A Jewish leader has blasted members of an exclusive ultra-Orthodox sect for continuing to hold gatherings despite tough lockdown restrictions. It comes as the Premier warns religious groups caught exploiting loopholes would face harsh penalties.
A Jewish community leader has blasted an ultra-Orthodox sect for continuing to “exploit loopholes” to hold religious gatherings during stage 4 lockdown.
The Leader last month revealed the Satmar Hasidic group were holding clandestine prayer groups and ceremonies in Ripponlea against the lockdown laws.
But authorities have been forced to turn a blind-eye to the allegedly illegal meetings, with the group claiming it is a support group and therefore exempt from gathering restrictions.
Support groups, including drug and alcohol counselling services, are allowed to hold socially distanced meetings of up to 20 people.
But Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann told the Leader the group had was “an embarrassment” to the wider Jewish community.
“It’s appalling, what they’ve done,” he said.
“They’ve thrust the Jewish community into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons by exploiting this loophole.
“You’ve got 99 per cent of us doing the right thing, not meeting and yes, it’s difficult, but the sanctity of life is the most important thing and stemming the tide of this pandemic must come first.”
Read the article by Jordy Atkinson in the Herald Sun.