22 Adar 5780
l'iluy nishmat my father, Lazer Wolf ben Zvi Hirsh, z"l
by Rav Kenneth Cohen, Machon Meir | reblogged with permission; first published here
The current Corona crisis is very stressful and challenging for all.
What is needed at this time, are leaders able to guide us with optimism
and hope, while directing us practically how to beat this disease. It is
most disturbing to hear continuous prophecies of doom, night after
night from our prime minister and health department officials. They have
demonstrated a complete lack of faith, and are greatly harming the
morale of the Jewish people.
Wouldn’t an address to the nation be far more effective, if it
began with some words of encouragement? For example, “With G-d’s help we
have successfully managed to avoid not even one fatality. Indications
are that those carrying the virus, will all be cured. We are so grateful
to G-d for His goodness. Let us pray that we continue to receive His
blessings of benevolence and kindness. Nevertheless, we must do our part
to be certain the Corona virus will not spread by taking the necessary
precautions.”
Contrast this to what we heard from the faithless
member of the Ministry of Health, when he said that “thousands will die
in Israel.” What gives him the right to play G-d and make such horrible
predictions? The Rabbis of the Talmud tell us that a doctor is given the
right to heal, not decree how long one will live! I fear that such
ongoing negativity, will have the reverse effect, and people will not
take them seriously.
Instead of giving an empty statement saying that we’ve weathered
other storms, and we will overcome this, why not refer to our history
and the resiliency of the Jewish people, only because of Divine help. We
are living proof of the miracle of the survival of a people under the
bleakest conditions. We have survived holocausts, expulsions, and every
form of persecution imaginable, and with G-d’s help, we overcame. Such
words give strength and help avoid feelings of despair.
Why is it unacceptable for a Jewish leader to encourage people to
pray, and a Gentile American president is able to call for a day of
prayer? It is at times like these where one is able to reap the benefits
of living a life of religious observance. His spiritual convictions
allow him to understand the power of prayer, and even in the darkest
hours, salvation can come in a moment. When one studies Torah, he
connects to other instances where a bleak situation turned into one of
great joy.
One such example was celebrated last week when we observed the
holiday of Purim. It was only due to the unity, fasting, and prayer, of
the Jewish people, that changed the evil decree of Haman, to a day of
rejoicing. On Yom Kippur afternoon, we read the story of Jonah and the
Whale. Jonah ran away as he thought the people of Nineveh were deserving
of punishment. When they were warned that they had three days to
repent, they did so, and were saved.
In Egypt, we are taught that a majority of Jews were idol
worshippers, but when their sincere cries of the pain of their servitude
reached the Heavens, G-d had mercy, and we were redeemed. This teaches
that sincere prayer coming from any Jew, can pierce the Heavens, as
well. The Corona virus has taught that the entire world can be brought
to its knees, if The Holy One Blessed Be He, so decrees. If that is the
case, the decree will end speedily, if every Jew was encouraged to pour
out his heart in prayer to our Father in Heaven.
I believe that I am expressing the frustration of many of us, in
seeing how this crisis is being handled. I am not questioning whether or
not the steps taken will be effective. But I am questioning the
faithless leadership that needs to give hope and inspiration during
these difficult times. May we all pray from the depths of our hearts,
that we be able to celebrate the coming Holiday of Freedom, Passover, in
freedom, and not locked up in our homes.
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