Locking down Israel, again |
During the country’s initial outbreak in the spring, Israel managed to limit the spread of the virus with containment measures. But after a quick end to the lockdown, the virus has come roaring back: The country has one of the worst infection rates in the world. |
Now Israel is about to become one of the few places in the world to enter a second lockdown, set for Friday, the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. |
To prevent large family gatherings that could become petri dishes for the virus, people will be required to stay within about 600 yards of their homes. But there are lots of exceptions: work, exercise, to protest, to buy essentials or to fulfill a variety of religious obligations. |
Many Israelis are questioning the logic behind the complex rules. |
The exemptions are particularly upsetting for secular Israelis. Swimming pools are closed, but Jewish women will be allowed to travel farther than 600 yards for a dip in a ritual bath. Cultural venues, museums, gyms and hotels will be shut, but synagogues will remain open. |
The result, our colleague Isabel Kershner told us, is an atmosphere that is more despairing than joyous for the holiday. |
“People are quite sad,” Isabel said. “You already had Passover under the first lockdown, in April, and I think people then just couldn’t imagine that we would still be not only in the same place — but worse, by September. There is a very depressed and sad feeling about this.” |
