How to React Jewishly to the Corona Crisis

March 19, 2020

Our world is in turmoil, with no foreseeable end to the crisis. Borders closing, cities on

lockdown, countless in quarantine, coupled with widespread panic; "Normal life" is on hold. Each day seems to produce worse news than the previous and the future feels awfully uncertain.

We Jews have endured the full range of history's most trying moments. The eternal people will certainly survive this crisis too.

As the world grapples with the Coronavirus pandemic, Judaism offers a wealth of pertinent wisdom, sourced in our rich tradition.

Here are five practical and beneficial actions you can adopt during these unsettling times:

1. Safety First.
In Judaism, life is paramount. We will go to the extreme to preserve even a single life. We will override almost every Torah law, if there is any chance at all that it will save a life. Jewish law demands that we absolutely follow all safety protocols and precautions. The Talmud states that to protect yourself from danger is more serious than avoiding any Torah prohibition. (Simply put; In the Covid-19 period, it is a greater sin to kiss grandma than to eat pork.) Be it social distancing, quarantine, hand-washing or skipping a coffee date, Jewish law insists that we take every necessary measure to protect ourselves, our families and those around us.

2. Stay Optimistic.
We’re inundated with breaking news stories of the explosion of Covid-19 cases. Each day, we hear of more people who have succumbed. Governments continue to roll out new and more drastic measures, while pundits predict doom and gloom. It is easy to fall into despair.

Deep down, we all realise that panic and pessimism won't help us, but we struggle to shift our mindset, especially in the face of the information overload.

Judaism is averse to despondency. We firmly believe that every single thing that happens is personally choreographed by G-d. The microscopic Covid-19 and its intercontinental ramifications are, likewise, under His direct control. Our finite human minds struggle to comprehend why He would send such an epidemic or how He can, in fact, control it. Our limited perceptions have no bearing on G-d's mastery.

Judaism reiterates that the virus itself has no power. Only G-d has power, and control. He has the power to create this viral pandemic, He will certainly ensure that it ends well.

We are taught that we should learn to trust that He knows what He is doing, and that He will do what is truly best for us.

Breathe! G-d will take care of us. He responds with miracles when we trust Him.

3. Solve the Right Problem.
You can exert all your energy trying to create change, but if you're addressing the wrong problem, you actually solve nothing.

Through human eyes, there seems to be nothing we can actually do to stop Coronavirus. We hope for a vaccine, but that will take time, perhaps too much time..

Judaism teaches that whatever happens in the physical realm is the result of causative events in the spiritual spheres. When we face a physical problem, our most effective solution is to treat the spiritual issue that sits at its root.

The Jewish response to combat this pandemic is to ramp up our spiritual efforts. It's the only thing we can do.

Historically, in trying times, Jews have focused on four fundamental areas:

A. Prayer.
Have a word with the One pulling the strings. Petition G-d to end this pandemic, to heal the sick and to protect us. Tehillim (Psalms) is a potent form of prayer, try to recite a chapter or two each day during this crisis.

B. Torah Study.
Torah protects. Now is a perfect time to watch an online Torah class, read a Torah book or study Torah with your children (while schools are shut).

C. Tzedakah (Charity).
Tzedakah is considered equal to all the Mitzvot (Biblical instructions). Tzedakah elicits Divine protection and blessing (and yes, you can keep social distancing and still give Tzedakah online).

D. Teshuvah (Reconnect).
Our Jewish soul is a piece of G-d. Our habitual behaviours tend to distract us from the ideals of our true, inner self. Take a moment to recalibrate and get back in touch with your inner Jew. No-one is too far gone to re-embrace their Judaism.

4. Anticipate Moshiach.
The prophets predicted a powerful Shofar that would herald the era of Moshiach. Shofar makes you think of an air raid siren, right? Well, this "Shofar" may be somewhat more allegorical.

In 1967, shortly after the Six Day War, the Rebbe explained that a Shofar is designed to shake us up. (We blow it on the holy day of Rosh Hashanah to arouse us to reconnect with G-d.) He explained that the awesome pre-Moshiach Shofar will not simply be a ram's horn, but global events that will intensely jolt the entire world. Moshiach’s times will be so fundamentally different to our current reality, that the whole world will need a major shake-up, before the new reality can set in.

Consider this: We are living through the most far-reaching ordeal of modern history. Every aspect of life is affected. Governments are scrambling, cities are shutting and the markets are collapsing. Tourist hotspots are desolate. People are in isolation. Schools, stadiums, theatres, restaurants and malls are shut. The world is almost at a complete, spine-chilling standstill.

Society is trembling, not knowing what to do. The collective fear and uncertainty is overwhelming.

Could all this be the pre-Moshiach Shofar/Shake-up? Is this the dramatic build-up to the grand arrival of Moshiach?

Only time will tell, but our attitudes might make all the difference, which is why...

5. Plan for the Long Term.
We all hope that eventually the dust will settle and we will get back to normal life.

One moment!

Do we really want to get back to normal life, minus Coronavirus? Do we want to return to a world where illness and death are still a part of reality? A world where we fear terrorists and rogue regimes? A world where significant portions of humanity lack harmony and peaceful co-existence? Do we want to return to a world where pain, tragedy and suffering are unavoidable parts of life?

We're at a raw stage of history. Everything is in question. Anything can happen.

We wish for a world where health, happiness, life and prosperity are the simple reality. We aspire to a world without fear, aggression or oppression, where all humanity will co-exist peacefully. We pray for a world without pain, tragedy or suffering. We wish for the Divinely inspired world of Moshiach.

We’re at an historic crossroads. We can, and should, plead with G-d to, not only stop this pandemic, but heal the world altogether by steering us into the long-awaited, blissful era of Moshiach!

If we sincerely pray for Moshiach, for a better forever, rather than a better tomorrow, our prayers may just be answered...

If we sincerely ask our Father in Heaven to take us all home, you can well imagine He will respond like any good father would.