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| Williamsburg mothers pushing strollers to Yeshiva Kehilath Yakov (NYP) |
I don’t get it. Even though I understand why Satmar has so
much antipathy for the secular world (which I believe is a grossly mistaken
attitude) - I still cannot understand why there is so little trust in modern
medicine by so many of their people. A fact that has unfolded with with a vengeance in that part of the world.
I realize of course that most of that community has vaccinated
their children. But apparently enough haven’t to have caused what seems to be
an unending crisis.
Because of this crisis, New York City officials have
been demanding everyone in Williamsburg be vaccinated. Those that don’t will be
fined $1000. They have also ordered a sort quarantine of non vaccinated children – requiring them to
stay at home for a period of three weeks.
That is how long it can take before measles symptoms appear after being
exposed to a virus. Which can stay in a room for hours without anyone even realizing
it.
It might be hard for parents to comply with this request. But
I don’t blame city officials for demanding it.
In the meantime Williamsburg Antivaxxers are suing the city
for the right to stay unvaccinated.
What a mess.
Where are the Satmar Rebbes? Why are they not the ones
making those demands? Or at least backing up what city officials are
demanding? Why are they not requiring their Chasidim to be vaccinated or stay
home? Why are they not shutting down those antivaxxers?
I realize you can’t reason with an antivaxxer. Jew or
gentile. They have their minds made up. There is nothing you can offer as proof
against their claim that measles vaccine is harmful.
Since Satmar Chasdim are not the only antivaxxers, the question
remains. Why is the Satmar community of Williamsburg the epicenter of this
disease? What is it about them that makes their community so vulnerable?
I have speculated about this in the past. I believe it is a
combination of willful ignorance about the world outside their own community. No
secular studies. No Internet. (although I’m pretty sure that by now that
rule is honored mostly in the breach.)
That is one problem. But I think the bigger probelm is their attitude
of antipathy to - and mistrust of - the non Jewish world. They believe ‘the Goyim
are out to get them’. That they are all closet antisemites who want to do us
in. Much the same as was the case with their ancestors in pre Holocaust Europe.
And yet they do go to doctors when they need to. What gives?
Is that not a contradiction to those beliefs? It would seem to be. I guess they
have no choice when they are sick. But when it comes to vaccinations as a
preventative measure…? No way.
And then there are stupidities like this one where prominent rabbis are shown in an antivax ad.
What about the 500 US doctors who urged all children and healthy parents to get vaccinated? What about religious doctors and many Orthodox rabbis who urged the same? Why are they not believed? I don’t know. You'd have to ask them.
What about the 500 US doctors who urged all children and healthy parents to get vaccinated? What about religious doctors and many Orthodox rabbis who urged the same? Why are they not believed? I don’t know. You'd have to ask them.
I admit this is my own speculation. But if anyone has a better explanation of ...Why Williamsburg? ...I’d sure like to hear it.
In the meantime the measles epidemic is not going away. In one case reported in the media an El-Al flight attendant was affected and is now in a coma!
