It pains me to see what's happening in Brooklyn (particularly in the neighborhood of Borough Park) regarding the Orthodox Jewish community with the response of some its members with regard to newly implemented COVID-19 restrictions by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In response to measures which have once shuttered synagogues and religious schools, Orthodox Jewish protesters took to the streets and burned masks and assaulted a fellow Jew seriously enough that he required hospitalization.
Now I understand the Orthodox Jewish community feeling unfairly singled out. After all, it was only this past April when Mayor de Blasio saw fit to call out New York's Jewish community as a whole regarding COVID-19 using the incendiary language of "the time for warnings has passed." Quite shameful considering how the Orthodox Jewish community has donated blood plasma in large numbers in order to fight COVID-19.
As for Governor Cuomo it would appear gave them assurances they could operate at 50% capacity only to adopt far more severe restrictions than had been communicated especially as this week marks Sukkot festivities - a sort of Jewish Thanksgiving if you will. Agudath Israel is reportedly considering challenging Cuomo's edict in court.
By all means, Orthodox Jewish congregations should feel free to seek legal action especially if they can demonstrate that Cuomo told them they could do one thing and then did something else instead or has otherwise overstepped his bounds. They should also feel free to peacefully protest as Black Lives Matter would. However, refusing to wear masks, setting masks afire and committing wanton assault with bodily injury are not peaceful protest. Those are wrong acts whether they be committed by Jews or non-Jews.
What I fear as a result of this is a resurgence of attacks against Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn as well as the fatal attacks in Monsey, New York and Jersey City, New Jersey late last year culminating in a March and Rally Against Anti-Semitism in early January. Those who hate Jews need little excuse in carrying out acts of hate leading to injury and death.
It also pains me to see a critical mass within the Orthodox Jewish community not take COVID-19 seriously. Sukkot commemorates the 40 years Jews wandered the deserts of Egypt and the protection God gave them in their journey. How can one observe a holiday about survival if the observation is done in such a way as to sicken or kill your loved ones?
Now it's true that a critical mass of the United States at large does not take COVID-19 seriously as demonstrated by any rally for President Trump. I guess I just expect more of my fellow Jews - Orthodox or otherwise.
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