What You Should Know When You Enter a Beis Knesset in Israel on Pesach

Guest Post by Rabbi Chananya Weissman

Shalom Everyone - If your Beit Knesset is demanding that you submit a "Green Passport" in order to attend services, and if they are implying or outright telling you that this is the law, DON'T BELIEVE IT.  Here are the FACTS and the LINKS TO BACK IT UP:

Synagogues and other venues have only been given "Guidance" - NOT regulations and NOT LAWS - on the suggestion of instituting "Green Passports".  SYNAGOGUES ARE NOT REQUIRED BY ANY LAW - TO DEMAND A GREEN PASSPORT FROM ANYONE FOR SHUL ATTENDANCE OR ADMITTANCE.

AND ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND SERVICES ARE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO SUBMIT - OR EVEN POSSESS - A GREEN PASSPORT TO ENTER OR PARTICIPATE IN SHUL SERVICES.

This means that you do NOT need ANY vaccine to attend services;  this means that you do NOT need to have had Covid;  this means that you do NOT need to claim an allergy exemption.  

In other words:  There is absolutely NO LAW - not even a regulation - that requires you to have a Green Passport to go to shul.  

Here is the link to see for yourself:  https://www.gov.il/en/departments/guides/ramzor-cites-guidelines?chapterIndex=4#5

Here it is:  

Religious Services

• Houses of worship – without a Green Pass
• Occupancy: Up to 20 congregants indoors and up to 50 congregants outdoors 
•  Houses of worship that opt to comply with Green Pass requirements; for green pass holders
• Subject to advanced registration with the local council
• Occupancy: In a house of prayer with regular seats – up to 50% capacity. In a house of prayer without regular seats – at a ratio of one person per each 7 square meters. In any case, no more than 500 people. 
• A distance of one empty seat between people who do not live together
• No eating or drinking
• A sign will be placed at the entrance to the house of prayer, indicating that this establishment complies with Green Pass requirements and presenting the local council's certificate that the application for operating under the Green Pass requirements has been filed, and an usher will be placed at the entrance to check the congregants' Green Pass certificates.
• Houses of worship are only permitted to open for prayer activities (excluding Kiddush or religious studies) all the while following the Purple Badge (HE) guidelines

What this also means is that if your shul has been having food items - even "TAKE AWAY" KIDDUSHES - they are, in fact, probably in violation of the guidelines.  The guideline says nothing about the kiddushes being "taken away".  It simply says no food items.

Let's be honest:  When that table is set up with all these pretty boxes of "Take Away" Kiddush items, people are crowding around the table, there is no social distancing, and that, in itself, is a violation of the law.  

Now, let's talk about masks:  The law is clear - If you cant' breathe or having difficulty breathing, the Health Ministry advises you to REMOVE YOUR MASK.  This is not only necessary to protect your health, it is part of the Basic Law that protects human needs and rights - such as the right to go to the bathroom if needed;  to drink;  to eat;  to breathe.  

MASK EXEMPTIONS:  BY LAW - if one receives a mask exemption signed and stamped by their physician, EVERY SINGLE SHUL, BUILDING, MEDICAL FACILITY, SCHOOL, BUSINESS, ETC IS OBLIGATED TO RESPECT IT AND HONOR IT.  

You are NOT required to wear a visor in place of a mask because, according to the medical science, visors only protect YOU, not anyone else.  Therefore, Misrad HaBriut does not say that one who is exempt from a mask must wear a visor.  

So - before you allow yourself to be bullied, intimidated, harassesd, or coerced by those who have either a) not bothered to get educated on the law and/or b) chosen to ignore the law - print out this email and show it to them.  Most importantly - SHOW THEM THE LINKS.  

"Green Passports"  protect nobody.  If only those entering are vaxxed, then they should feel protected, no?  So why would we ban unvaccinated people?  To whom are they a threat?  

"Green Passports" have no medical science behind them in promoting or protecting our health.  They only serve to divide the Jewish people in the Jewish state.  They only serve to break up the tzibor -  a spiritual crime that needs no explanation or elaboration.  

Know what the law REALLY does say - not one others may tell you.  It's what they choose NOT to tell you that makes this situation dangerous as they strip away your rights, your social health, your mental and emotional health, and most importantly your dignity.

After a year of so much separation, fear, anxiety it is time to come together as a community, to stand up for ourselves AND EACH OTHER, and not allow the bullies to feed us nonsense by claiming an authority they do not have.  

Please feel free to forward this to everyone and anyone you like.

Wishing you a healthy, happy, meaningful Shabbat and Chag Kasher v'smeach!

Miriam Kra