September 16, 2003

OU Website has Posted the Halacha of Hurricanes, the Application of Jewish Law When a Natural Disaster Hits

With the mighty Hurricane Isabel bearing down on the East Coast and due to reach land on Thursday, only hours before the start of the Jewish Sabbath Friday night, the Orthodox Union today made available Hurricane Halachot, the application of Halacha (or Jewish law) in the observance of Shabbat in the event of a natural disaster.

The Hurricane Halachot can be found on the OU Website, www.ou.org.

“In Halacha, human life is paramount. Therefore, whenever there is risk to personal well-being, there are leniencies in the otherwise stricter laws,” explained Rabbi Mayer Waxman, OU Director of Community Affairs, who is supervising the project.

The Halachot were assembled by Rabbi Kenneth Brander of the Boca Raton Synagogue, an OU member synagogue in the heart of the hurricane belt. He received guidance from the noted Halachic authority, Rabbi Hershel Schachter, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University.

The rules are divided into the following categories: holding a minyan (or service) on Shabbat, with this instruction: “If a hurricane is happening on Shabbat, stay home!;” use of electricity; carrying without an Eruv, which presumably has blown down; use of candles; and use of television or radio.”

“We are appreciative to Rabbi Brander for taking the lead in making Halacha accessible and understandable even during times of great tension,” Rabbi Waxman said. “The Orthodox Union is pleased to serve as the conduit by which this information is disseminated to all of our communities affected by the approaching storm.”

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