A Crown Heights Hatzalah member has been hospitalized with what appears to be Coronavirus. He is in stable condition, but needs Tefillos. His name for Tehillim is Dovber Halevi ben Liba Reizel. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. [Eli Beer, President Of United Hatzalah Hospitalized In Miami ICU With Coronavirus] [YWN CORONAVIRUS LIVE BLOG] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump invoked emergency authority to marshal industry to fight the coronavirus, as the economic fallout from the pandemic mounted Wednesday with major U.S. auto manufacturers saying they are shutting down their North American factories. The announcements came hours before China said the former virus epicenter of Wuhan and its surrounding province had reported no new cases, a dramatic development in the city overwhelmed by thousands of new patients each day when the outbreak was peaking there last month. On a day of head-spinning developments: — Stocks tumbled again on Wall Street on fears of a prolonged recession, falling so fast they triggered another automatic trading halt.

New York City now 1,871 cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, with 11 deaths, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an interview with NY1 on Wednesday. He also clarified his stance on sheltering in place after telling New Yorkers Tuesday that they should be prepared to do so in order to stem the spread of the virus. “When I say shelter in place, there’s an understanding of that that means I’m referring to the model that is already happening in this country on the West Coast in the San Francisco area,” he said. “It’s quite a clear model, where people are directed to stay home, but there is also clear exceptions that have been made for essential services.” Earlier, Gov.

The French Revolution Continues! By Rabbi Nachman Seltzer As someone who has covered many siyumim in various locations around the globe, I have been granted a unique bird’s eye view into the unparalleled growth which has taken place from the previous Siyum Hashas cycle seven and half years ago to this one. But while there has been Torah growth everywhere – a revolution has just taken place in France! Many of us have learned about the French Revolution in history class. But most people do not know about the revolution which is taking place right now, as we speak. And much of the change began at the Dirshu Siyum Hashas that took place in Paris a few months ago. Do the math yourself…. Of course there were Daf Yomi shiurim in France before the siyum. Just not many of them.

(By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com) Most people are aware of the prohibition of Mesirah. They are also aware that when there is a  “danger to life” issue involved – i.e. Pikuach Nefesh, it is permitted and perhaps even obligatory. The question is what exactly are the parameters of the interplay between these two concepts? Covid-19 could be a case in point. In a scenario where the law specifically forbade a school to convene, and the school authorities are actively undermining the authorities and thus risking the lives of both their students’ families and the general public – is a person who is aware of this permitted to inform the authorities? Is that person, indeed, obligated in doing so?  Also, in the current crisis, has that scenario been reached?

Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America released a statement today, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the need for everyone to listen to the direction of the medical professionals involved in containing this disease. In addition, they requested that every able-bodied person fast for half the day tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, and to increase in prayer and Tehillim.

Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw and Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek jointly issued the following statement today: “Sullivan County currently has multiple cases of COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) and is responding as aggressively and proactively as its limited resources allow. While you may be seeking refuge from the larger amount of cases downstate, you must be aware that this is a global pandemic. You and your family have a critical role to fulfill in halting the rapid spread of this potentially deadly virus, which can be dangerous and even fatal to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. Coronavirus has killed thousands of people worldwide in just the past month, and cases continue to grow.

Following a report last week that Harav Chaim Kanievsky told a principal of a Talmud Torah not to close his school since “the danger of bittul Torah in the Talmudei Torah is greater than the coronavirus,” the principal’s school in Petach Tikvah remained open. However, the principal was facing great pressure from the mayor of Petach Tikvah and he again approached Harav Chaim who told him to close the school due to the mayor’s demands, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. Harav Chaim Kanievsky also said that men should refrain from being toivel in a mikvah due to the spread of the coronavirus, Kikar H’Shabbos reported. Harav Chaim explained to those who asked: “One must be more machmir with sakana than issur (“חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא”).

The Gerrer chassidus, the largest chassidus in Israel, closed its main Beis Medrash in Jerusalem on Wednesday as well as its yeshivos throughout Israel. The Gerrer Rebbe has insisted on adhering to the Health Ministry’s directives of no gatherings over ten people but when he saw that it was difficult to enforce he simply closed all Gerrer institutions. A message was sent from the Gerrer secretary that the Beis Medrash is closed and that there will be no kabbalas kahal by the Rebbe until further notice. In the United States, following the spread of the coronavirus in Crown Heights, the Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway has been closed. The gabbai, Rav Yosef Yitzchak Kratz said that the decision was made by the rabbanim of Crown Heights and members of the Beis Din.

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