‘Saving your life is far more important than getting the right matzahs’

Saving lives during the pandemic is far more important than sourcing the perfect matzah ahead of Pesach.

This was the clear message conveyed by Senior Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner in a short clip uploaded to YouTube on Friday.

In her video message, the senior Reform rabbi pleaded with members of the community to take all precautions when planning for the holiday.

She spoke after the London Beth Din relaxed dietary restrictions for Pesach. The religious court took the unprecedented step on Tuesday of publishing a list of regular products that can be used this Pesach.

In her message, Rabbi Janner-Klausner said the definition of kosher l’pesach had been changed by the outbreak. “Saving your life and the people around you is far more important than the right matzahs or the right kosher l’pesach things,” she said.

“What is kosher l’pesach now is you and your health and the health of people around you, so do not risk your health or the people around you to get some food that you might think that you need that we are saying this year has changed,” she added.”This is not a leniency. This is the ruling pretty much across the Jewish world.”

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the community reached 34 as of Thursday – up from 25 on Wednesday – according to figures released today by the Board of Deputies.