Pesach 2020: COVID-19 lockdown regulations

COVID-19 lockdown regulations in the Government Gazette 11B (1) (a) for the period of the lockdown (i) “every person is confined to his or her place of residence….”

We are obliged to:

  1. Stay in our homes
  2. Not visit others’ homes
  3. Not host other people in our homes

This applies for the 21 days from midnight 26 March until the 16th of April. This includes Shabbat, Pesach and Pesach Sedorim.

It is extremely painful to be apart especially for Sedorim. It is heart-breaking for elderly parents and the vulnerable to have to be alone on Seder night. But this is the sacrifice we have to pay to keep ourselves and those around us safe, to prevent COVID-19 spreading and causing loss of life in our country.

The Chief Rabbi’s team is working to create educational resources and tools to assist you in making your seder meaningful, with focus on individuals and individual families that will this year will be having sedorim without family and friends.

In order for the lockdown to work, to slow the spread of the pandemic, to flatten the curve so our healthcare services can cope and in order to save lives in our country:

  • It is essential to comply with the regulations around the lockdown
  • Stay home

Message from Wendy Kahn, National Director, SA Jewish Board of Deputies

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