Ramapo Rabbi Yakov Horowitz and two other Orthodox Jewish men find themselves under threat for advocating Jews follow social distancing regulations and not gather to pray to curtail the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.

They are being called "moserim" in an anonymous flier — which cites Jews who report other Jews to the authorities. Adding to the biblical admonishment is a threatening tweet that cites revered Middle Ages Torah scholar Moses ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, who opined that a moser could be killed for turning over Jews to an authoritarian government.

Horowitz called the Twitter threat a distortion of Maimonides' ruling during a time when Jews were oppressed by the government and killed at the whim of authorities, noting the United States is not an authoritarian nation.

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Maimonides dealt with Jews who endangered other Jews by reporting indiscretions to authorities, Horowitz said. He said the tweet — translated from Hebrew — misinterprets Maimonides by saying, "It's permissible to kill a moser any time and, 'We won't forgive, we won't forget'."

The campaign against the three men caught fire on social media during the weekend.

"Moser is a loaded term," Horowitz said Monday. "It's absolutely clear in a free country like ours where we have courts and representation, this law of moser is completely irrelevant. It's totally misapplied and a total distortion of what Maimonides said. But this is extremely incendiary and it's not OK to accept this in silence."

Horowitz said the moserim declaration is ironic since he, the other two men and others are acting to benefit people, and those who defied social distancing were the clear and present danger to others.

Horowitz filed a complaint with the Ramapo Police Department. He doesn't know the creator of the flier or who is behind the Twitter handle @HeimishNiyes, who denied to The Journal News/lohud on Monday that the tweet was a threat but added the trio violated Jewish law by going public with their criticism.

Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel didn't respond to a request for comment on the criminal complaint.

The other two men named in the flier are Jacob Kornbluh, the New York political correspondent for the Jewish Insider website, and real estate investor Mordy Getz.

Kornbluh said he doesn't take these threats seriously, "although I understand that some people are mad at me for exposing the violators, who are endangering other lives"

"I have always faced challenges in my professional life and that has not deterred me from doing my job or chiming in on a matter that I can be helpful to the well-being of my community," Kornbluh said. "Balancing this tweet and other hate mail were the many calls and texts I got supporting my work and applauding me for speaking out on this important public safety matter. If I get to save even one additional life, I will consider it worthy."

Getz could not be reached for comment.

'I did not threaten anyone'

The person behind the Twitter handle @HeimishNiyes told The Journal News/lohud that the three men should not have gone public with their criticism.

"I did not threaten anyone," @HeimishNiyes responded on Twitter. "I just quoted the teachings of our previous gentlemen about 'delivery'. With us when there is a conflict between two Jews, they go to a Jewish court, and do not involve the authorities. ... Defamation of Jews to foreigners is a very serious offense for Jews. If he was just reporting to the police, okay, but why is he spreading it on social media?"

"We also maintain Social distancing, but why post on Twitter pictures and video that there are Jews who violate the regulations?" @HeimishNiyes wrote. "We have enough problems with anti-Semites."

Horowitz said responsible rabbis from all denominations urge people to follow social distancing guidelines and he's morally and ethically responsible to speak out against the tiny fringe who won't follow the guidelines. He has written a blog on social distancing.

Horowitz said the moserim justification is similar to what too many Jews use when refusing to report pedophiles within the Orthodox Jewish community.

He is the founding dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey, director of the Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES and an advocate for children who conducts child abuse prevention and parenting workshops in Jewish communities.

Horowitz wants the creator of the flier and people behind the tweet prosecuted and said he's gone public as a matter of principle, not fear.

"l refused to get intimidated," he said. "It's certainly uncomfortable and outrageous in this great country to essentially issue a death threat. Once someone serves notice on the public they are trafficking in these types of threats, you take them at their word."

Twitter: @lohudlegal

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.