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THREAD: Bnei Brak& #39;s 210k ultra-Orthodox live 8-12 to a 700-sq-ft avg apartment. Their lives revolve around crowded, ritual group activity: prayer 3x a day, study in yeshivas. They shun the mass media and don& #39;t trust government. The coronavirus was tailor-made to clobber them. 1/
But a strange thing happened, just as the virus was getting out of control: The mayor, quarantined himself, reached out for help to soldiers, of all people. And the soldiers were thrilled to be of service. 2/
A few senior reserve officers, led by Maj. Gen. Ronny Numa, took charge. One quickly set up an ops center with state-of-the-art tech giving a 3-D view of every building in town — anyone who& #39;d tested positive, each elderly resident, each synagogue and yeshiva, and much more. 3/
By keeping everyone at home, and delivering meals to those who were sick, the commanders and soldiers quickly cut the spread of disease more than in half. 4/
Passover posed a special challenge, but the rabbis met the army halfway. This video, produced by city/military officials, shows a collective burning of chometz, a ritual incineration that precedes the holiday. Normally it& #39;s done en masse, but rabbis agreed it was too risky. 5/
Officials wanted the sick to move to a quarantine hotel, but found that asking nicely wasn& #39;t enough. They needed persuading. What did the trick? Photos showing that at the hotel, they could pray, eat and study in groups — and even dance: 6/ https://twitter.com/i/status/1249652727417888768">https://twitter.com/i/status/...
The mayor now says he& #39;s proudest of his residents& #39; "compliance and obedience" — a jab back at non-Orthodox Israelis who accused Bnei Brak residents of flouting the rules. Truth is, many had never heard what the rules were. 7/
The streets are mostly empty now. But prayers can still be heard like clockwork — only from balconies and rooftops. “The acoustics are wonderful, and you can hear it through the city,” city& #39;s chief rabbi says. "We’re all hoping that God will hear our prayers and bring health.” 8/
Credit to the gifted Dan @DBmusicbox Balilty for the photos. Stay healthy, readers.
9/9.
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9/9.
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