Chief Rabbi Lau orders a public fast Wednesday

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel declares a public fast on Wednesday against the epidemic
The Jewish people and the whole world are going through difficult days. In this period, we have to introspect. As Jewish believers, sons of believers, we know that providence is behind all this and it wishes to send us a message: “Man cannot lift his (little) finger here, if it has not been decreed up there. “
The situation is difficult; all perceive the blade of the whirling sword which prevails in all corners of the universe. At this moment, at the same time as the strict respect of the instructions of the health professionals, everyone has to proceed and improve both on the Mitzvot relating to human relations and those relating to the relationship between man and Hashem.
This Wednesday will be the day before Rosh ‘Hodesh Nissan. In the opinion of Rabbi Yéhoshoua ‘, where the world was created in the month of Nissan, this will correspond to the eve of Rosh Hashanah, day of prayers and supplications. I ask anyone who can, to fast at least until midday. One for whom this is difficult or dangerous from a medical point of view, to carry out a speech fast.
During the prayer of Min’ha, we will add the passage of the Seli’hot known for its saving virtues, for generations, the “Seder of the prayer of Yom Kippur Katan” (A person praying without Minyan can recite the “13 attributes [Baya’avor … “] while singing this passage according to the T”amim (signs of cantillations) as if he were reading the Sefer Torah.
The Lord who is good will listen to our prayers, hear us and deliver us from all bad decrees. He will save in his great mercy, His people Israel and all the inhabitants of the earth who need it. By way of supplication, hoping for divine mercy
Rav David Lau
President of the Rabbinical Court
Chief Rabbi of Israel