Outdoorprayinggets council approval

DESPITE THE ban on garden minyanim, many people were able to pray outdoors on Rosh Hashanah.

A number of streets were closed in Barnet, enabling worshippers standing in their driveways to pray in peace.

One minyan in a sealed road in Hendon attracted more than 90 people spread across 18 driveways.

Barnet Council said requests to close roads had been considered as long as people remained within the borders of their property or joined another household but did not exceed the “rule of six”.

The Metropolitan Police said they had been “called to a small number of gatherings where there was concern about a perceived lack of social distancing” in Barnet. However, they did not find any issues of non-compliance with Covid-19 guidelines.

Last week, Barnet Safer Neighbourhoods’ Inspector Jason Stewart told local Jewish leaders that he had visited a number of street services the previous Shabbat and had been “impressed with the work that has been done to keep people safe”.

He said if officers were to come across a gathering that might require attention, they would “follow an approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging. This could involve giving some low-level advice around social distancing or recommending reorganising larger gatherings into smaller groups. Any enforcement, such as issuing of a fixed penalty notice, would be an option of last resort.”

The CST, he added, was there to maintain physical safety and would not be asked to get involved in coronav ir us- compliance issues.

Meanwhile, i n Hampstead Garden Suburb, more than 700 people benefited from the Shofar on the Block initiative run by Chabad HGS in partnership with the local United synagogue. Shofar blowings were organised on driveways and streets throughout the second day of the festival. Listeners ranged from babies to people in their 90s.

Chabad’s Rabbi Bentzi Sudak said: “The shofar is one of the most important elements of Rosh Hashanah and it was vital that we rose to the challenge. It was emotional to see so many people, religious and not affiliated, have the opportunity to listen to the shofar, whether from the comfort of their own home or in family groups on their street.”

I’m impressed with the work that’s been done to keep people safe’