Should shuls be open Purim? (re: Novel Coronavirus)

goodmorning

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 2:02 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Just FYI there are people who hold women are not obligated to hear megillah, but the minhag generally they do. I know someone who hasn't heard megilla a few times and her father is a dayan and grandfather is as well. However, that doesnt mean you shouldn't hear. You can probably hear from your landlord and IYH you'll feel better by then.

Could you cite the sources for that statement?
It is not the minhag for women to listen to megillah leining on Purim. It is halacha. The Gemara clearly paskens that women have an equal obligation to hear the megillah as that of men (though it is a difference of opinions of Rishonim/Acharonim as to whether women are required/allowed to read it, and if so, for whom).

amother

Beige

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 2:23 pm

What? Why close Purim? Your husband doesn't go every day? Shabbos whole families go. Why is the risk worse specifically on Purim?

Personally I think this is crazy. Are you going to bunker down? No school for kids and no work for adults? No shopping? No appointments anywhere? Just going to hide until this blows over?

People who are high risk for complications should take extra precautions and avoid crowds. The rest of us should just go about our lives and wash our hands well and stop the hysteria.

amother

Rose

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 2:40 pm

I have trouble getting out in the morning and DH has a really busy day (many many talmidim visit) so one year I just felt bad to ask him to take the 30 min to lain for me, so I said I will do it myself (from his real megilla). I may not get the trop exactly right, but I've heard the megillah over 100 times so I think I can come pretty close. And I can keep a megillah with nekudos next to me in case I'm unsure.

He was not overly thrilled so he does make sure to make the time, but I am ok with doing it myself if need be.

Ladies! Be empowered!!!!

Elfrida

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 2:52 pm

Empowered is one thing, but ideally the Megillah should be heard with a minyan, or at least a group of of women. Part of the point of reading Megillah is pirsumei nissah, and ברוב עם הדרת מלך.

amother

Burgundy

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 3:01 pm

My husband has a lot of health issues, so we will go to smaller readings where people aren't as crowded in next to each other. We will have a seuda at home, although the kids will probably go to friends.

amother

↑ Bronze

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 3:11 pm

amother [ Beige ] wrote:

Personally I think this is crazy. Are you going to bunker down? No school for kids and no work for adults? No shopping? No appointments anywhere? Just going to hide until this blows over?

People who are high risk for complications should take extra precautions and avoid crowds. The rest of us should just go about our lives and wash our hands well and stop the hysteria.

Those who think this hysteria is crazy is only because it hasn't reached their part of the world yet. Believe me, if you lived in the area of Italy where over 100 people have died (almost 30 in the past day) you will definitely bunker down. Yes schools are all closing there. Yes, minimum shopping or appointments. Working remotely. The alternative is letting everyone catch it. Note the death rate is currently over 3%. Yes, it's affecting the elderly and those with complications more, but no one is immune and anyway we need to care about those people to.

penguin

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 3:17 pm

Quote:

ideally the Megillah should be heard with a minyan, or at least a group of of women. Part of the point of reading Megillah is pirsumei nissah, and ברוב עם הדרת מלך.

Of course ideally but if you are afraid of being in crowds due to the risk, you may opt for something less than ideal. Especially for ladies who are not b'etzem mechuyavos, IIANM.

I just told DH I was in shul for B'shalach so was I maybe yotzei Parshas Zochor and he whispered "You don't have to go to Parshas Zochor" or you can go when it's lained in its regular week.

Then there was the lady we met on her way to Zochor although she was supposed to be on bedrest (twins, I think). WRONG!

sky

Wed, Mar 04 2020, 6:18 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

This is something I've been wondering about for a while.

If I'm still not feeling well by Purim, I'm not sure what to do because I'm still obligated to hear the megillah. I don't have anyone to come and read it to me, and reading it to myself doesn't fulfill the mitzva.

If my landlord is leining at home for his family, I can probably stand just outside his dining room window and follow along. I really hope he does this, because it would be the perfect solution.

I just saw a rav in Baltimore sent a letter to his congregants that if they are under quarantine or don’t feel well they should hear megilla over the phone and read parishas Zachary at home from a Chumash.

amother

↑ Hotpink

Thu, Mar 05 2020, 6:00 am

Thank you Bronze, this is exactly what I have been thinking and reading in many news sites.

We here in the US and elsewhere are only seeing beginning stages.

May Hashem End this Magefa now.