‘We must do the right thing’
JCCV: 'The virus does not discriminate. We will only manage COVID-19 if we all comply. We all have a responsibility'.
Victoria Police are investigating an engagement party last week attended by almost 70 members of the Jewish community in breach of lockdown rules.
Three guests at the simcha have now tested positive for COVID, with authorities confirming transmission had occurred at the event.
In a video from the party, widely distributed within the community, the groom-to-be jokes, “Clearly this is legal because this is a group therapy session.”
Condemning the incident, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was “angry” at the “selfish choices” of the 69 people in attendance.
“I know many, many people are angry about that event. It should not have happened. Some of the commentary in the video is just blatant,” Andrews said.
Chief Police Commissioner Shane Patton said he expected every guest, excluding children, to be handed a $5,500 fine.
“There has to be consequences, so many people are doing the right thing and deferring their events,” he said.
“That is why we are enforcing on this one. I did the maths, if you take off a few for each child, it will be over $350,000 of fines.
“That’s an expensive engagement party.”
Meanwhile, a mother and son in St Kilda East have been identified as COVID positive cases.
Over the weekend, a number of locations in Melbourne’s Jewish heartland were named as exposure sites, including Haymisha Bakery and Daneli’s Deli.
It comes as The AJN reported on Saturday night that a number of illegal minyans have been held in private houses in Melbourne, attended by known rabbis in the community.
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) has informed The AJN it knows of no mainstream rabbis or congregations who have been involved in illegal minyans, and expressly condemns all such gatherings.
The RCV says it has “issued a statement together with the Melbourne Beth Din urging the community ‘to comply with all government restrictions without exception and to follow the relevant health instructions’.
“For the removal of any possible doubt, this includes all illegal gatherings including for prayer. We implore anybody considering flouting the law to refrain from doing so. We unreservedly condemn such actions, which bring risk and shame to the entire community.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) president Daniel Aghion told The AJN, “We are disappointed to learn that a small group have not been following mandatory lockdown restrictions. We call on those people to do the right thing. The virus does not discriminate. We will only manage COVID-19 if we all comply. We all have a responsibility.”
Full coverage in this week’s AJN.
For details of exposure sites, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites.
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