Instruction of the Ministry of Health
Q: Is one obligated to listen to the instructions of the Ministry of
Health regarding Corona?
A: Rabbis are not physicians. Therefore, regarding medical
matters, please turn to physicians. As the Torah states, “He must provide for
his complete cure” (Shemot 21:19), regarding which our Sages commented, “Here
we derive the permission that physicians have to cure people.” The Ba’al Ha-Tanya wrote that “only the Prophets
had additional knowledge regarding various matters such as [medicine and
economics]… but now there are no more prophets, and even great Torah scholars
like the scholars of the Mishnah and Talmud do not understand medical or
economic matters, or the like” (Igeret Ha-Kodesh 22).
Just as in a disagreement between rabbis we follow the majority, so,
too, in a disagreement between physicians. For example, if there are physicians
who say a patient should violate the Sabbath or should eat on Yom Kippur, and
others say he should not, the Shulchan Aruch rules that we must follow the
majority. And we follow the mainstream view of the
medical field. See Ramban, Torat Ha-Dam,
Sha'ar Ha-Sakanah. The Minstry of Health
is following the instructions of the majority of doctors and the mainstream
view of the medical field, so one is therefore obligated to listen to their
instructions.
Bikur
Cholim on the Telephone
Q: Does
one fulfill the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim on the phone?
A: It
depends on the situation and what is best for the sick person. In the case of Corona, one does fulfill the
Mitzvah, since it is forbidden to be with him physically (Shut Tzitz Eliezer
8:5. Shut Igrot Moshe, Yoreh Deah 1:223).
Minyan
Q: If a
person is in quarantine for Corona, what does he do about Davening in a Minyan?
A: He does
not attend. He must follow the doctors'
instructions. He is Anus (exempt because
of a situation beyond his control).
Q: But I
heard that if someone wants to be spared from getting Corona, he should be
particular to attend Minyan, and Davening in a Minyan is like being in a safe room.
A: One
must obey the instructions of the Ministry of Health. One who is in quarantine is forbidden to
attend Minyan. One who is not in
quarantine must attend Minyan as usual.
We have not heard that there is such a Segulah.
Kissing
Mezuzot
Q: Should
one refrain from kissing Mezuzot on account of Corona?
A: There is no halachah that we must kiss the
mezuzah. It is an expression of our love
of the mitzvah. Kissing the mezuzah is not mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch.
What is mentioned is placing your hand on it when leaving and entering (285:2
in the Rama). It is possible that there is no concern of transferring the
illness by simply touching it but one should not put his hand to his mouth
afterwards. The essence is not kissing or touching the mezuzah, the essence is
fulfilling what is written within it as the Rambam says at the end of Hilchot
Mezuzah (6:13) that one should distance himself from the vanities of time and
cling to the Master of the Universe.
One should therefore refrain from touching or kissing Mezuzot. This is also the ruling of the Chief Rabbi,
Ha-Rav David Lau Shlit"a.
Q: Does
the same apply to kissing Siddurim at the Kotel and in Shul?
A: Yes.
Parashat
Zachor
Q: What
about hearing Parashat Zachor which is a Torah Mitzvah?
A: He is
exempt because he is Anus (because of a situation beyond his control). It is a dispute if it is a Torah Mitzvah or a
Rabbinic Mitzvah. He should read it at
home from a Chumash. He should also have
intention to fulfill the Mitzvah during the reading of Parashat Ki Teitze and
the Torah reader should also have this intention as well.
Megillah
Reading by Telephone or Video
Q:
Can a person in quarantine fulfill the Mitzvah of hearing Megillah over the
telephone or by video?
A:
Ha-Rav Herschel Schachter Shlit"a, a Gadol in America, was asked this
question and said that in Shut Igrot Moshe (Orach Chaim 4:91), Ha-Rav Moshe
Feinstein rules that Lechatchila, one cannot fulfill hearing the Megillah over
the telephone or through a microphone.
