A group of at least 200 young men gathered Friday night to pray outside 770 Eastern Parkway, the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters, despite the announcement earlier that day by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that nonessential gatherings of any size were banned as part of a broader effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. A uniformed […]
Jewish students at Binghamton University celebrate Shabbat online
VESTAL (WBNG) — Binghamton University’s Chabad Center is changing up their annual Shabbat dinner, which typically draws thousands of students. With the spread of COVID-19 and gatherings banned, religious leaders were forced to either cancel the event, or find a new way to host it. We spoke with religious leaders prior to the start of […]
Jewish Press Online brings you remarks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu live, presenting the current status in Israel on the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Coronavirus In New Rochelle: Bringing Purim To Families
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The recent Jewish holiday of Purim posed a dilemma for members of New Rochelle’s Jewish community who were told to go into quarantine because of possible exposure to the new coronavirus. A 50-year-old man — a New Rochelle resident who works as an attorney in Manhattan — was infected with the […]
Coronavirus Affecting Church Services, State Courts
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of everyday life in the city. On Friday, state officials confirmed that there are 50 positive COVID-19 cases, including one fatality, a Bergen County man. The rapidly evolving pandemic has forced several social gatherings, cultural events, religious ceremonies and more to be altered, […]
Social Distancing This Shabbat? Chabad.org Has You Covered
As widespread social-distancing measures have gone into effect in communities around the world with the aiming of slowing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Jewish observance, which centers so much on community, will be drastically affected. For many people who typically enjoy Shabbat meals with friends or family, this week may represent a sudden plunge […]
Five Towns Orthodox shuls are closed because of coronavirus
After a meeting that lasted several hours on March 12, at least 14 Five Towns rabbis decided to shutdown the Orthodox synagogues. “We are writing to inform you that we have made the excruciating decision that our shuls will be closed for all services, [Torah lessons], classes, children and adult programming effective today, Friday, March […]
A Glimpse of Infinity in the Midst of Crystal Lake
In Judaism, we are taught that the Jewish soul is eternal, that it lives forever. Whenever I thought about the concept of “forever” or “infinity,” it seemed very difficult to grasp. After all, everything in our physical world has a beginning and an end. No matter how long-lived a redwood or sequoia tree is—whether 500 […]
10 Classic Jewish Teachings About the Moon
1. The Hebrew Calendar Is Based on the Moon At the cusp of the Exodus, G‑d commanded Moses regarding the Hebrew calendar. Each time witnesses spotted the sliver of a burgeoning moon in the night sky, the start of the new month was declared. The month Nisan, which coincides with the budding of spring—the season […]
How to Pray the Shabbat Prayers at Home
While you may be unable to attend services this Shabbat—either as a result of quarantine or due to synagogues canceling services—this does not mean that you cannot pray the Shabbat prayers. Of course, the ideal way to pray is in synagogue with a quorum of ten. However, with a little adaptation, the Shabbat prayers can […]