Reply To: Cuomo

You are so quick to assume that this is not already happening. Every shul has a box of masks available and a limited capacity. Over YT many of the shuls have used tents to extend the square footage to allow for more social distancing.

The mass events over the past two days reflects the frustration of people who are fed up of trying their best and being targeted nonsensically. Yes, it was stupid to protest without masks, but should we sit here and allow ourselves to be bludgeoned by the governor as if our entire community of hundreds of thousands are flouting the guidelines?

Today a non-Jew called me a “Super spreader” because “Jews have Covid”. I’ve been home for months and wear masks everywhere. There’s no evidence to suggest that our population has a higher infection rate. Healthy people in our communities are not testing right now, especially since most are not working for the holidays. If only people who feel ill test, a large percentage of them may be sick. It doesn’t mean that the percentage of Jews with the virus is greater.

So, no, the answer isn’t “Just listen to the guidelines”, because even when the guidelines ARE followed they close our schools and announce to the world that they needed to close a yeshiva, or point out the few Jews they found without masks. And using images of mass gatherings of Chassidic Jews from 2007 in press releases, trying to depict to the public that we’re doing that?! How is that acceptable?

Yes, Jews should please be hyper-vigilant about following the guidelines AND Cuomo should stop acting like a blatant anti Semite, inciting hatred against our people.