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On a related note, a relatively recent article expounded on how so called aerosols actually cool the atmosphere by limiting the sun’s heat from passing through. I thought it was very telling about how what the environmentalists are saying and what’s really happening or not is beyond our comprehension. Hashem runs the world, and the “teva” is way more complicated than a + b = c.
So what’s a florescent light? Is it related to vertical planting? Maybe it can solve 2 environmental crises at once.
Hi Mammale!!
Didn’t Canada do the same a few years ago? It should be pretty easy to guess the effect on the economy according to their experiences.
Regarding picking up a penny from the ground, one of my teachers once mentioned that by picking it up you show Hashem that you value money, so he may send you more. (Hopefully the real stuff.)
Additionally, I think that because it states “In G-d we Trust” it’s not kavod to leave on the ground.
Just my 2 cents…
Sammy’s recipe seems very similar to how we make tomato dip. We also add a nice pinch of black pepper. And usually use grape tomatoes or a combination of grape and plum tomatoes. When grape tomatoes are in season they add a subtle natural sweetness. (The problem with grape tomatoes is that they have more pesticides, and it’s usually more expensive.)
Thank you so much AZ for sharing an informative, positive article.
IIRC, a while after the heimishe storm erupted about bugs in NYC’s tap water, the DEP admitted that they actually add copepods to their reservoirs for “natural water purification”.
The coffee cock-roach issue is not new. And chocolate is supposedly not different in this regard. Someone I know sneezed almost every time he/she ate chocolate and therefore did an allergy test for cock-roaches. But the result was negative…
And so it’s a good idea to store open bars of chocolate in zip-lock bags. We’re not the only chocoholics around.
CA: I don’t know if this is the reason in the cases you know (and probably not or you would have mentioned something about it) but rumor in my Heimishe circles is that the COVID lock-down last year was the cause of many fresh newlyweds divorcing.
Not because they didn’t get a fancy wedding, but living together with someone new 24/7 made some faults all too obvious. Add to that moodiness from being cooped up, watching ones’s spouse wasting so much time, get up late etc. was unfortunately a disaster for many relationships.
Charlie: I believe that since 40% of New Yorkers are concentrated (in close proximity) in NYC, and a nice chunk in New York’s suburban areas that are pretty dense population-wise — which means easy access to medical centers and hospitals for most in the state — being
25th or so when it comes to vaccinating its population is really pretty dismal.I know I’m a little late regarding this point, but in NY state if an employee quits to look for another job, then doesn’t find one, he can legally collect unemployment. The employer despite not having fired him and that their unemployment tax rate will increase because of it, is powerless to fight it.
I don’t know why my comment a few days ago didn’t go through. It may have been a connection issue.)
IIRC the doctors missed an internal stomach bleed in Yankel Rosenbaum because they were sidetracked with then Mayor David Dinkins’ visit. Don’t know if this makes sense, but at least this was the reason given at that time.
And Charlie, only because of Yankel’s (הי”ד) brother Nachman zt”l using virtually every legal and PR angle over many years did Lemrick Nelson end up doing time, for violating his civil rights no less. NYC does not deserve any credit for whatever bit of justice was meted out in the end.
I see my latest post didn’t go through. No time to repost that, but just noticed that Andrew Giuliani is considering a run for NYC Mayor. So maybe I’m not in dreamland after all…
CH: as a statistician, you should be a lot smarter than your comment implies. The question wasn’t just one of raw numbers, but in which direction NYC is heading. I’d compare it to the COVID charts, with trends being a major indicator of what’s to come. And although it’s not a perfect analogy, when I look around, it seems crime is definitely infectious.
I know it’s not statistically significant, but within several blocks of my house in Brooklyn, there have been at least two shooting sprees recently, literally days apart. And several glass storefronts were broken into. Roll-down gates will make a comeback if this continues.
My only consolation is that we’ll get a conservative Mayor in a year or so, as the people will not take kindly to more of the same.It’s also not exactly accurate to compare murder rates from now to 40-60 years ago as I believe the survival rate from shootings has increased since.
