18 | NOVEMBER 19 • 2020 

T

he state of Michigan has 
entered a new three-week 
period of restrictions 
intended to curb the spread of 
COVID-19, which is seeing 
record case numbers in the state.
The orders were announced 
by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and 
the Michigan Department of 
Health and Human Services in 
a press conference on Sunday, 
Nov. 15, and went into effect 
Wednesday, Nov. 18. 
Major new restrictions 
include suspending in-person 
instruction at all colleges and 
high schools, while allowing K-8 
instruction to continue in-per-

son; closing all organized sports 
and group exercise classes; 
closing indoor dining at restau-
rants; closing all movie theaters, 
casinos, bowling alleys, indoor 
ice rinks and bingo halls; and 
strongly urging all businesses to 
work from home if possible.
Private indoor gatherings are 
limited to two households at 
any time, with officials urging 
families to pick only one other 
household to interact with for 
the duration of the restriction 
period. The limitations will 
affect many Michiganders’
 
Thanksgiving gatherings.
“We are in the worst moments 
of this pandemic to date,
” 

Whitmer said at the press con-
ference.
Frankel Jewish Academy in 
West Bloomfield was one of the 
high schools that followed state 
orders and shut down in-person 
instruction. “We know that our 
highly skilled, experienced and 
creative teachers will contin-
ue to provide exemplary and 
meaningful instruction, and 
personalized support for each of 
our students,
” wrote FJA head of 
school Rabbi Azaryah Cohen in 
an email to parents.
Synagogues, along with 
all other houses of worship, 
continue to be exempt from 
the new orders. The majori-

ty of Michigan’
s Reform and 
Conservative synagogues have 
gone all-virtual since the start of 
the pandemic.
Following the new restric-
tion announcements, Jewish 
Michigan State Rep. Ryan 
Berman (Commerce Township) 
joined a group of other 
Republican state legislators in 
calling for Whitmer’
s impeach-
ment. The Republicans claimed 
the governor had committed 
“impeachable conduct” includ-
ing ignoring court orders and 
due process and “using our kids 
as political pawns.
”
An adviser on President 
Trump’
s coronavirus task force, 
Dr. Scott Atlas, tweeted that 
Michiganders should “rise up” 
against the new restrictions.
The state of Michigan 
has confirmed over 276,000 
COVID-19 cases to date, with 
8,378 deaths. On Nov. 13, the 
state recorded a record high of 
9,099 new cases in a single day. 

ANDREW LAPIN EDITOR

New Michigan 
COVID Restrictions 
Take Effect

 Need Help With An IRS or State Tax Problem?

1.800.TAX.LEVY
www.levytaxhelp.com

28400 Southfi
 eld Rd, Lathrup Village, MI 48076
AS FEATURED IN

Call us today to answer your questions 
or to schedule a meeting and say 
goodbye to those sleepless nights!

Let our team of Attorneys, CPAs, Tax Consultants and 

Why Choose Levy & Associates to help
with your tax problems?

• 22 years of specializing in tax resolution and working
 with the IRS and State Taxing Authorities

 • We have helped thousands of clients nationwide to

 •

 • A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau

We Listen... We Care... We Help!









IN 
THED
JEWS

Whitmer