Yom Kippur 5781 Covid—19 Directives
1. Kaparos:
- Those who cannot do Kaparos over a chicken are to do so over a fish, or money.
- It is to be done on Erev Yom Kippur.
- One may not break the rules of quarantine or lockdown for the sake of doing Kaparos over chicken or fish, and in such a case is to initially do so over money.
See here for further details
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/kaparos/
2. Fasting for those with Covid:
- No symptoms: One who tested positive and has no symptoms must fast as usual. If they begin to feel unwell in middle of the fast, then they should follow the below guidelines
- Symptoms or high risk: One who has tested positive for Covid, or suspects that he may test positive, and has Covid symptoms [coughing, fever, weakness], or is in a high risk group, must speak with their doctor for instruction. In general, if one has tested positive and has fever above 38 Celsius or extreme weakness and cough or difficulty in breathing, then the recommendation is for him to drink according to Shiurim. Bottom line, each case is different, and each individual is to discuss with his personal doctor and have him make a decision based on the severity of his symptoms, his age, weight, and general health condition.
- Certainly, those who have not tested positive and are in mere quarantine due to possible exposure must fast as usual if they have no symptoms, otherwise a doctor is to be contacted.
| Fast As Normal | Speak to Doctor | Do Shiurim | Do not Fast | |
| High risk but no covid | ü | |||
| In quarantine but no results or symptoms | ü | |||
| Tested Positive but no symptoms-not high risk | ü | |||
| Tested Positive and high risk [above age 60/medical conditions/obesity] | ü | In many cases | ||
| Tested Positive with light symptoms | In certain cases | ü | In certain cases | |
| Tested Positive with severe symptoms | ü |
See here for letters of doctors and Rabbanim on fasting with Covid
https://1drv.ms/u/s!As_LDRax2-j3h95YxUSNswDpP4G1rQ?e=cVzLmu
Practical list of Shiurim for food and drink for the sick:
- Food:[1] A sick person, or person with a medical condition, who has been instructed to eat less than the Shiur, is to eat less than the size of a Kusebes, which is less than 30 cc and 30 grams, within the amount of time it takes to eat a Peras of bread, which is nine minutes: The food is measured based on volume and[2][3] Hence, the Shiur is [less than[4]] the amount of food to fill 30 cc in a measuring cup [or typical match box], and this amount itself is not to weigh more than 30 grams.[5] One is not to eat more than this amount of food within nine minutes.
- Drink: A sick person, or person with a medical condition, who has been instructed to drink less than the Shiur, is to drink within nine minutes less than the amount of water that can fill one cheek. Hence, before Yom Kippur, he is to fill a cheek with water, pour it into a cup, and mark the water level on the cup. When there is Halachic need to drink based on the Shiurim, one is to drink less than this marked amount of liquid within every 9 minutes. One is not to drink the exact amount marked, as this is the Shiur Kareis for liquid.
- Eating and drinking within the nine minutes: All foods join each other to make up the minimum measurement of 30cc, and all liquids join each other to make up the minimum measurement of Malei Lugmav for Kareis liability. Meaning, that one should make sure not to eat the more than the Shiur of liquid or food within nine minutes, and hence the shiur restarts every nine minutes after completing eating or drinking less than the Shiur.[6] Nevertheless, foods and liquids do not join each other. [See above Halacha 4D] Accordingly, a person may both eat and drink less than the Shiur of eating and drinking within the 9 minutes as they do not join each other, and there is no need to take turns between eating and drinking every 9 minutes. If nine minutes is too long of an interval, one may go down to 8, 7.5, 6, 5, 4.5,4 minutes, as is medically necessary.[7]
Preparing the Shiurim before Yom Kippur:[8]
An ill person is to prepare the Shiurim before Yom Kippur. He is to fill one cheek with water and place it into a cup and then mark the water level. Alternatively, he is to fill both cheeks with water and measure half of that amount.[9]
How to measure the food:
One is to crumble the food and enter it into an area which holds 30cc, which is the common size of a match box.