There are definitely a lot more people of all persuasions moving out of NYC.
But until COVID-19 is officially over (with everything allowed to open) and the weather turns cold, we won’t know by looking at foot traffic how much of it is temporary. Many families are in their summer homes etc. so the picture might not be quite as bleak.
And de Blasio must go.
Sorry I threw it out already so I’m not sure. I think it was a NOV though. Maybe different locations have different forms. IIRC the address and ID for reference were hand-written.
Nice.
I had a census worker visit on Shabbos. I politely dismissed her and when we later reviewed her note, it stated Unit #4 after our address. No such unit or floor # in our house. Where do they get their info from? My husband thinks it was a hoax…
Charlie: there’s a lot more to immunity than anti-bodies. Once the body fought it off once it can recognize it quickly and get rid of it before it takes hold. At least that’s the common consensus about memory T cells and something similar I forgot the name of.
This fear mongering is what’s having the opposite result – people being careless because common sense precautions are never enough anyway. Please get real. This virus can be tough, but it’s not invincible or equally dangerous for all. And staying home for weeks on end has its own risks. If it’s warranted, that’s one thing, but all this baloney of getting it again has to stop.
DY: I guessed you missed the part of it being for this week (9 days) Thursday night.
And if you guys go for it, you can add some whole eggs to cook with your chulent for variety.
According to David Fishbein on Kosher (cooking website) the answer is yes. He doesn’t specify a brand or where to buy it. Remember to use it sparingly as the flavor is very condensed, otherwise you’ll ruin your food.
Another option is to use smoked paprika. Don’t overdo this either. Hatzlacha!
Drizzle some olive oil and add a bit of liquid smoke (about 1/4 teaspoon per bag of beans) and it should taste great. Let us know if there were any leftovers.
The question is whether we have herd immunity already. Although the percentage of Frum Yidden with anti-bodies is not high enough for us to be considered immune at this point, T-cells may show the bigger picture. 50% of blood samples taken between 2015-2018 had memory T-cells that could have protected the person from COVID-19!
This from the WSJ:
“ This seems especially probable since scientists are now discovering that many asymptomatic or mild cases don’t develop Covid-19-specific antibodies.
One reason is that some people have underlying T-cell immunity from past coronaviruses that can help them vanquish the novel virus without developing antibodies. Several studies have found that even people who were never infected with Covid-19 nonetheless have “memory” T-cells—the immune system’s fighters—from past coronavirus infections, which attack the new virus. A La Jolla Institute for Immunology team has detected residual T-cells in about half of blood samples collected between 2015 and 2018.”
The article first discusses different strains and is a good read.
Cuomo is far from a magician IMHO. NY’s lack of a resurgence is not because of his careful opening (coupled with mass protests). On the contrary, NY, and especially NYC, has likely reached herd immunity because of closing down so late in the virus’s spread. (That’s why states and Israel are seeing a spike when reopening, as there’s no widespread immunity there.) The Frum community where it spread quickly and early is likely even more immune than the general population in the same neighborhood. This includes children that were exposed whether they caught it or not.
So my two cents: if you’re at risk be careful, especially if you’ve locked down early. However, if you stay within your own “exposed by Pesach Heimish circle” you’re relatively safe.
Now go tell Cuomo to open the summer camps…
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy summer!
Correction: it was a field hospital at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, not a ship.
New positives could be old positives. I know people who have tested positive for COVID 19 more than 6 weeks after recovering.
The one that also took an anti-body test also tested positive for anti-bodies. The virus can show up in tests when there is no chance of transmission.
Additionally, kids barely pass on the virus, even when infected, which is a lot less often than adults. So keeping schools shut – which will invariably mean day-camps – makes very little sense if there are no new real cases in a community. No matter what Trump haters say, he has science on his side when it comes to schools.
As an aside, NYC could have already met the states’s criteria to reopen phase one, if it made the planned hospital ship (IIRC in Red Hood) operational.
If I’m correct, and I’m not sure about the full scope of this, the Israelis are tracking infections and separating the infected from their families.
