Calling Out Irresponsible Behavior

This has become a very depressing of enterprise of late. For obvious reasons. That of course hasn’t stopped me. If there was ever a time to pay attention to what is going on in the world –it is now!

This morning I heard the same news I’ve been hearing for weeks now. And as has mostly been the case - just when you think things have gotten pretty bad, they get even worse. I walked away from this morning’s newscast anxious and depressed. It took me awhile to get back to an even keel. Which doesn’t really change things. But it does help me deal better with the day.

What depressed me today is that New York is – or is quickly becoming - the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus infection. Watching a desperate Governor Cuomo struggle through a press conference citing infections figures that seem to double every few days is frightening beyond words.

It was distressing to hear him say that respirators - a vital piece of medical equipment -  will be in such short supply that tens of thousands of people that might need them to survive – will not get them.  Equally distressing - frightening even - is his prediction that what is happening in New York will soon be happening all over America relatively soon.

I’m not sure how accurate this projection is since the rates of infection varies from state to state. Less populated states do not have anywhere near the infection rate New York does. And if they practice social distancing properly they might get out of this without the kind of spike taking place in New York.

Which brings up the question, ‘Why New York?’ What is it about this city that makes it the epicenter of the disease?

The answer to that should be obvious, too. Population density.  Everyone is close to everyone else. Places like Times Square comes to mind. It seems like – in New York -  there are people everywhere all the time.  

Some epidemiologists have theorized that public transportation in New York finds people so densely packed - so close to each other they can barely move. Every day. Morning and evening. Social distancing in situations like that is impossible. It is also true that the spike might be related to the fact that many people weren’t tested until now and actually had the virus earlier – but are first being counted now. That, however, doesn’t make me feel much better.

New York is also the epicenter of Jewish life in America. There are probably more Jews in the greater New York area than in every other city combined. The same is true for Orthodox Jews. It has not escaped my attention that this fact has contributed to the problem. Not because there is God forbid any sinister motive. But simply because of the fact that Orthodox Jews tend to congregate in groups a lot more than the average New Yorker. Mostly for religious reasons.

A great many Orthodox men go to the synagogue daily to Daven with a Minyan. Some go 3 times a day. And most men and women go to Shul every Shabbos where in some cases there are many hundreds of attendees. In other cases there are those that Daven in a crowded Shtiebel where there might be dozens of Jews sitting or standing right next to each other for hours at a time.

Young Orthodox Jews can be found in the Beis HaMedrash of their given Yeshiva studying for hours a day among hundreds (or even thousands in some cases) of other students every day  for months at a time!

We also tend to have our share of weddings and Bar Mitzvahs - all of which tend to be much larger than the average New Yorker celebration. Weddings in particular are a breeding ground for infection because of the close contact between people during those lengthy dance sets!

None of this is inherently bad. There is nothing wrong (and everything right) with a society that has such a close knit relationship with their coreligionists and celebrates life-cycle events with family, friends and neighbors. But this isn’t about right or wrong. It is about facts. And in this case, these facts do not favor us.

Most of the Orthodox Jewish community has been duly chastened and have been abiding by the restrictions imposed by the government. For purposes of their own safety and to prevent community spread.

Unfortunately there are some that have been treating this like a joke. As though the government and epidemiologists don’t know what they are talking about. And they have either totally defied those restrictions or have been modifying them inappropriately for their own ‘religious’ purposes.

They have not only put themselves in danger. They have put the lives of their families in danger. As well as their neighbors and friends.  

But perhaps worst of all is the Chilul HaShem they are causing. They might not realize that the world is watching. Or they do and don’t care.  Either way that attitude is so irresponsible that it ought to be made clear that just how wrong and anti Torah it is by all responsible Orthodox organizations. Which have been coming out with valuable advice almost daily about what to do during this crisis both for our physical and spiritual health.

It is important for them to spread the word and announce to the world that what this community is doing is NOT OK! That behavior like that is a Chilul HaShem of major proportion! And that the responsibility for it is at the top. The buck stops at the door of their leaders who are either encouraging this behavior or tolerating it.

Once again - (and I cannot emphasize this enough!) It is time for all responsible Orthodox organizations - across the board - to speak with one voice of condemnation about this.

It may not change their behavior. But at least the world will know that these people are outliers who - with an attitude like this - have separated from the rest of the Jewish people and do not represent Judaism at all

This might sound harsh. Some might say that dishonoring a rabbinic leader is the height of impudence and counter to the values of the Torah in a serious way.

That would be true under ordinary circumstances. But as the Gemarah tells us, B’Makon Chilul HaShem – Ein Cholkin Kavod L’Rav. I can’t imagine a Chulul HaShem greater than causing the world to blame the pandemic on religious Jews.

I am therefore glad that in Chicago Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan of Agudath Israel of Illinois made comments last night during his annual pre-Peasch lecture that are a version of what I said here. (It was live-streamed on Zoom and available by telephone for those that do not have Internet access). I do not recall his ever doing anything like that before. It takes a lot of courage. And that ought to be applauded by all of us.