WASHINGTON (JTA) – Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in a number of Orthodox communities in New York City and surrounding areas.
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Now a federal government agency is hoping a popular Hasidic singer might be able to help to stem the tide.
Shulem Lemmer, the first Hasidic singer to sign a record deal with a major record label, announced in a tweet Wednesday that he would help the Department of Health and Human Services “bring awareness of anything Covid-19 related to the Orthodox Jewish community & beyond.”
The singer said he would interview the assistant secretary for health, Adm. Dr. Brett Giroir, with parts of their conversation on Thursday to be shared with Jewish media outlets.
I was approached by the @HHSGov to help bring awareness of anything Covid-19 related to the Orthodox Jewish community & beyond. I will be interviewing Admiral Dr. Brett Giroir @HHS_ASH. Please reply below with any questions or concerns, and we will do our utmost to address them.
— Shulem (@IamShulem) September 23, 2020
Orthodox communities in New York City and down the East Coast have struggled with rising COVID cases as the summer neared its close, making the reopening of schools and synagogues for the High Holidays difficult.
In New York City, six Orthodox neighborhoods have comprised 20% of the total new cases in the city, alarming city officials who promised an outreach campaign to community leaders and free mask distribution.
Be smart! Stay out of politics!
He is a wonderful person, talented and kind….but please stay out of politics..
I care more about what Rabbi Dr. Glatt has to say about the importance of masks than a singer. Does anyone expect the maskless Yiddin to now wear masks because of Lemmer?
Hashem Yisborach, in all His Glory, could hold a mountain over Jewish communities and instruct them to wear masks and most of them still wouldn’t. We are “am k’shei oref” – always have been, always will be.
If the Jewish community comprises 20% of cases, who comprises the 80%?
Love his voice but if frum doctors that deal with this daily can’t get people to protect themselves and others What can he go
And Kirsten Gillibrand said all whites are priviliged and should bow down at the feet of blacks and apologize for their guilt. Vote for Harris and you’ll be paying reparations on Jan 2nd.
The interesting thing is, his star status is only in the secular world, in the frum world he’s another singer of one of the choirs
Wow this is really cool. Can’t wait until the new music video is released. What will the lyrics be?
To the tune of “teniyala”
Play it down, Play it down
Big rallies all over town
Social distancing is for clowns
COVID will just magically disappear
No need for masks to wear
Less testing of the virus
Lets put it all behind us.
Hydrochloriquine can save your life
Inject yourself with Lysol and UV light.
Shulem,
stick ur nose out of this issue and stick it back into the music …. stay away !!!!
Dont use ur fame and fan base to preach to the klal .
dont emulate , Le b James… diddy … Admor, Harav, mashpia, N Black.. and many more .
put ur energy into some original compositions that ur great at.
will he wearing a mask when he sings or no mask ? If yes what color mask will it be ? what material will it be made from ? will he have a screen in front of him ?
But it’s all fake
Yeah right
Making covid-19 a Orthodox Jewish problem is very dangerous. IMO, this has nothing to do with Trump only the “frum” idiots out there who are trying to put the blame on us because we don’t wear masks and because we make larger weddigns, and all the while these idiots are quiet about riots all over the US.
Everyone look at the data that is out there and compare. After all the noise and shouting, to a large degree instigated by our own people, the end result is very similar rates to the majority of the non-Jewish population with the highest rates of covid-19 positive cases and deaths not comong from our community. Whoever is making waves about this is playing with fire and it may end us hurting us much more than coronavirus.
So why does Trump need a chusid singer to geshchai about Covid? He said it was a HOAX, that only 15 people would get it, that it would disappear like magic, that it would be gone in the summer. And his Q-anon web conspiracy mill says the Jews are spreading Covid! Only 200,000 DEAD so far and its not October!
They are giving this lemmer guy too much credit. Not sure what the gadlus is with him. I know I turn off whatever device he comes on because s’iz mishr fahr mir.