NY is planning on doing the same, with the key word being planning. Bloomberg is donating money for a tracking system, which may turn out to be better than the Israeli system, but by the time all the details are worked out it may no longer be necessary.
Basically speed is the name of the game. NY missed by a long shot. By the time we blinked, we were in way too deep, with nobody in charge to know how to grab the bull by the horns. And of course, the American culture isn’t set up for such levels of control, so it wouldn’t have been an easy feat in any case.
I used a Chiropractor for one of my children when all else failed, and although he/she got better after many visits, it may just as well have been that the child naturally outgrew it. It was quite a while back so I don’t remember all the specifics, but the child was probably about 10 when it resolved.
The chiropractor had some explanation with a scan showing inflammation, so if you’re desperate do some more research and decide if you want to try it.
Insurance didn’t cover it for us at that time.
Hatzlacha!
Ubiq: if Dr. Zelenko’s numbers are true, I think you’re missing a critical point, or trying to oversimplify this. The key point being repeated in news articles is that most YOUNG & HEALTHY people will recover. Dr. Zelenko is only medicating those with pre-existing conditions, advanced age or both (with perhaps a few exceptions).
Yes it’s true only a clinical trial blah blah blah will give us a true picture. But in a few months hopefully this nightmare will be over, and even if it Ch”v comes back, it will be too late for way too many whose lives may be saved now.
Someone below 50 with elevated blood pressure numbers partly influenced by COVID-19 stress discussed with me whether to attend a “porch minyan” this past Shabbos. My opinion was that if he thinks it’ll relax him he should go ahead. I don’t know if it was perfectly safe for everyone (he specifically is B”H cured of the virus – and I do know immunity is not yet certain) once we calculate wind and exaggerated distances needed for separation, but I still believe it was the right call.
GH: We’re not necessarily rebelling, but it’s extremely difficult for many to not Daven with minyan, listen to Rosh Chodesh bentching, Hallelel this week etc. Everyone has their own needs. Don’t belittle human feelings, even when halacha doesn’t mandate tefilla betzibur.
Additionally, my educated guess is that over 80% of the Heimishe community in Brooklyn has already been infected. We’re way over the curve here, and once numbers are proven MOST of us will be released from lock-downs, even where infection rates are a lot lower.
For the high risk population I don’t know what the answer is, Moshiach should come speedily.
Sleep-away camp is riskier than most jobs that are now “banned”. Even if the economy opens up, it may still not be allowed this summer. Unless immunity testing works out, and many kids turn out to be immune.
Syag: I agree. Many people have literally not stepped out of the house for over a month. (Yes, they’re allowed to go for walks, but won’t for whatever reason.) And for those above 60 with health issues living in apartment buildings/condos, it’s hard to argue that it’s perfectly safe for them to leave, even with mask and gloves.
The problem is that to fight off the virus, good circulation is vital. Most of these people are not getting even a fraction of their regular exercise at home. And even their prior walks for daily activities weren’t enough for them to stay healthy.
I have no magic answer, but we need to be aware of the downside and that we are literally creating a huge pool of physically “barely mobile” people with all its health ramifications. And I’m just discussing heart health now, the mental health aspects are not to be ignored either.
Ubiq,
You have a few things wrong.
1. He’s not just treating patients that reside in KJ. IIRC they’re about half his patients. So nothing in the local water…
2. He’s treating patients WITH SYMPTOMS. Even his naysayers don’t claim he’s not a good doctor. So you’d have to believe he’s clueless if you claim that because most patients weren’t tested they don’t have Corona. As a medical professional, do you need a test to show someone’s skin is pale and clammy, their eyes are jaundiced etc? Or do you use your educated judgement? Why is Coronavirus different? Especially so since Coronavirus is very prevalent in the frum communities. If the Spanish flu had no test, did that pandemic never happen?
3. Walking well is a misnomer. With a few exceptions, he’s treating patients with his regimen IF THEY HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR ADVANCED AGE that put them at a higher risk, or have DIFFICULTY BREATHING without necessarily having other risk factors.
