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| Defying Virus Rules, Large Hasidic Jewish Weddings Held in Brooklyn | Defying Virus Rules, Large Hasidic Jewish Weddings Held in Brooklyn |
| (1 day later) | |
| As city and state officials warned on Tuesday about the danger of large gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak, hundreds of revelers celebrated at a Hasidic wedding in Brooklyn and huddled together in the street after the Fire Department broke up the celebration. | As city and state officials warned on Tuesday about the danger of large gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak, hundreds of revelers celebrated at a Hasidic wedding in Brooklyn and huddled together in the street after the Fire Department broke up the celebration. |
| “Everything was exactly how it would have been if there hadn’t been any kind of a pandemic,” said a musician who played at the event, which he said drew more than 200 people. He declined to be named for fear of losing future jobs. “I was assuming it would be canceled,” he said. | “Everything was exactly how it would have been if there hadn’t been any kind of a pandemic,” said a musician who played at the event, which he said drew more than 200 people. He declined to be named for fear of losing future jobs. “I was assuming it would be canceled,” he said. |
| The coronavirus pandemic has upended life in New York and across the country, leading to school closures, restrictions on bars and restaurants and a ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people. | The coronavirus pandemic has upended life in New York and across the country, leading to school closures, restrictions on bars and restaurants and a ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people. |
| As of Tuesday, more than 1,500 people in New York State had tested positive for the virus, up from 950 the day before; 814 of the cases were in the city. Twelve people have died from the virus in New York State, including at least seven in New York City. | As of Tuesday, more than 1,500 people in New York State had tested positive for the virus, up from 950 the day before; 814 of the cases were in the city. Twelve people have died from the virus in New York State, including at least seven in New York City. |
| The wedding, held in South Williamsburg at a venue that also houses a religious school, was one of several large Hasidic weddings in recent days, said Mordy Getz, a local businessman and community activist. | The wedding, held in South Williamsburg at a venue that also houses a religious school, was one of several large Hasidic weddings in recent days, said Mordy Getz, a local businessman and community activist. |
| The events underscore the challenge of persuading people to adapt to the public health restrictions enacted amid the coronavirus outbreak. | The events underscore the challenge of persuading people to adapt to the public health restrictions enacted amid the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Video taken after the fire department broke up the wedding shows a large crowd of men and women mingling in the street — activity that a reporter also observed on Tuesday. | Video taken after the fire department broke up the wedding shows a large crowd of men and women mingling in the street — activity that a reporter also observed on Tuesday. |
| The wedding was broken up by two men in Fire Department jackets who arrived in a red pickup truck and dispersed a crowd that had gathered outside the venue’s door. | The wedding was broken up by two men in Fire Department jackets who arrived in a red pickup truck and dispersed a crowd that had gathered outside the venue’s door. |
| The musician said another performer had called 311 to report the large gathering, which had also drawn complaints from neighbors. | The musician said another performer had called 311 to report the large gathering, which had also drawn complaints from neighbors. |
| “This was in direct violation of the directives that are in place to protect all people’s health and safety,” James Long, the director of public information for the Fire Department, said in an interview. | “This was in direct violation of the directives that are in place to protect all people’s health and safety,” James Long, the director of public information for the Fire Department, said in an interview. |
| “We inspected it and it was recommended to end the event because of the state’s guidelines and directives regarding Covid-19,” Mr. Long said. | “We inspected it and it was recommended to end the event because of the state’s guidelines and directives regarding Covid-19,” Mr. Long said. |
| He said that officials responded to the scene because someone had called to complain, and the venue was issued a violation. | He said that officials responded to the scene because someone had called to complain, and the venue was issued a violation. |
