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| Professor Furstenberg on Hebrew University Campus (Jerusalem Post) |
As far as we all know, we are still unaffected by CORVID-19. We are all practicing social distancing and will continue to do so as long as we need to… staying home as much as possible.
Although the anxiety level is pretty high for all of us, we are all managing to stay relatively calm by trying to maintain the schedules we had before this virus hit. Only we are doing it at home.
Just to cite one example about myself, my 6:30 am Daf Yomi Shiur is still taking place every day at the same time. All of us still ‘attend’. Only it is from our homes via teleconferencing.
While the changes caused by the virus have been life altering, I have gotten used to them pretty quickly. They are not as bad as I first thought they would be. Since - as I said - I am trying to retain the same daily schedule as I had before. And because I try and practice the ‘distractions’ I mentioned a few days ago. Which has mitigated the stress. At least in my case. So far.
The worst part is not knowing when all this will end while watching the infection rates go up. It will be especially difficult over Pesach to not be with family.
But at the same time I have some good news to report. There has not been one new case of Coronavirus reported in China. Their coronavirus epidemic is on the downturn.
There are also rumors that a treatment for those affected may soon be available. This does not mean there aren’t other problems to overcome. There certainly are. Shortages of vital medical equipment (such as ventilators) and protective gear for health care professionals on the front lines are in short supply. But even that is currently being worked upon for a solution.
The President has taken some drastic measures of the type used by FDR during WWII in that regard. He has for example used his authority to get automobile manufacturers to retool their factories to produce some of those items as quickly as possible.
Congress has passed legislation (which the President has signed) to ease the financial burden on those most vulnerable so that they can pay their bills and eat! If there is one positive thing that resulted from this ‘plague’ it is that both congress and the White House are more or less on the same page here and are acting relatively quickly to help the American people.
While I’m on the subject... it is sad to see some political pundits using this tragic event to yet again trash the President as though it is all his fault that this happened. This is not the time to divide. It is the time to unite and put politics aside. Even if Trump’s critics are right (which is arguable) using this plague to make political hay is counterproductive and stupid. Nothing is gained by dwelling on the past and finding fault. That divides us when we should be united.
I get it. Many people can’t stand Trump. But for now, they need to get over it.
Personally, I believe that the President’s current actions will save lives. He is listening to his chief adviser, epidemiologist Anthony Fauci. Here is what former Trump adviser, Jason Miller said. (I think its obvious that he's right):
“There seems to be a very strong camaraderie and respect between the president and Dr. Fauci, and it’s clear that the president is listening to Dr. Fauci’s advice. But it’s also clear that Dr. Fauci is taking President Trump’s direction,” Miller added, citing mutual support for travel restrictions.
We should all be hoping that what congress and the President are doing is successful regardless of how we feel about them personally. Even if that would mean reelecting them all! Solving this health crisis as quickly as possible is far more important than how badly you want to them defeated in the next election. Now is not the time to be thinking about politics.
As I said, I feel blessed. I thank God for that. I believe we should all count our blessings now as much as possible. Focus on what’s right in your life. Not what’s wrong. Stay diligent, pray for the sick, and pray for a quick end to this tragedy. In the meantime be grateful for what you have. And do whatever you can to relieve the anxiety.
Speaking of ‘looking at the positive’ there is this from World Jewish Daily (Via theJerusalem Post):
A little sunshine in these gloomy times: an Israeli professor has won the Abel Prize, widely known as the Nobel Prize of Mathematics.
Hillel Fursternberg of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem won “for pioneering the use of methods from probability and dynamics in group theory, number theory and combinatorics.”
Fursternberg shares the prize with Gregory Margulis of Yale University, who works in a similar area.
Professor Fursternberg survived Kristallnacht in his native Germany and later moved to the United States. After marriage, he moved to Israel in 1965.
This is surely something to be proud of. It shows the world once again that one can be an observant Jew and accomplish great things that the entire world recognizes.
Focus on that!
Update: Just received the following update from the CRC and Agudah:
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Update: Just received the following update from the CRC and Agudah:
