Board of Deputies welcomes Government rethink on stone setting numbers

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has welcomed the Government’s decision to allow 15 people to attend stone settings after the number was set at six due to Coronavirus restrictions.

Marie said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to allow stone-settings to have up to 15 attendees. Since the seemingly anomalous decision to allow only six people to attend stone settings, while up to 30 people were allowed to attend funerals, we have asked Government for a consistent approach that will allow a Minyan and additional close friends and family to attend stone-settings and give comfort to mourners. We are grateful to the Government for its compassion in heeding this advice. Nonetheless, this thoughtful concession should give no room for complacency. With the alarming rise in the infection rate, we urge the community to be meticulous in observing social distancing regulations at cemeteries as in all other spaces.”