| Norma Reyes, 51, a caseworker who lives across the street from the venue, said she watched dozens of people leave the hall. “What about social distancing?” she asked. “How can we be safe?” | Norma Reyes, 51, a caseworker who lives across the street from the venue, said she watched dozens of people leave the hall. “What about social distancing?” she asked. “How can we be safe?” |
| The celebration raised questions about pandemic preparedness for a community ravaged by a measles outbreak that began in 2018. Last April, a preschool housed in the same building as the wedding was closed by the city for violating a Health Department order that required it to provide medical and attendance records as part of efforts to fight the measles. | The celebration raised questions about pandemic preparedness for a community ravaged by a measles outbreak that began in 2018. Last April, a preschool housed in the same building as the wedding was closed by the city for violating a Health Department order that required it to provide medical and attendance records as part of efforts to fight the measles. |
| Mr. Getz said the weddings were influenced by the teachings of “extremist leaders” and did not represent the Hasidic community in New York. He pointed to the work done by Jewish volunteer and nonprofit organizations to educate people about the new restrictions on gatherings, and called the persistence of large weddings “very painful.” | Mr. Getz said the weddings were influenced by the teachings of “extremist leaders” and did not represent the Hasidic community in New York. He pointed to the work done by Jewish volunteer and nonprofit organizations to educate people about the new restrictions on gatherings, and called the persistence of large weddings “very painful.” |
| Updated August 27, 2020 | |
| “There has been a total disrespect to everything medical authorities and the government have been telling us to do,” Mr. Getz said. “It is total defiance.” | “There has been a total disrespect to everything medical authorities and the government have been telling us to do,” Mr. Getz said. “It is total defiance.” |
| Neither the wedding venue, Ateres Avrohom, nor the school in the same building, United Talmudical Academy, responded to messages seeking comment on Tuesday. | Neither the wedding venue, Ateres Avrohom, nor the school in the same building, United Talmudical Academy, responded to messages seeking comment on Tuesday. |
| The City Council members who represent Williamsburg, Antonio Reynoso and Stephen Levin, did not respond to messages seeking comment. | The City Council members who represent Williamsburg, Antonio Reynoso and Stephen Levin, did not respond to messages seeking comment. |
| One wedding guest, who declined to be named because he said he works for the groom, said the measles outbreak was on his mind. He criticized the “optics” of the event. | One wedding guest, who declined to be named because he said he works for the groom, said the measles outbreak was on his mind. He criticized the “optics” of the event. |
| “I don’t understand why they did this,” said the man, shaking his head. “It’s ridiculous.” | “I don’t understand why they did this,” said the man, shaking his head. “It’s ridiculous.” |
| Another guest, who gave only his first name, Chaim, said the wedding had to take place on Tuesday because it is “prohibited to postpone a wedding once it has been planned.” | Another guest, who gave only his first name, Chaim, said the wedding had to take place on Tuesday because it is “prohibited to postpone a wedding once it has been planned.” |
| “You gotta do what you gotta do,” he said. | “You gotta do what you gotta do,” he said. |
| The school above the wedding hall was packed with children on Tuesday. More than a dozen could be seen peering through windows on the third floor as wedding guests crowded on the sidewalk below. | The school above the wedding hall was packed with children on Tuesday. More than a dozen could be seen peering through windows on the third floor as wedding guests crowded on the sidewalk below. |
| At midafternoon, as the wedding was being shut down, hundreds of children poured out of the school and climbed on a yellow bus. Nearby, the Fire Department officials stood filling out paperwork against the side of their truck. | At midafternoon, as the wedding was being shut down, hundreds of children poured out of the school and climbed on a yellow bus. Nearby, the Fire Department officials stood filling out paperwork against the side of their truck. |
| Hannah Greenfeld, who lives in the neighborhood, said the gathering obeyed the letter of the law. Her daughter tried to get into the wedding and was turned away at the door by bouncers, who limited attendance to 24 men and 24 women at a time, she said. | Hannah Greenfeld, who lives in the neighborhood, said the gathering obeyed the letter of the law. Her daughter tried to get into the wedding and was turned away at the door by bouncers, who limited attendance to 24 men and 24 women at a time, she said. |
| “You write in The New York Times that the Jewish community obeyed the law,” Ms. Greenfeld said. | “You write in The New York Times that the Jewish community obeyed the law,” Ms. Greenfeld said. |