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| Rabbi David Lau: Don't kiss the Mezuza! (Hamodia) |
The fact is that the coronavirus can be deadly for people with underlying health
issues. Which is often the case with the elderly. That’s is why the lion’s
share of deaths resulting from people who have it are from that category.
The numbers are still sobering. According some estimates the
death rate is as high as 3%. Which is triple
(if I am not mistaken) the death rate of the flu. But that may not tell you the whole story.
There are a lot of factors that might make that comparison a bad one. For
example since there is a vaccine for the flu. It dramatically reduces the number
of elderly that die from it. There is no vaccination for the coronavirus.
If one factors out the elderly or people with underlying health
issues the death rate is much lower. Probably on par with the flu. On the other
hand the fact that there is no vaccine is what makes this illness so scary.
Without it tere is no way to stop the spread od a virus that is extremely contagious eve before one realizes they have it. Which is
why the CDC has predicted an epidemic or even a worldwide pandemic. That is why
there is so much panic.
What should be emphasized (but is practically ignored) is the fact that most otherwise healthy people
react pretty much the same way they do to the flu. And get over it pretty
quickly. That means there is a possibility that some people who caught the
virus, got over it, and never reported it. Which would make the mortality rate
a lot lower.
Nobody really knows anything. Which adds to the panic. And why hand sanitizers have been sold out
just about everywhere they are usually available.
The Orthodox Jewish community now has its own confirmed case of the virus. A 50 year old married lawyer in New York with children in religious
schools was diagnosed with the virus and hospitalized in serious condition. Thank
God his condition was upgraded to stable a day or two ago. The religious schools those children attend have closed.
The lawyer came into contact with a lot of people before he knew
he had it. Including during an event in his Shul that was well attended. It now appears
that the Shul’s Rabbi has it.
It is also very
possible that some of the people that
attended that event have spread it into their own households and beyond. There may
have been people from other cities that attended and have gone home to spread
it to others there. Who in turn will
spread it even more geometrically.
There are not enough test kits to go around. Countries have closed their doors to people from other
countries that have large numbers of victims. Airlines have cut flights to those
cities. Businesses are being hurt worldwide.
What a mess!
There are things that cane be done which are recommended by
the CDC and other health agencies. Mostly having to do with staying as sanitary
as we can; by having as little physical contact as possible with anyone else.
No shaking hands. No touching of the face. Washing hands frequently especially
before eating. (…sounds so Jewish!) Now is also a good time to be OCD about washing one’s hands.
There are additional precautions the Orhtodox community need
be aware of. Such as those mentioned in a Ha’aretz article:
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau warned against the traditional touching or kissing of mezuzahs – the decorative cases containing parchment with Hebrew verses that are put on entrance doors – and synagogues advised worshippers against touching or kissing Torah scrolls.
I would add that it should be obvious that going to a Mikvah is a bad idea. Even for purposes of family purity. I was made aware of an article
(in Hebrew) recently that said the Israeli Rabbinate has actually said that it
was OK for women to use the Mikvah because of the great hygienic care they use
in preparation for it. If that is true, it is the height of irresponsibility!
I am not one to discourage public Mikvah use. While there are serious issues involved that
must not be overlooked (about which I will not go into detail) - the danger of contracting a possibly deadly
virus supersedes the Mitzvah of Mikvah. It would therefore be unwise to be
doing that right now.
I’m not exactly sure why the Israeli rabbinate thinks it’s
OK. A woman’s careful and very hygienic preparation for a ritual bath is no protection from getting
a virus from a pool used by everyone. (which is basically what a Mikvah is.) It would be far wiser to screen people
for the virus before allowing them to
use the Mikvah. A Mkivah that has never been sued by anyone untested.
With all the angst going on right on right now (which I
probably contributed to with this post) I will end on lighter note. I must
admit that I had a good laugh when I saw it in Ha’aretz:
Regarding recommendations not to shake hands, hug or have any form of physical contact, some Orthodox Jews joked online: “We’ve been preparing for this moment our entire lives” – laughing that Orthodox strictures against touching members of the opposite sex are suddenly coming in handy.
Indeed.
