Separating from the community

I’m going to ask a very controversial question. Given the fact that I don’t expect many of the areas with large Jewish populations to “open up” for anything resembling a minyan for a month or two (or longer) can a shul in a red state or city open up or should open up and also is one obligated to be a sitting duck if he or she has the means to escape or is that being    מפריש מן הציבור?
If one does leave ones residence for 3 months until the lockdown order is rescinded and then returns to ones original residence should any communal body discipline or censure this person?

Purpose of synagogue and communal prayer

In light of what is going on we need to rethink fundamentally what is the purpose of prayer and communal gatherings. Is it to pray to God seriously? Is it to gather socially?

I try to pray for it’s sake when possible. Therefore the social aspect isn’t as important to me as it would be for others. That’s not to say that I am anti social, it just isn’t the place to schmooze for me like it is for many of my other religious brethren.

Perhaps that explains why these Rabbis at the OU and Agudah are more careful than I would be. Their constituency looks to the shul for more than just a place to daven. I understand it but in these times it won’t work.

I have attended numerous semachot (happy occasions) and been at shul for funerals the opposite end of the spectrum. However the shul isn’t a bar or dance club. For some of the frummies or more stridently Yeshivish crowd, the shul is their social life. They don’t go to bars and Starbucks, ballgames etc.

Governors acting like Idi Amin

One of the things that has happened is that these governors and mayors are acting like Monarchs or dictators. This is unprecedented in my lifetime, I never knew that a Governor has the right to enact unlimited fiats and decrees that had no oversight and no time constraints simply because they somehow convinced or fooled a plurality of voters into voting for them. Whatever happened to the opposing party and their views on these matters? Don’t they count as well? I suppose not,

The governors and media people who look away at these tyrannical decrees are the name people who told us four years ago that if we elected Donald Trump that he would be a dictator. Look who’s doing the dictating now. All of the blue governors and mayors.

NFL schedule release pointless

While Many sports fans looking for anything resembling sports we’re enthused with the NFL draft as well as last nights schedule release, it’s almost pointless for the following reasons

1) the season may be delayed significantly by a month or more depending on how the COVID-19 situation plays out particularly in the blue states and cities (NY,IL, MA, CA, etc )

2) more importantly, there may not be fans at the games.

3) disposable income will be much lower than in previous years, look at the unemployment numbers.

Joshua

Why I despise this mayor

I really have little respect for Mayor Bill de Blasio. Here is why.

1) He’s a progressive with little tolerance for other viewpoints.
2) He doesn’t lead and delays important decisions such as closing NYC public schools until the last minute

There are others but he is the Keith Olbermann of elected officials. Keith Olbermann is an overly educated arrogant and effete elitist who read a lot of books but doesn’t have common sense. So we have Keith Olbermann in City Hall instead of another Giuliani. Pathetic!

Democrats and Education

It’s time that the local GOP give the Mayors and governors for closed their schools without effective distance learning plans an F and give the, the boot. We’ve taken too much guff from the Democrats on education and it’s time to shove it back in their faces.

Let us who believe in individual choice and the classics the reins to education starting this fall.

It has been assumed that Democrats have the moral high ground and monopoly on the education issue for as long as I can remember. I think that it’s time to put that idea to rest and let the independents and non progressives have a chance starting this fall to take control of education as the Democrats were Ill equipped for a pandemic and crisis and therefore have lost my confidence in their ability to effectively educate young people.

Bottom feeders of sports teams

If and when some of these leagues lose money and some of them have to fold because of the pandemic and recession or depression, which ones would you like to see least?


NFL Lions, Browns, Bengals, Jets, Jags, Cardinals, Texans and Buccaneers

NBA Kings, Clippers, Nuggets Timberwolves, Pelicans Grizzlies, Hawks, Hornets Wizards and Cavaliers

MLB Mariners Angels Padres Rockies Rangers Rays Marlins Reds Pirates and Orioles

NHL Columbus Winnipeg Ottawa Minnesota Arizona Tampa Florida and Buffalo