3 BRONX WEEKLY May 17, 2020 www.BXTimes.com
Councilman Fernando Cabrera discusses COVID’S affect on houses of worship. Photo Photo courtesy of John McCarten houses of worship. File photo
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
Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center discusses COVID’S effect on
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.
Houses of worship in the Bronx
suffer loss of congregation and
fi nancial hardships during COVID-19
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