I have to add that I don’t know his current numbers, so his success rate may have changed.
I also find this thread a bit comical, as there a flash-backs here of an old feud, and there’s not even a clear disagreement on all points, yet the arguments and counter-arguments keep on flying…
Amil:
He tested the patients with flu like symptoms with this year’s flu test to RULE OUT THE FLU. He did do COVID tests in the beginning, and a majority came back positive. Since tests are in short supply, I believe he now mainly diagnoses based on symptoms.
Remember, KJ was considered such a hot-spot by the negative media, that nearby town officials tried pressuring Cuomo to do a full lock-down there so that the virus doesn’t spread to their towns. (However, he also treats patients from other neighborhoods.) Sure there was some anti-Semitism behind it, but it’s undeniable that our Heimishe communities have been hit hard.
Ultimately it boils down to Dr. Zelenko’s credibility as a doctor. Although I can’t vouch for him personally (and he did make some off the bat comments in the beginning) he seems to have a solid reputation in 16 years of practice. And he sounds knowledgeable.
It’s worth noting that Dr. Zelenko is self-isolating due to his medical condition. This may mean he had more time for research, but also that he relies on his staff for hands-on work.
Yes, it especially gets my goat when same left wing media makes sure to mention that someone got poisoned by ingesting a fish tank cleaning chemical in lieu of hydroxychloroquine. That was definitely Trump’s fault for highlighting the drug. Silly Americans must be kept in the dark lest they poison themselves…
And lest you think I’m a Trump Kool-aid drinker, how Trump handled this crisis a month ago and his pie in the sky attitude then REALLY roiled me up. Now I choose not to listen, but I believe he sort of learned from his mistakes, at a very high cost.
Yseribus: I believe Dr. Zelenko tested those patients for the flu before treating.
We all know the heimishe communities have been hit hard, with many with somewhat unrecognized symptoms like losing their sense of smell. Negating his diagnosis because of lack of available tests is foolhardy.
He’s mainly only treating those that have at least one risk factor, or have difficulty breathing. And he’s NOT CLAIMING IT AS A CURE FOR ADVANCED CASES. His idea is to treat those at risk before their lungs become compromised, when the chances of reversal are much greater. Ironically, the experts here state that these patients would have recovered naturally. So why is the percentage of deaths so high in relatively healthy individuals, or those above 50?
And most risks associated with this medication are with LONG TERM USE not for those taking it for 5 or 10 days. Of course doctors have to do their due diligence before prescribing, as some patients are not ideal candidates. But knowing how dangerous COVID 19 is, we must weigh the potential benefit against the potential risk.
Iacisrmma: Rabbi Avraham Blumenkrantz zatz”l originally made me aware of this through his Pesach sefer many years ago. Similar information is in this year’s edition, continued by his family. I have the App, and it lists information from the Badatz from 2000 not to use mushrooms on Pesach, with information from mushroom producers that it’s “grown” from rye or other grains in the compost.
This is why I prefaced my comment by unless something has changed, but in the absence of such data, I will continue not to use it. There may be heterim, but for me mushrooms are not a critical ingredient. As always, AYLOR, I just thought many might not even be aware this is an issue.
Unless something’s changed in how they’re grown within the past few years, Rabbi Blumenkrantz and others say not to use mushrooms on Pesach.
I think you’re jumping to conclusions. I believe Wolfish is referring to a date night with his wife.
South Korea had experience dealing with MERS, so they were far smarter about this, and had tracking systems and stricter anti-infection hospital protocols in place already. We didn’t, but the main bungle was lack of testing for bureaucratic and competency reasons. And the biggest idiocy was assuming there was no spread because there were no positives yet… and telling the masses that all is okay and to go about their business.
That message for too long was from Trump down to de Blasio.
The second major bungle was lack of masks and therefore wrong advice to the masses to not wear them. I’d like to see Trump and his aides give a press conference wearing one, to show Americans that this is the temporary new normal.
