The question is posed: Where does religious liberty stop and public health begin? That issue has brought the NY state Hasidic Jewish Community into conflict with the strict coronavirus regulations of New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The Hasidic Jewish Community has not had an easy go of it as of late. Liz Kardon, a sharp analyst of the Jewish political and social scene, told this publication that the Jewish community feels singled out, as other groups are allowed to march and stage events without issue. In NYC itself, she commented, home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, Jews feel targeted for violence and harassment. This does not make them feel warm and fuzzy towards elected officials, including the governor.

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FNC: “New York state authorities have indicated that they will intervene if members of a Hasidic Jewish community hold weddings and corresponding receptions and refuse to abide by coronavirus-related protocols. The department confirmed to Fox News on Monday that it had issued cancellation orders to the Congregation Yetev Lev D’Satmar of Kiryas Joel in Orange County, New York, for the events scheduled in the evening. ‘In the event that the ceremonies are not canceled, the order requires that social distancing and face covering protocols be enforced,’ Jill Montag, a New York Department of Health spokesperson, told Fox News. ‘With respect to the two receptions, it requires that they be limited to 50 people or canceled.’ ”

The Daily Beast reports that the Hasidic community was proceeding with the Monday wedding, “A steady flow of bearded, black-hatted people going in and out of the enormous synagogue were all unmasked … Around the back, several workers were bringing pallets of bottled water into the space, along with stacks of banquet chairs and assorted staging materials…A number of rolling metal racks for holding food trays sat nearby. By shortly after 5 p.m., the parking lot was full.” The estimated attendance is far greater than 50.

The New York Post also reported that wedding guests, generally unmasked, had filled the Yetev Lev temple in Williamsburg for the Nov. 8 wedding of Yoel Teitelbaum, a grandson of Satmar Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, in violation of state coronavirus restrictions on large indoor gatherings. The synagogue has a capacity of 7,000 people. It was crammed to the rafters.

Cuomo was not happy, “If that happened it was a blatant disregard of the law, it’s illegal, it was also disrespectful to the people of New York.” If? It sounds like the governor may be pulling his punches.

A spox for NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said his office was investigating the event, “The city is conducting an investigation into the incident and will hold those accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Avery Cohen said. They did and the Hasidic Community got a slap on the wrist and a fine of chump change. Looks like de Blasio and Cuomo may be afraid of political fallout on this issue.

 

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The Hasidic Community is fighting back regardless of the penalty, “From the start of the pandemic, Governor Cuomo has targeted the Orthodox Jewish community with both his rhetoric and tyrannical orders limiting their religious freedom,” said Justin Butterfield, Deputy General Counsel at First Liberty Institute.  “Just last week, First Liberty filed a brief at the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Jewish community against Governor Cuomo’s continuing hostility toward their freedom to worship. Unfortunately, Governor Cuomo must repeatedly be reminded that the Constitution and First Amendment still exist.”