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B"H
Parshat Zachor, March 7, 2020
Jewish Law and Coronavirus - a guide to the perplexed.
Information regarding the coronavirus is constantly being updated and it can be difficult to discern what is relevant to our community. Rest assured that our primary concern is the safety of our congregation. Some policies may be deemed overkill by some and insufficient by others. We expect, however, that those who enter our shul will heed our policies, even if they disagree with them. Services will continue as usual, but if you are concerned about attending, then please trust your own judgment and stay home.
Leniency in Jewish law was established for extraordinary situations and now is the time to be lenient. If you are concerned about missing the Megillah, now is the time to rely on those opinions that permit listening to it over the phone. If you are worried about missing Parshat Zachor, now is the time to rely on the rulings that you can fulfill the mitzvah other times throughout the year. If you are worried about bringing or receiving mishloach manot, now is the time to rely on the leniency of partnering in someone else’s mishloach manot. We should never take our religious obligations lightly, but our personal health and safety takes precedence.
The current health situation reminds me of the famous short story written by David Frischmann (1859-1922), The Three Who Ate. It describes an event that took place in Vilna during one of the terrible cholera epidemics. Below is an excerpt from that famous story attributed to Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, one of the leading rabbis in the 19th century.
“Three people who ate….they did not eat on any regular day of the week, but on Yom Kippur. And not just on any Yom Kippur, but on Yom Kippur that fell on Shabbat. They didn’t eat in secret, but in front of everyone gathered in the Great Synagogue. They weren’t simple or frivolous people. Rather they were the princes of the community and their most important leaders, none other than the rabbi of the city and the two Dayanim [rabbinic judges] who stood with him…”
“It was the afternoon of Yom Kippur. The rabbi stood bent over on the Bima…Even now my eyes can picture that incredible sight, as I stood there in the congregation of the synagogue. The rabbi stood on the Bima, his dark eyes shining out from his pale face and white beard. The Mussaf service was almost over and the congregation stood silently waiting to hear something from this man of God…”
“Suddenly my ears heard a sound but I could not understand exactly what it was. I heard the sounds but my heart could not comprehend. ‘With the permission of God and with the permission of the community, we hereby permit people to eat and to drink today.’”
“The beadle came forward and the Rabbi whispered a few things into his ear. Then he spoke with the two Dayanim who were next to him. They nodded as if to approve of what he had said. As this was happening the beadle brought a cup of wine and some cake from the rabbi’s home.”
“If I am lucky to live for many more years I will never forget that incredible day and that awesome sight. If I close my eyes for a moment I can still see them: the three who ate! The three shepherds of Israel standing on the Bima in the synagogue, eating in front of everyone, on Yom Kippur.”
I have my doubts about whether the story happened exactly how it was portrayed by David Frischman. Perhaps he used a liberal dose of literary license. An eyewitness stated that the story was embellished and didn't correlate with facts. Some say Rabbi Salanter’s ruling was that those who weren’t feeling well could eat without seeking medical or rabbinical advice. However, he himself never made kiddush on Yom Kippur or ate anything.
Regardless of the veracity of the story, the fact that the story was told and retold is a valuable lesson for today's rabbinical community. It should remind them of their obligations in dealing with the current Coronavirus spreading across Asia, Europe and to a lesser extent the United States. Panic is not a replacement for preparedness and during these trying times we will be inundated with unverified stories, unsolicited advice, and rabbinic rulings that confuse the situation and often contradict one another.
I’m a student of common sense and I believe that most things that we do should be guided first and foremost by common sense. Thus, I’m not going to offer you any blanket ruling other than to say it’s not Yom Kippur and I won’t make Kiddush or ask everyone to eat. However, in extraordinary situations a rabbi has to be the voice of reason. He has to be reassuring but also protective of his community. He has to quell the fear of those who seek any excuse to promote a doomsday scenario but also be mindful that people are often more pious than the law requires. And he must be cognizant that there can’t be one set of rules for everyone. He must be halachically understanding to those who have a compromised immune system or other health concerns. But rabbis are not doctors and it’s important for those with health concerns to discuss individual situations with their medical professional and abide by the doctors' decisions.
The story of Rabbi Salanter, who allegedly made kiddush on Yom Kippur, expresses an incredible insight into the halachic parameters of the rabbi. It is letting future generations know that Jewish law has an escape clause and that it should be used in dire emergencies. That Halacha is flexible in times when flexibility is appropriate and rigid when rigidity is needed. As Jews we should look at Hashem’s mitzvot as beneficial and never look for excuses to get out of our responsibilities. However, in these trying times, we each have to be our own advocate. We each have to decide for ourselves if we feel comfortable attending or participating in certain activities. And if your answer is no, please don’t be intimidated by what anyone else advises.
I’m concerned that the virus is not yet controlled but comfortable that our community is being prudent and proactive in addressing the Coronavirus. We will continue to be vigilant and follow the advice of the health authorities. But as the situation remains fluid, please expect that our policies will continuously change. Finally, the same God who expects us to fulfill his commandments also expects us to refrain from doing anything that may endanger our wellbeing. And if in doubt the Talmud rules that chamira sakanta m’isura - protecting yourself against danger takes precedence over ritual law.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jack
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