Don’t Kiss the Mezuzah and other rules in the Holy Land


  • How are things unique to the Holy Land during the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are a few tidbits...
  • Public gatherings are forbidden, but there are exceptions for some Jewish religious functions, including circumcision (max 10 persons) and funerals (max 20 persons).
  • One can leave the house for only a few reasons, namely for essential groceries, medicines and medical treatment, but also donating blood, protesting (in groups of 10 or less) and visiting a mikvah (ritual bath). 
  • Until recently, people were permitted to exercise outdoors (empty roads + warm weather = great jogging) but with the restrictions, there are a LOT of people walking around with empty grocery bags.
  • The Israeli government has also legalized the usage of cellphone-tracking technology, ostensibly to track the movement of anyone under official quarantine. Shalom, big brother.
  • The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi has forbidden people from customarily touching or kissing the mezuzah, a slim casing containing Hebrew texts that is affixed to the door frame.
  • The most religiously-observant have not been happy about this at all. But things are changing quickly.
  • Israel has banned tourists, but not olim making aliyah (Jews permanently immigrating), with almost 1,000 scheduled to arrive between March 1 and the Passover (April 8).
  • Palestinians are under a full 24-hour curfew. The only essential business that remain open are grocery stores, pharmacies and bakeries. Because bread is life.
  • Passover is about to start, so Israeli society, already under lockdown will shut down completely. Not long after is the start of Ramadan, with a month of fasting for observant Muslims (and closed shops). Welcome to the land of the never-ending lockdown!
Location: Jerusalem

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