Neighbor hires detective to spy on Jewish prayer groups after coronavirus closes temples
With synagogues in Miami Beach closed by emergency order, some observant Jews have been gathering at neighbors’ homes to pray during Passover.
They’re being followed by a private investigator.
Driving a white Crown Victoria with tinted windows, the investigator — who works for the Hialeah-based U.S. Executive Protection — circled a Mid-Beach neighborhood for three hours on Wednesday as Jewish residents dressed in white and black strolled along the street.
He was hired by one of their neighbors, who himself identifies as Jewish, to call attention to “underground” prayer groups that he said were violating the shelter-in-place order issued by the city during the coronavirus pandemic. Orthodox Jews attend public prayer services three times every day; attendance is usually higher on Saturdays and holidays. When official services are not offered, they may form minyans, or groups of 10 men, to form a prayer quorum.
The city’s order does not explicitly prohibit gatherings held at someone’s home, for any purpose or of any size, but Mayor Dan Gelber and religious leaders have discouraged private prayer groups. The city banned formal religious services at places of worship on March 27. Violations of the order are considered a criminal offense.
“I think our laws have gone as far as they can,” Gelber said. “I don’t think we can go further. I think we have at least succeeded in substantively reducing the religious gatherings.”
In a message to the community, Rabbi Donald Bixon of the Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach said he was “shocked” some in the faith continue to meet for prayer and that nationally recognized Jewish leaders — including Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky — have “declared both public and private minyanim whether they are inside or outside to be prohibited during this time of crisis.”
Kanievsky, described by the Jerusalem Post as the “most senior rabbinic leader of the ultra-Orthodox world,” ordered members to pray alone and report others to the police, according to the publication.
“People are dying and we are obligated to protect our community, our families and ourselves,” Bixon wrote on March 29.
In Rockland County, New York, more than 2,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in two Orthodox Jewish communities, and county health officials there have struggled to preach social distancing, according to The New York Times.
State health officials have reported 325 coronavirus cases in the Mid-Beach zip code, although the accuracy of the data has been criticized because it may include results from testing center locations within the zip code and not exclusively cases among residents.
But Gelber said the virus is in the community, and however difficult it may be, residents should not be praying with each other.
“We’ve reached out to faith leaders in almost every way we can to create a sense that this is incredibly dangerous and hopefully discouraged as much as we can,” he said. “We can’t eliminate everything. But we’ve knocked on doors and urged people to do the right thing.”
Neighbors turning on neighbors
The chasm between the spirit of Miami Beach’s order and the text of the law itself has led to neighborhood vigilantism.
Relying on his private investigator, the unidentified neighbor — who did not give his name to the Miami Herald — has called Code Compliance three times to report gatherings at a home in the 4500 block of Post Avenue. He said a dozen residents contributed to pay for the investigator.
No official action has been taken against the homeowner, but neighbors have complained that the investigator is “stalking” them.
“As soon as they see somebody Orthodox, they’re going to call you guys because people are not allowed to look like we’re Jewish anymore,” Aliza Bogomilsky told a Code officer Wednesday. “That is against the law. Imagine if they went after every Christian and after every Muslim. This is what’s going on here.”
Bogomilsky said between eight and 10 men were praying in her backyard, and some neighbors were participating from the other side of the fence. She invited a Code officer to see the set-up for herself after Wednesday’s service about 11 a.m.
“Our huge gathering is a few men praying in the backyard, less than 10,” Bogomilsky said. “We actually set up little tents that are 18 feet apart. A father and a son in each of the four tents.”
Miami Beach Commissioner Steven Meiner, an observant Jew who lives in Mid-Beach, said he had been in “consistent contact” with the city about the “issues” raised, but did not comment on whether he supported the private prayer groups.
Commissioner Ricky Arriola, who has criticized the city for being too alarmist in its messaging, said it was “troublesome” to see neighbors turning on each other to disclose the locations of religious gatherings.
“These are very stressful times for folks,” Arriola said. “Many people find comfort in religion and observing religious traditions and ceremonies. I think we have to be respectful of their individual decisions.”
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Commissioner Steven Meiner’s response to a request for comment. Meiner said he was aware of the issue, but did not comment on whether he supported the private prayer groups.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 6:30 AM.
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