Williamsburg: Ground Zero for the Measles Epidemic

I have nothing against the Satmar Chasidim that populate that portion of Brooklyn and their devout ways. I do not agree with their lifestyles and their Hashakfos. But I understand them. As long as their ways do not harm others, they have a right to live anyway they choose as Jews in America. But the fact that Williamsburg is ground zero - the epicenter for a measles epidemic means that there is in fact something harmful being done to others. 

There is a reason why Willimasburg is ground zero. Barring any other differences, I have to blame it on a philosophy and lifestyle that is unique to their version of Judaism.

The high contagion value of measles harms not only people in their own community, it harms people outside of their own community.  Which is not only unwise but a Chilul HaShem. 

Apparently Williamsburg has an out sized percentage of antivaxxers. Who believe that vaccines are more dangerous than the disease they are supposed to prevent. And that the entire medical community is involved in a conspiracy to hide that ‘fact’ for purposes of making the billions of dollars of profit from vaccines produced and sold by big Pharma. And that the entire medical community including the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is in bed with big Pharma who deviously pays them off for their support.

True, the anitivaxxers in Williamsburg didn’t invent this particular conspiracy theory. But they do buy into it at what seems to be a greater level than anyone else. 250 measles cases have been confirmed in the last 9 months! What is it about them that makes them like that? 

I can only speculate. But here goes.  First let me clearly state that not all the Chasidim of Williamsburg are antivaxxers. Most are probably not. Satmar spokesman, Rabbi David Niederman was interviewed as part of a CBS story about this (see below) and clearly stated his view. He said that a person’s health is more important than anything else. An obligation not put the health of others at risk. And that there is actually a religious obligation to be vaccinated

So why is this community suffering more than any others? I think I can answer that with one word: Ignorance! That is what upsets me the most here. By a country mile! That community’s willful ignorance is responsible for so much that is wrong in their world. There is a culture of ignorance and mistrust of secular authorities which seems to be embedded into their DNA.

First they reject any kind of secular education as near worthless. They are discouraged from accessing the non Jewish media - considering it a violation of their religious standards. They have little access to the kind of health news that is typically reported by the news media. They are discouraged from using the internet. Their entire base of knowledge is controlled by their religious leaders. 

Then there is their attitude about non Jews. They are taught to be nice outwardly to non Jews but to otherwise hate them. This is an attitude they are taught generationally by their ancestors who brought it with them from Europe - where it made more sense.

Not that one is allowed to hate any of God’s creations. Man was created in God’s image and needs to be treated that way. Jew and non Jew alike. But at least the centuries old antisemitism that plagued Europe up until and through the Holocaust made such hatred understandable. That times are different now and that mainstream America is not like that - does not occur to them.

These attitudes are perpetuated by the isolated lifestyle they choose to live, enhanced by the way they dress and speak so as to distinguish themselves from non Jews and thereby discourage them from mingling with non Jews. (They consider the modern day clothing of the non Jewish world to be Chukas HaGoy. Just as they do with well spoken English.)

I believe that this breeds the kind of mistrust of secular world that causes many of them to buy into conspiracy theories. The mentality is ‘Goyim are out to get us’. ‘We are not going to listen to them.’ ‘We are going to do things our way.’ ‘Which  is God‘s way.‘

Case in point. One Chasidic woman interviewed that did not vaccinate her children – all of whom contracted measles – said, ‘It is against my personal religious belief.’ ‘I cannot agree to a systematic way of altering an immune system and testifying to God’s imperfection.’

She sees vaccinations as a religious violation that questions God’s perfection. That leaders in her own community disagree with her does not seem to impact that kind of thinking. I don’t know. Maybe she thinks that what their PR guy, Rabbi Niederman, says in public is just that. PR. But that in truth he agrees with her.

The best way to solve this problem is to get them to change their ways. To get them educated and to trust the medical authorities. To disabuse them of the notion that the Goyim are out to get us. To teach them that the America of today is not the Europe of yesteryear. To teach them to live in reality and not in the fantasy world of conspiracy theorists.

But I admit it’s a pipe dream. There is about as much chance of doing that as there is of my running a 3 minute mile.

So in the interim, I agree with the mayor of New York. De Blasio  has declared a public health emergency and is requiring all of Williamsburg to vaccinate their children. With a fine of up to $1000 for those that don’t. And he is requiring schools in Williamsburg to not allow any un-vaccinated children into their schools. 

I would personally add a quarantine on Williamsburg until the epidemic ends. Unless there is proof of vaccination - no one in or out of that community until then. That way at least the disease will be contained to Williamsburg and not spread. I think that should apply not only to Williamsburg but to any part of the country where there has been a measles outbreak.