(Incidentally, women in Heimish communities are more reluctant to wear masks and gloves while grocery shopping, as esthetics are more important to them. So lehavdil just like men are taught to Daven with minyan and many have trouble letting go, women are conditioned to always make sure they look good and are having trouble with this. Just my two cents, but we need a multi-pronged strategy in our own neighborhoods to stop the spread.)
The comments on this thread are ridiculous. Doctors have no magical answers, and ERs only want almost critical patients. To tell people to not try home remedies first in this scenario is ludicrous. Of course if one experiences difficulty breathing, the ER is the answer. But for most trying Zinc, garlic, vitamin C, D etc. at home in relatively safe doses to shore up their immune system, this is the most logical thing to do. Don’t take a medication on your own, discuss with knowledgeable people and use common sense, but don’t be a lame duck.
DaMoshe: Not to negate your point, but it’s good to be aware that the current allowances for those living together are because they’re not ready to separate families like they did in China. (Which means separate facilities for those exposed and those with the virus.) This may be one of the reasons the Frum community is being hit harder. Larger families (yes even under one roof) equal more potential for infection.
I’ve seen video footage of porch Minyanim in condo/developments that seem okay, but I can’t vouch for its safety.
Joseph: from what I’ve read, the general consensus seems to be that once someone recovered from it they’re immune for at least a year, but they can’t know 100%.
Once testing for anti-bodies gets underway, people will be able to test whether they – and especially their kids which have a greater chance of being asymptomatic – are already immune AND THEREFORE CAN’T TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO ANYONE ELSE. They can also derive a potential treatment from the blood of recovered persons.
The question remains whether with the medical community so overwhelmed, these blood tests will be administered in the near future or not.
At the rate NYC is heading, I think come Chol Hamoad Pesach many Jewish families will be immune to the Corona virus and ready to roll (assuming any place will be open). I’m not saying this is a good thing, yet it may still end up being the silver lining for many young families.
Joseph, please stop minimizing the threat! It’s pikuach Nefesh!
As stated earlier by someone, the flu lasts 8 months every year. If we let this spread without restrictions, we can Ch”v have 1/2 the population infected (if not more, no one has immunity yet) over the course of about 3 months. And unfortunately as seen, the percentage needing hospitalization IN ALL AGES is much greater than with the flu.
When the flu is out of control in any given year, the medical community gets more vocal urging people to get vaccinated to limit cases. So there may still be time to turn the tide.
And for better or worse, we have a free market economy, so hospitals don’t just have tons of extra beds and ventilators as “spares”. They estimate amounts, and if it’s a small town hospital that can’t afford it, they may even have less than necessary for a bad flu season and direct patients elsewhere when full.
In any given yea does your supermarket double their shmurah Matzah stock for example, because maybe this year people will be extra hungry or whatever? No, they look at the past and order accordingly, with maybe a bit extra to control for variables. Matzah is expensive, and loses value after Pesach. Hospital equipment and rooms even more so. And I assume with technology constantly changing, equipment needs to be replaced every few years to be up to date. The government may have some contingency plans, but within reason. This pandemic is unreasonable, from a logical POV based on how modern medicine has spoiled us. So yes we were caught unprepared. Hashem is showing us that He’s in charge, but we have the obligation from Him to GUARD OUR LIVES VERY STRONGLY!
Akuperma: the numbers show that even for millennials, the damage to their lungs may be very serious. By early warnings focusing on the elderly, more millennials were exposed and the outcomes for many are dangerous or life-long. — even if young, healthy deaths are still relatively few.
So if even only 1% of those aged 30-50 are at risk of serious complications, it adds up quickly when there are many infections. And when the medical system is overloaded, usually treatable complications may ch”v equal premature death.
Besides, Britain gave up on just quarantining the elderly and sick and came to the realization that mass closings are necessary.
In any case your attitude about elderly life in some posts seem callous to me, and if I were given emergency powers I would have blocked you by now.
In NYC restaurants will only be open for take-out/delivery as of Tuesday and most Shuls are still open.
