Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center discusses COVID’S effect on houses of worship. File photo
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR MAY 15-21, 2020 3
Houses of worship in
the Bronx suffer loss
of congregation and
fi nancial hardships
during COVID-19
BY JASON COHEN
As some churches and
synagogues received money
from the federal stimulus bill,
many are struggling and have
lost clergymen. In fact, citywide
more than 150 rabbis and
pastors have died from complications
of COVID-19.
These deaths have affected
their family, friends and congregants
and the question remains,
how these houses of
worship will survive the coronavirus.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera,
who is also a senior
Pastor of New Life Outreach
International Church at 2757
Morris Ave., and Rabbi Saadia
Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish
Center at 1969 Haight Ave.,
spoke with the Bronx Times
about the crisis.
“A church without a pastor
often lacks direction,” Cabrera
said. “It’s like having a
city without a mayor.”
Cabrera said if someone
told him six months ago that
a virus would kill thousands,
including many clergy men
he would not have believed
them. He has been a pastor
since 1988 and never experienced
anything like this.
When COVID-19 fi rst arrived,
Cabrera thought it would
have a small impact but didn’t
imagine it would take so many
lives.
The pastor explained that
normally when there is a void
in leadership people know in
advance, have time to look for
a replacement and interview
candidates. However, hiring a
new pastor or rabbi virtually
is not a piece of cake.
“It’s very painful for congregations
to see their leaders
to die in such a way,” he said.
Cabrera noted that because
pastors and rabbis are doing
outreach, checking on people
and in hospitals, they are facing
exposure to the virus on a
regular basis.
“There has never been
an event in the last 100 years
where so many pastors have
died at the same time,” he remarked.
“This is going to
greatly affect the network of
churches.”
The councilman also discussed
reopening and said he
already knows some churches
will remain shuttered. He
stated that after being closed
for two months, with high rent
and no money coming in, they
simply cannot afford to stay
afl oat.
He explained that while
people think small businesses
are the only ones hurting,
houses of worship are in a
similar predicament. These
establishments struggle to
pay bills, rent and salaries
with little to no money coming
in.
Cabrera stressed that even
when the buildings reopen
people must social distance
and wear face masks.
“This is new to us,” Cabrera
said. “I am hopeful that
many people will come back
because they need it. At the
end of the day it’s going to
come down to the church and
how they will make it safe.”
While the Bronx does not
have a large Jewish population
like Brooklyn or Manhattan,
the Jewish community in
the borough has been affected
by COVID. In fact, recently
when legislators helped secure
a kosher food grab and
go site for Bronxites, Pewzner
was asked to help fi nd people
that need the food and fi nd
ways to get it to them.
With many elderly members,
several who live alone,
this has been a very tough
time for them, the rabbi explained.
He has lost congregants
to COVID and has
even offi ciated funerals where
he was the only one there.
“People right now are very
scared,” the rabbi said.
Pewzner has been delivering
food every Friday for
Shabbat to 50 or 60 families
since the pandemic began
and noticed that not only are
many hungry, but many need
basic items like toiletries. As
seniors, they are afraid to go
out, so he does his best to help
them.
While the rabbi does not
envision synagogues closing,
he feels that there will be a
decrease in membership. Besides
the loss of life, Pewzner
said some people may simply
leave New York City to live
someplace cheaper and with
more space where they would
not be as exposed to any future
type of virus.
He has spoken to other rabbis
in the city and noted that
everyone is treading water.
“We’re sitting in the same
predicament,” he said. “Right
now we’re trying to get up in
the morning and do the best
we can.”
When COVID fi rst arrived,
he never envisioned it would
have this type of devastating
impact.
“We saw the writing on
the wall, we just didn’t know
where it would lead,” Pewzner
said.
The rabbi told the Bronx
Times the effects of COVID
are far worse than September
11. While 9/11 had an immediate
impact, he said that the virus
has no end in sight.
Pewzner, who is a baseball
fan, recalled how shortly after
the terrorist attacks America’s
pastime returned and the
Yankees played in the World
Series. But today, there are no
sports.
While the lives of many
rabbis have been taken during
the crisis, he feels now more
than ever, Jews need the guidance
of the clergy and its leadership.
People are out of work,
sick, burying loved ones and
struggling, he said.
“People are really searching
for meaning,” he said.
“Life is never going to be the
same.”
Even amongst the darkness
and sadness, Pewzner
said has seen a silver lining
through the chaos.. People are
coming together and helping
one another on a wide scale
throughout the city.
“People need people right
now,” Pewzner said.
Bronx residents have lost
brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers
and friends and sadly,
could not mourn any of them
properly. Many people close to
Pewzner have passed, including
a mentor, Rabbi Yisroel
Friedman.
Looking forward, he tells
his congregants to follow the
instructions of the health department
and the government.
“Think good or be good and
try to stay positive,” he said.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera discusses
COVID’S affect on houses of
worship. Photo Photo courtesy of John
McCarten