What pikuach nefesh? I sincerely hope

VIn my book, and that of most Jewish people (irrespective of their level of observance and strand of Judaism that they subscribe to), pikuach nefesh (saving a human life), is a basic tenet of Judaism. Our belief in the sanctity of life underlines all of our behaviour as Jewish people.

The people who do not adhere to government guidelines and laws relating to lockdown and aimed at reducing the awful level of Covid-19 casualties in hospital and fatalities besmirch the good name of the British Jewish community.

They are also breaking another important Jewish tenet – to respect and abide by the laws of the nation in which we live. The Jewish people overwhelmingly do this in Britain and any other nation that we live in. Sadly, some of our brethren behave as if they live on a different planet — and perhaps should do so. Stephen Miller

Stanmore, Middlesex

that reporting of unlawful gatherings of the Charedi community will not generate more antisemitic feelings against other Jews who are following the rules imposed upon us all in these difficult times.

If they contract Covid as a consequence of their actions, they should be refused treatment at our expense. Why should the law-abiding public and the hospital services be responsible for them if they persist in seeing themselves as a race apart who are unlikely to be affected by a virus which makes no distinction between religions and beliefs?

Their ignorance and arrogance are to be abhorred. Barbara Solomons

Hendon NW4

You are doing a bigger chill hashed by publicising these stories as no one would know and no one is interested until you talk about it.

Meir Krauss

London NW11