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Blessings, Kiddush and Birchas Hamazon for one who eats on Yom Kippur: Kiddush/Lechem Mishneh: A sick person who is required to eat on Yom Kippur due to medical reasons, or a child below Bar/Bas Mitzvah, or a Yoledes [i.e. women after birth], does not recite Kiddush [over wine or bread] prior to eating, and is not required to perform Hamotzi over two loaves of bread [i.e. Lechem Mishneh]. This applies even if Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos. Blessings: One who is allowed to eat on Yom Kippur is required to say a blessing before and after eating the foods. Yaleh Veyavo in Birchas Hamazon: One who eats a Kezayis of bread [within four minutes] on Yom Kippur, is to recite Birchas Hamazon and is to recite Yaleh Veyavo prior to Uvinei Yerushalayim and say “Beyom Hakippurim Hazeh.” If Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos, then one is to also recite Ritzei. If one forgot to recite Yaaleh Veyavo [or Ritzei] in Birchas Hamazon on Yom Kippur [or Yom Kippur that falls on Shabbos] and remembered only after concluding the blessing of Boneh Yerushalayim, is to continue with Hatov Vihameitiv, and is not required to say an extra blessing or repeat Birchas Hamazon. Q&A If one eats bread on Yom Kippur, is he to wash hands?[10] Yes, the hands are to be washed up until the wrists as is normally done during the year.
Is one to mention Yom Kippur in Al Hamichyah? Some Poskim[11] rule it is to be recited. Other Poskim[12] rule that based on the Siddur of Admur, it is not to be recited.
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3. Mikveh:
- Men who are unable to immerse in a Mikveh either due to their closure in one’s locality or due being placed in quarantine, can perform the following alternatives in place of Mikveh:
- Immerse in an in-ground swimming pool that contains at least 332 liters of water
- Shower for several minutes
- Wash one’s hands forty times
- Learn Mishnayos Mikvaos.
- Those who are accustomed to immersing three times on Erev Yom Kippur [before Shacharis, before Mincha, and before sunset] may do one of the above alternatives three times.
See here for further details
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/the-alternatives-for-men-if-a-mikveh-is-not-available-part-1/
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/tevilah-in-mikveh-on-erev-yom-kippur/
4. Malkus if in quarantine:
- You can have your wife [who is pure], or even child give you the customary Malkus consisting of a light tap with the belt. Preferably, a wife [who is pure] should do so rather than a child.
- If one is alone, he can have it done after Yom Kippur upon leaving quarantine.[13]
See here for further details
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/malkus-lashes-on-erev-yom-kippur/
5. Washing hands on Yom Kippur for sanitation:[14]
- One may wash his hands with liquid soap and water for sanitation purposes to get rid of any remnants of the virus from his hands.
- Ideally, one should use only unscented soap to wash his hands, although if unscented soap is not available, then scented soap may be used so long as one does not intend at all to place the scent on his hands but simply to clean them. See Here for the full details of this matter.
Order of prayer for those Davening alone
See here for further details
https://shulchanaruchharav.com/article-categories/yom-kippur-day/
6. Should I Daven alone if there are Minyanim available?
- If you are sick or need to be in quarantine, do not participate! The following applies to those who are permitted to leave their homes: All medical and Rabbinical directives for one’s locality are to be guarded regarding going to Shul or arranging a private Minyan. This means that if the local Rabbinate or medical authorities request that shuls be closed and there be no congregation for Minyanim, then one may not make a Minyan and is to Daven in private at home. In Israel, following the guidelines of the ministry of health, as well as those of the Chief Israeli and local Rabbinate, Minyanim may be conducted in a Shul with all participants wearing masks, staying a distance of two meters from each other, following directed hygiene, and without any sick individuals or individuals who require quarantine being present. If you are unsure whether the Minyan will follow these guidelines-DO NOT PARTICIPATE!
- Outdoor Minyanim: If in your locality the only available Minyanim are outdoor, then assess if you will be able to withstand the heat, otherwise simply Daven at home. Do not forget that the main mitzvah of Yom Kippur is to fast! Do not jeopardize your fast by being in an unbearable hot environment which will force you to break your fast due to dehydration. In such a case, simply Daven at home. Likewise, it is suggested for all outdoor Minyanim to shorten the prayer as much as possible, such as to begin the Minyan from Hamelech, and skip Chazanuss.
7. Mincha Erev Yom Kippur:
- No change from Minyan, Daven the usual Erev Yom Kippur Mincha with Al Cheit.
8. Kol Nidreiy:
- May be read as usual.
9. Maariv:
- Davening time: Try to Daven the same time as your usual local Minyan if it is still taking place.
- The Selichos after Maariv are to be said even when Davening in private, although omitting the Yud Gimel Midos Harachamim, and the Aramaic parts at the end of the Selichos section.[15]
- All Piyutim that are normally recited in Shul may likewise be recited when Davening in private [although are not required].
