Orthodox Jews challenge coronavirus shutdown

EDMONTON • A group is threatening a court challenge to fight for the religious rights of Orthodox Jews in Ontario who, because of gathering- size restrictions, have been unable to properly worship during the pandemic.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a conservative legal group based in Alberta, has gone to court to fight restrictions on drive- in religious services in Ontario and is now preparing legal documents concerning the province’s remaining restrictions on religious gatherings.

“The Ford government has been slow to make reasonable accommodations for faith groups, even where they present little or no public health risk, and even as the province is beginning to open up,” said lawyer Lisa Bildy in an interview.

In Ontario, hundreds of pastors and other religious leaders signed a letter to Premier Doug Ford sent on May 11 asking for changes to the rules for religious groups, pointing out that, “never in 1,500 years of Western history has the Church of Jesus Christ not met for Easter or missed months of worship and ministry — even in times of war or plague far more devastating than COVID-19.

“The inhumanity of abandoning people in their deepest hour of grief or need is gut- wrenching for followers of Christ,” the letter says.

Since that letter, there have been some changes: drive- in services are now allowed, for example. But, On May 22, four Toronto rabbis followed up with another letter, addressing specific ways in which Orthodox Jews are affected by the rules.

Orthodox Jews must pray several times per day, in groups of at least 10 males, in order to reach quorum for the prayers. In Ontario, indoor gatherings are capped at five people, preventing Orthodox Jews from meeting their religious obligations.

“There is no constitutional right to buy liquor and marijuana, but there is a constitutional right to worship and to assemble to practise one’s faith,” the letter says.

The loosening of rules doesn’t help, said the rabbis who signed the letter.

“We are an Orthodox faith that does not permit driving on the Sabbath,” the rabbis’ letter reads.

The National Post was unable to reach the four signatories on Friday.