Question:
Should we be saying the printed Slichot for an epidemic tomorrow on Taanis Esther because of the coronavirus outbreaks? It’s in all the siddurim and starts אל נא רפא נא תחלואי גפן פוריה and it says to recite it during an illness outbreak. Thank you.
Answer:
Technically it isn’t considered an epidemic in halachic terms unless there is a person that dies each day for three days straight in that city that has 500 people in it. If that is the case in your area, the Rabbonim of that area should be contacted and asked what to do.
As a side point, here in Eretz Yisroel we say this selichot every taanis.
May we here besuros tovos and may H-shem protect everyone.
