogues is an over-simplification of the situation and simply not true.

After this unfortunate news, the Sydney Beth Din, after receiving advice from medical experts, made a ruling that it was not worth the risk to open up synagogues when there was even the slightest risk of infection. I do not understand why these three synagogues are flouting the ruling from their rabbinic roof body, and willing to take a risk with their members and congregants, even after meeting with government officials.

Taking certain health risks when it comes to commercial considerations with the economy is perhaps understandable, but surely we should be more vigilant when it comes to the congregants of our synagogues where health risks really need not take place at the moment.