- If one has strength, he is to recite them, especially the parts incorporating Selichos.
- The Viduiy of after Maariv is to be recited.
10. Shacharis:
- Davening time: Try to Daven the same time as your usual local Minyan if it is still taking place, [unless it takes place past Zeman Tefila in which case you should Daven beforehand].
- The Selichos within Chazaras Hashatz are to be said even when Davening in private.[16]
- All Piyutim that are normally recited by the congregation in Shul may likewise be recited when Davening in private [although are not required]. If one has strength, he is to recite them, especially the parts incorporating Selichos.
- The Viduiy of Chazaras Hashatz can also be recited, and according to some Poskim[17] should be recited.
- All other parts of Chazaras Hashatz that are said only by the Chazan are to be skipped. However, if one is doing a “family Minyan” and would like to give his family a Shul experience, there is nothing wrong with singing it like the Chazan without saying Hashems name.
- Kerias Hatorah should be read from the Machzor.[18]
- Avinu Malkeinu is recited.
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Tips for an enhanced private at home High Holiday Davening: 1. Try to join your entire family in the Davening [although women and girls above age 11 are not to sing the words when a man is Davening]. 2. Set aside a specific room for the prayers. Make it clean, and organized. 3. Set up a Davening schedule for the family with the times for each prayer. 4. Daven aloud, and with whatever tunes and Niggunim you know of.
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11. Musaf:
- Davening time: Try to Daven prior to a half hour past midday.[19]
- The Selichos within Chazaras Hashatz are to be said even when Davening in private.[20]
- The Seder Avoda of the Kohen Gadol is to be recited.[21]
- One may bow on the floor as usual by Kohanim, making sure to place an intervening substance between his forehead and the floor, if it is a stone surface.
- All Piyutim that are normally recited in Shul may likewise be recited when Davening in private, although is not required. If one has strength, he is to recite them, especially the parts incorporating Selichos and the Seder Avoda of the Kohen Gadol.
- The Viduiy of Chazaras Hashatz can also be recited, and according to some Poskim[22] should be recited.
- All other parts of Chazaras Hashatz that are said only by the Chazan are to be skipped. However, if one is doing a “family Minyan” and would like to give his family a Shul experience, there is nothing wrong with singing it like the Chazan without saying Hashems name.
12. Yizkor:[23]
- Yizkor is to be recited even if a Minyan is not present. The other members of the family should go to a different room while it is said.
13. Mincha:
- Davening time: Try to Daven the same time as your usual local Minyan if it is still taking place.
- Kerias Hatorah and Maftir Yonah should be read from the Machzor.[24]
- The Selichos within Chazaras Hashatz are to be said even when Davening in private.[25]
- All Piyutim that are normally recited in Shul may likewise be recited when Davening in private, although is not required. If one has strength, he is to recite them, especially the parts incorporating Selichos.
- The Viduiy of Chazaras Hashatz can also be recited, and according to some Poskim[26] should be recited.
- Avinu Malkeinu is recited.
- All other parts of Chazaras Hashatz that are said only by the Chazan are to be skipped. However, if one is doing a “family Minyan” and would like to give his family a Shul experience, there is nothing wrong with singing it like the Chazan without saying Hashems name.
14. Neilah:
- Begin close to sunset [30 minutes or so beforehand] so can complete by Tzeis Hakochavim.
- The Selichos within Chazaras Hashatz are to be said even when Davening in private although omitting the Yud Gimel Midos Harachamim.[27]
- All Piyutim that are normally recited in Shul may likewise be recited when Davening in private, although is not required. If one has strength, he is to recite them, especially the parts incorporating Selichos.
- All other parts of Chazaras Hashatz that are said only by the Chazan are to be skipped. However, if one is doing a “family Minyan” and would like to give his family a Shul experience, there is nothing wrong with singing it like the Chazan without saying Hashems name.
- Avinu Malkeinu is recited.
- Shema, Baruch Sheim, Hashem Hu Haelkim may be recited as normal.
- One may blow the Shofar after sunset.
15. Kiddush Levana:
- Inside the house: One who may not leave his home due to the virus, and does not have a roofless porch to exit, may say Kiddush Levana even in his house, if he can see the moon through a window or open door.[28]
- Reciting Shalom Aleichem:[29] If there are not three people available, one is to say Shalom Aleichem to himself.
