I dare not speculate about it. To know the reason for this is to be God. However, I do know at the same time, that God gave us intelligence and intellect to investigate and confront this pandemic. I think it is not productive to ask why. We should rather analyze the consequences, direct our attention to where our weaknesses lie, to what we can learn from what happened. I am sure that we will be strengthened through this terrible experience because it has united humanity, although globalized, is often time dispersed while attending to individual needs. More than ever we must conclude we share the same spacecraft, the earth: the planet we must care for and protect. God placed Adam in Gan Eden, on the earth, leovdó uleshomró, to work and care for it, to participate in “Creation” by improving different manifestations and aspects of nature.
It is also a moment in which generosity and mutual responsibility come to light. It confirms the adage that “there is no evil that does not come for some good”.
Many want to know how to overcome loneliness, especially the elderly who are now quarantined from family visits. In a sense, the instruction of ‘social distancing’ obligates all of us to experience loneliness.
When Rabbi Akiva responded to: “What is the ‘great’ principle of the Torah?” he did not reply by saying ‘study more’, ‘observe the mitzvot with greater intensity’. He said quoting the Torah: “veahavta lereacha kamocha”, “love your neighbor as yourself”, he basically said: “do for others” and that is the best remedy for loneliness. Call a friend who is alone and ask him or her if they have the bare necessities these days. And if you cannot fulfill that requirement personally, look for who can do it. By helping others you will think less about your own loneliness.
We will soon come to the conclusion that greater resources have to be spent in a wider and deeper study of the basic sciences: biology and chemistry, mathematics and physics among others.
It is ironic that a micro-organism that can only be seen by a powerful microscope has done more damage than many natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. It surely is a humbling experience, that shows our lack of basic knowledge of the inner mechanisms and workings of life.
In the past, Egypt suffered from 10 plagues, sent to force them to liberate our ancestors from slavery. At the Seder, we spilled some of the wine when reciting these plagues, as a symbolic tear, for the Egyptians who died because of the plagues.
Pesach is the season for freedom and spring. In these days we pray that God free us and all of humanity from this present plague.
Let us stay healthy by following the instructions of the doctors, scientists and all those who work in the field of health, as we express our gratitude to them for standing tall at this time of emergency, putting at riske their own health and welfare.
Rabbi Pynchas Brener
