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| Eytan Kobre (screenshot) |
Before anyone jumps all over me, I obviously do not mean physical interaction, that would be the height of irresponsibility, possibly suicidal and even criminal!
It is essential to stay away from people outside of your own home right now. By now it should be more than obvious that COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous viruses of all time. The fact is that symptoms often do not appear for days after one contracts them allowing the virus to be unintentionally spread all over the place. There is apparently a concern that viral shedding might be happening even after one is over the disease, becomes symptom free, and possibly even immune to getting it again. That makes this virus particularly insidious.
As of now this virus has already killed over 65,000 people worldwide. And well over a million people have been infected! Many of whom are on ventilators fighting for their lives! Officials here in the US are saying that the worst is yet to come!
The ill effects of this virus on people ranges anywhere from no symptoms at all to death. And although the elderly and people with underlying health issues people are most at risk - no one is immune. Infants just a few weeks old... and some young very healthy people with no underlying health issues have died. On the other hand some people in their 90s that have contracted it, have survived, and have fully recovered. (In one case a man over 100 recovered!)
There seems to be no rhyme or reason to this disease. People I know have died. Others are in serious condition. Some of whom are on ventilators.
God help us all!
The BEST way to protect oneself from those deadly virus is to be Machmir - halachicly stringent on one of the most important Halachos in the Torah. Do not take chances. Stay home. Do not venture out unless it is an emergency. If you are elderly and have children living near you ask them to go grocery shopping for you if possible – and leave the groceries at the door.
If you must leave your home wear a mask of some sort and stay at least six feet away from others. It is a matter of life and death to compromise on any of these measures.
The Halacha cannot be clearer. Pikuach Nefesh (danger to life) – even Safek (uncertain) Pikuch Nefesh requires one to be Mechalel (desecrate) Shabbos . An act that is otherwise worthy of capital punishment (in the era of the Sanhedrin - if done intentionally with witnesses who warned the perpetrator of the consequences). If there is even the slightest question about the possibility of fatal consequences - it is a Mitzvah to violate Shabbos immediately and potentially save a life.
Just wanted to be clear about the Halachic requirement of social distancing. Which brings me back to my original point. At a time where people cannot meet physically with other people we are fortunate to be living at time where that can be done virtually via the internet. If there was ever a time where the value of the internet was apparent - this is it. We can actually meet with others ‘face to face’ using that technology. The value to Jewish education is immeasurable. Teachers can teach and students can learn in as close to a class setting as possible.
An important feature of this medium is that we can stay close to our loved ones even if it is only through a screen. Be it through Skype, Zoom, Whatsapp, Facetime, or similar video platforms. At no time in history could we better approximate a sense of normalcy than we can now - and interact with the people we love. In the spirit of the season - if the internet was invented only for this purpose Dayenu – it would have been enough.
Which brings me to an upsetting column be Eytan Kobre in the latest issue of Mishpacha Magazine. That he chose to speak to the negative side of the internet now when it has become so vital to the sanity of so many, shows just how intransigent the ‘Daas Torah’ he relies upon can be. Instead of trying to comfort people that use this technology and thanking God that it exists, here is what Eytan said:
Let’s hope the call to eschew destructive tech doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. It’s been observed that while the current crisis has had the effect of at least temporarily ameliorating some frum communal ills such as extravagant consumerism, it has also made people more dependent on another of them, which is technology. But a current need to depend on online access in some areas of our lives need not translate into a complete collapse of principle. We can do what we need to, without a full surrender to the god of Tech, from which these pre-eminent Torah leaders are imploring us to stay far away. Let’s just call it social media distancing.
Why must ‘these pre-eminent Torah leaders’ cast aspersions on a medium that can be lifesaving in both physical and mental terms?! The need to maintain some sense of normalcy cannot be stressed enough. The internet is surely the best medium for that. Casting a negative spin on this now, no matter how well intentioned can only have a deleterious effect. There will be people that follow this kind of ‘Daas Torah’ and avoid using it for anything except the most vital concerns (...if even for that!).
Yes, there are legitimate concerns about the dangers of this medium if it is abused. Dangers that are real and immediate. But those dangers have always been there and will continue to be after this is all over. Casting aspersions on it now will surely cause some people to avoid it even when it can be used for in one of the most important purposes of our existence- staying mentally healthy.
True there are other ways to keep a sense of normalcy. But why limit it to a few activities like working on a jigsaw puzzle? Sure - it might be ideal to just pick up a Sefer in the house and learn all day long. But most of us need some leisure time activity just to keep sane. And the internet is where one can find most of that activity in addition to a variety of Torah websites to access. And as mentioned it is the best way to connect socially with loved ones.
The Torah tells us, ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ (Bereishis 2:18). If we can’t do it physically we need to do it the best way can. Which right now means using the internet. Social interaction is a vital part of human existence.
God gave us a gift. We ought to treat it that way – and thank Him for giving it to us. Not focus on its potential for misuse. For the vast majority of us, it is a useful tool that can help us mentally at a time like this. It’s use ought to be encouraged, not panned.