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Q&A When saying Kiddush Levana indoors must one open the window? In all cases, one must be able to see the moon when he says the blessing. Thus, a window which is not made of clear glass, or is fogged up due to rain, must be opened to allow one to see the moon. If the window is clear and the moon is visible through it, it is disputed amongst Poskim if the window must nevertheless be opened. Some Poskim[30] rule there is no need to open the window if one can see the moon through it. Others[31] rule one must open the window. Practically, one should try to open the window when saying Kiddush Levana indoors in a time of need.[32]
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[1] Piskeiy Teshuvos 618; Shiurei Torah 3:10
[2] So is implied from Shiureiy Torah ibid towards end that by a food which weighs more than water it is to be less than 30 grams and less than 30 cc.
[3] Shiurei Torah 3:10, unlike Kaf Hachaim [and so rules Yalkut Yosef] which measures all based on weight.
[4] As 2:3 of an egg, which is the Shiur of the Kuseves [618:13] is 30 cc. [Shiureiy Torah ibid] Vetzaruch Iyun as Admur there writes 2:3 of an egg or a little more is the Shiur of a Kuseves, hence there is no exact Shiur. In any event seemingly to be on the safe side one is to eat less than that amount, and so is implied in Shiureiy Torah ibid. However, from Piskeiy Teshuvos 618:8 it is implied that one may eat that amount Vetzaruch Iyun.
[5] So is implied from Shiureiy Torah ibid towards end that by a food which weighs more than water it is to be less than 30 grams and less than 30 cc.
[6] Chasam Sofer 6:16; M”B 618:21; Shiurei Torah 3:15 [p. 203]; Aruch Hashulchan 202:8; Kaf Hachaim 210:5; Piskeiy Teshuvos 210:1; Sefer Haminhagim ibid and footnotes 342-344;
Opinion of 6-7 minutes: The Tzemach Tzedek [Shaar Hamiluim 1:8-10] records 6-7 minutes regarding the Shiur of Achilas Peras. [Ketzos Hashulchan 36 footnote 5; 59 footnote 4; Shiureiy Torah ibid footnote 35; Sefer Haminhaghim [English] p. 93 regarding Tisha B’av]
[7] Shiureiy Torah ibid
[8] M”B 618:21; Rav Cohen
[9] Shiureiy Torah 3:17 footnote 32; Nitei Gavriel 41:5
[10] Levushei Mordechai Tinyana Y.D. 11; Yad Sofer 7; Shevet Halevi 8:139; SSH”K 39:31; Lehoros Nasan 2:42; Shraga Hameir 5:45; Piskeiy Teshuvos 613:2; 618:15
[11] Siddur Yaavetz
[12] Shaar Hakolel 34:9
[13] See Torah Lishma 150
[14] SeeAdmur 613:1 and 17 and 614:1
[15] See Tur 620 that they are Chovas Hayom
[16] See Tur 620 that they are Chovas Hayom
[17] See Admur 607:8; M”B 620:2
[18] P”M 143 A”A 2; Rav Poalim 1:52; Ketzos Hashulchan 25:14; Mishmeres Shalom Koidenov 13:2; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 135 footnote 14; 143:5
[19] Admur 620:1; 286:5
[20] See Tur 620 that they are Chovas Hayom
[21] Admur 621:17
[22] See Admur 607:8; M”B 620:2
[23] Gesher Hachaim 31:6
[24] See P”M 143 A”A 2; Rav Poalim 1:52; Ketzos Hashulchan 25:14; Mishmeres Shalom Koidenov 13:2; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 135 footnote 14; 143:5
[25] See Tur 620 that they are Chovas Hayom
[26] See Admur 607:8; M”B 620:2
[27] See Tur 620 that they are Chovas Hayom
[28] Bach 426; M”A 426:14; Taz 426:4 ;Shaar Hakolel 33:1; Leket Yosher p. 70
[29] Shaar Hakolel 33:7; See however Levush in previous footnote that this is negated.
[30] Shvus Yaakov 1:126; Birkeiy Yosef 224:1 brought in Kaf Hachaim 426:19; Shaareiy Teshuvah 426:1; M”B in Shaar Hatziyon 426:4 and 25
[31] Dvar Shmuel 242 brought in Beir Heiytiv 426:1; P”M 426 A”A 14
[32] Shaareiy Teshuvah ibid. He concludes that so is implied from the story with the Rashal that he opened the window.
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