Taking to social media, some Orthodox Jews sharply criticized the governor’s announcement, while others expected that it would lead to more antisemitism.

“Responsible leaders have been working around the clock to increase compliance, masks and distancing to make community safety a highest priority,” said Chaskel Bennett, a community leader in a post on Twitter. “Despite multiple calls to fight, we had resolved to try to work with [Mayor Bill de Blasio] and [Cuomo]. Blindsiding us won’t get better results.”

“I’m extremely disappointed by the governor’s new rules and creation of zones for the COVID hot spots,” Rivkie Feiner, a small-business owner and member of the Orthodox Jewish community in Rockland County, NY, told JNS. “They are very confusing, and we have more questions than answers right now. We feel targeted, and his way of handling the situation right now is causing antisemitism to skyrocket to levels I haven’t seen in my lifetime.”

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, associate rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere and chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology at Mount Sinai South Nassau, both on Long Island, has been on the forefront on the coronavirus pandemic and told JNS: “It is very important for us to fight COVID with science and good public health measures. Masking and social-distancing efforts, with the appropriate quarantine and isolation of contagious individuals, are the best way to prevent the spread of illness.

“Closing selected and essential religious facilities in a community will, in fact, potentially harm the community and public-health efforts to contain the disease,” he said. “Proper safe worshipping can be accomplished without draconian measures.”