Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

(JNS) — Every year, Shi’ite Muslims in Flushing, Queens, conduct the Arba’een, a procession in honor of Mohammed’s grandson whose death at the hands of a Sunni caliph marked the pivotal break between Shi’ites and Sunnis, slapping their faces and chests for their beheaded Imam Hussein.

Queens, once the borough that gave birth to President Trump and David Horowitz, now has a large Muslim population, and the fall processions of wailing crowds are a regular event.

The coronavirus didn’t change that.

On Oct. 4, a huge knot of Muslim men packed closely together in circles, not wearing masks or with...