However, in a pressing situation, one can fulfill this Mitzvah over the
phone or through a microphone since it is a Rabbinic Mitzvah (This is also the
opinion of Shut Tzitz Eliezer 8:11). In
Shut Minchat Shlomo (1:9), Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach disagrees (This also
the opinion of Shut Yechaveh Daat 3:54 and Shut Minchat Yitzchak 3:48. And the Chazon Ish was in doubt about this
issue – Shut Minchat Shlomo ibid. in the notes). In our case, since it is impossible to hear
the Megillah in person due to Pikuach Nefesh (a life-threatening
situation) caused by Corona Virus, it is permissible to hear the Megillah
via a live phone call or video (The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Ha-Rav David Lau,
ruled however that one does not fulfill the Mitzvah in this manner).
Q:
Does one recite Amen on the blessings?
A:
Yes. Just as
one would in the Shul in Alexandria. (Sukkah 52a, Shut Minchat Shlomo 1:9, Shut
Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:91).
The blessing of "Ha-Rav Et Riveinu" is only recited if a
Minyan is present where the Megillah is actually being read. One can also read from a Kosher Megillah on
his own. He is not obligated to recite
the Troup, but must read it correctly and be careful to stop at the end of the
verses.
One
in Quarantine Attending Megillah Reading
Q:
If someone is required to be in quarantine and attends a Megillah reading does
he fulfill the Mitzvah?
A:
No. In Shut Maharam Shick (#260) it says
that if a doctor warns a person not to eat Matzah, Marror and drink the Four
Cups of wine because it is dangerous for him, it is certainly forbidden for him
to be strict and eat them anyway. This is
based on the Eliya Rabba (618:2) who writes that a doctor says if a person is
forbidden to fast on Yom Kippur and does so anyway, we force him to eat. And in Shut Mahari Asad (#160) it says that if
a person does not obey the doctor and fulfills the Mitzvah, it is a Mitzvah
performed through a transgression (brought in Sha'aryim Metzuyanim Be-Halachah
119:18). And the Tosafot in Baba Kama
(23a) already wrote that more than a person should be careful not be injured,
he should take care not to injure others.
"Harm
will not befall one on the way to perform a Mitzvah"
Q: How
could someone get sick with Corona while hearing the Megillah when the Gemara
states, "Harm will not befall one on the way to perform a
Mitzvah"?
A: See the
Gemara in Pesachim 8b. "Harm will not befall one on the way to
perform a Mitzvah" is said in regard to an infrequent danger. The
example given there is one who is checking for Chametz and perhaps should check
under rocks. But he should not check because there might be snakes or
scorpions under the rocks. The Gemara asks – how so? Harm will not
befall one on the way to perform a Mitzvah! Answer: This is a frequent
occurrence (snakes and scorpions under rocks) and there is therefore a chance
that he might be harmed. Another example: A person has a shared wall with
a non-Jewish neighbor. Perhaps he should stick his fingers into the
cracks in the wall to search for Chametz. But, he should not check,
because the neighbor may accuse him of witchcraft and cause him terrible
problems. The Gemara asks – how so? Harm will not befall one
on the way to perform a Mitzvah. Answer: This is an evil neighbor and it
is considered a frequent occurrence. Thus, we do not apply this principle
when there is a frequent occurrence. The Gemara states that the proof for
this idea is found in the Book of Shmuel (1 Chap. 16) when Hashem tells the Prophet
Shmuel to anoint David as king. "And Shmuel said: How can I
go? If Shaul hears he will kill me?" (verse 2). Hashem
said: Tell him that you are going to offer a sacrifice in order that he will
not be suspicious. The Gemara asks: But he was going to perform a Mitzvah
directly commanded to him by Hashem and "Harm will not befall one on the
way to perform a Mitzvah" (see Rashi). Answer: When there is a
frequent danger, even those performing a Mitzvah can be harmed. This is
discussed at length in the book "Mesillat Yesharim" at the end of
chapter 9. It is obvious that if one comes in contact with someone who
has an infectious illness, it is considered a frequent occurrence and even
someone performing a Mitzvah can be harmed.
What is
Hashem Telling us
Q: What is
Hashem trying to teach us with the Corona Virus in the world?
A:
Humility. Man is arrogant regarding the
incredible technological advances which help him control the world and thinks
he is a god. And Hashem sends a tiny
microscopic creature and Man – with all of his wisdom – cannot control it.
Q: Many
Rabbis says that Corona is the Mashiach.
Is it true?
A: It has
nothing to do with it.
And may the following be fulfilled through us: "Heal us, Hashem and
we will be healed, save us and we will be save" (from the "Shemoneh
Esrei").