I’d like to take this opportunity to request that those Kosher restaurant owners that can – in order to make up for lost business and as a service to the community – Kasher their place for Pesach and sell Kosher l’Pesach this year. Talk to the relevant Kashrus agencies to see if you can make it happen. There will be a real need for take-out for those that usually go to hotels for Pesach, as well for the elderly that don’t want to mingle with family and risk infection, or those that may Ch”V be moderately sick and unable to prepare or be guests and spread the virus.
Stay healthy and strong everyone! And Daven for all of us!
Aren’t T-Mobile and Sprint merging? Wouldn’t that improve coverage, perhaps for both but at least for T-Mobile? I don’t know when it’s taking effect though.
I believe you meant to write 7.7 billion people in the world. Closer to 8 billion I would guess.
But your 77 million number is still correct, ASSUMING 1/2 the world ch”v gets sick. Perhaps there are more people with strong immune systems, or those isolated enough to not get sick? From where did you take the 50% infection rate?
In any case as Yidden, especially in Adar, we shouldn’t be delving in worst case scenarios.
Ever tried using a paper bag in the rain? Last summer I lost my precious cargo this way. I was caught in a downpour rushing to meet someone, juggling umbrella and handbag — and my paper bag disintegrated, without me noticing immediately that its contents fell out. (IIRC it was coated inside so I thought it’ll be safe the short walk until I got on the city bus.) Luckily only my trusty water bottle was inside. But I was thirsty…
Good luck to all of us liberal state and city dwellers.
I’ve been told by an electrician when thinking of switching an area our house from fluorescent to strip LEDs, that although the LEDs may technically last longer, the brightness diminishes over time. If true, we’re probably all frog-like and don’t notice it. So we’re likely being gamed.
While it’s hard to argue with your economics, it’s a lot more than nostalgia. I don’t think it’s a simple thing to sell a Shul to non Jews, especially as in the past many Shuls in Brooklyn ended up as churches l”a. (I don’t think this risk is as great with your average shtiebl, as there’s no real architectural value.)
And changing a neighborhood past a certain age may mean loss of friends, doctors, pharmacist, and of course familiar shul. Especially with married kids working most waking hours, it can literally be a health risk and perhaps even traumatic for some. Don’t belittle it.
No one talks of going back to Budapest, Lublin (or even Uman?) because we fled from there with the last inch of our lives, most of the infrastructure is gone anyway (not that it matters) and suicide is not a Jewish trait – anti-Semitism in much of Europe is transmitted with the mother’s milk. It doesn’t help that the American economy and standard of living is a lot higher anyway.
And to touch on the financial angle a bit, those moving to cheaper ESTABLISHED neighborhoods are for the most not funding the building of new schools. They’re for the most part financially struggling families, who in the course of achieving the American dream laid out their last penny and then some – even if the cost is a lot lower than in Brooklyn. Unless we have some private school tax, the communities being moved into have a hard time absorbing the cost of new schools, ASSUMING THEY WANT TO TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
To say the decrease of young people in any community is not a problem is highly inaccurate. Many aging parents will eventually find it hard if their kids are a few hours drive away. And many of them will not want or won’t be able to move away from the neighborhood they called home for decades.
Add to this the huge Jewish infrastructure that may need to be sold to non-Jews if this trend exacerbates. And then there’s the huge cost (not just financial) of literally replacing those Shuls, Mikvaos & schools elsewhere, which btw is partly to blame for the “school crisis” in rapidly expanding communities like Lakewood and Monsey.
Plus tuition for those that remain might need to go up if the student population shrinks. If schools must close, parents will have fewer choices and children may be effected negatively if they are forced to switch schools, away from the schools they were doing well in.
If what the OP is saying about Flatbush is true, it may be better off than other Brooklyn neighborhoods where Gentiles and secular Jews may take over, because some of the infrastructure can hopefully be saved and put to good use.
The Jersey City’s female murdering accomplice didn’t have a criminal record as far as I know. Some of their guns were allegedly purchased by her. Gun checks can only do so much, yet still I’m torn.