UK Chief Rabbi Supports Corona-Forced Party Halts
UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has offered warm support to those of his community who have refrained from holding family celebrations due to the continuing Coronavirus lockdown regulations. In a video message "for those who should have had simchas (celebrations) at this time!", Rabbi Mirvis based his remarks on the current week's Torah reading and many viewers may interpret his words as criticism of those ultra Orthodox groups and individuals who have defied official regulations during Coronavirus lockdown. Below is the full transcript. "When can the performance of a great mitzvah bring our people into disrepute? The Torah, in Parshat Emor, gives us the mitzvah: ‘ vlo techalelu et sheim kodshei – you must not desecrate my holy name’. Here Hashem is telling us that none of our deeds should, God forbid, give a bad name to Hashem, to our Torah or to our people. Then the Torah continues with a second mitzvah , ‘ Vnictashti b’toch bnei Yisrael – and