The measles outbreak continues to grow, thanks to the anti-vaxxers, and now some Shuls are sending a strong message to them.
According to TLS, a few Shuls in Lakewood have sent out letters to their Mispallelim that they should not bring anyone who was not vaccinated into the building.
A number of Lakewood schools have also taken a stance, and have informed their parent body that children who are not vaccinated are not permitted into school.
As of Friday morning, there are at least four confirmed cases of measles in Lakewood.
The following is a message that one of the Shuls sent out on Friday morning:
“Attention Shul Members:
As you may know there has been an outbreak of measles which has now reached Lakewood. As per the Rov Shlita, anyone who is not vaccinated, adults or children, may not enter the shul under any circumstances. For the health and safety of our community we ask that everyone please comply.”
Meanwhile, the NYC Health Department today is reporting 11 new cases of children with confirmed measles, bringing the total to 17. Chassidish communities in Williamsburg and Borough Park are affected. The children with measles range in age from 7 months to 4 years. Three infections, including the initial case of measles, were acquired by children on a visit to Israel, where a large outbreak of the disease is occurring. There has also been transmission in schools with children who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. There are no deaths associated with this cluster, although there have been complications including hospitalization.
On Thursday night, an unvaccinated 18-month-old baby was R”L was Niftar in Jerusalem from the Measles. Other member of the same family were confirmed to have been infected as well.
Meanwhile, in Rockland County, NY, more than 40 cases have been confirmed. Two children have been hospitalized – ONE IN INTENSIVE CARE – because of the measles outbreak, and the health department is taking more precautions to make sure it doesn’t spread among students.
There have been dozens of stories published by YWN in the past few months of measles alerts issued by authorities involving Frum people who have not been vaccinated.
The Viznitz Monsey Girls School announced that any child who is not immunized, can’t return to school for 21 days. No “religious exemption” is accepted. A religious exemption does not work when there is a measles outbreak.
Rockland County’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, announced Wednesday that all schools in the Village of New Square are now required to keep students who are un-vaccinated or under-vaccinated against the disease home until 21 days have passed since the last case of measles is confirmed in the county.
So far, the county has given more two thousand doses of the measles vaccine, referred to as MMR. Ruppert is urging parents to make sure their whole families vaccination history.
Measles is highly contagious, so anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease.
People who are unvaccinated risk getting infected with measles and spreading it to others, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.
Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if:
• they were born before 1957
• have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine
• have had measles confirmed by a health care provider
• or have a lab test confirming immunity
Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose, and they could appear 10 to 12 days after exposure.
The virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
To prevent the spread of illness, health officials are advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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30 Responses
Now that there have been a reported cases of deat from the measles outbreak, maybe we should also consider charging parents and any rabbonim who support not vaccinating kids with attempted murder.
Good. Truth is the Shuls have to do this. If they don’t it will spread like wildfire. Looks what is happening in Monsey. It’s a Sakana to go in certain neighborhoods in Monsey!! Lakewood Rabbonim are being very smart about this.
I am just wondering where the heck are the leaders of our community? Do they not have a public opinion on this? I am not looking for a Kol Koreh since I do not believe a Rav should force someone to do something. But maybe an opinion piece that we the Rabbonim feel that vaccines should be given. The silence is deafening. We have one crisis after the other and they never speak up. But an iPhone they will fill up citi field. Anti Israel they can fill up the barclay center on 2 day notice. Since people are using the “religious exemption” not to vaccinate as an excuse, they should speak up!!!!!
What about guests that come for a Simcha? Will they have the Vaccine Police standing by the door checking credentials? Should I inform my michutanim that they must carry a letter from the their doctor testifying that they are up to date on all their vaccinations, before entering for the oif ruf/Shabbos Sheva Brachos? Can they carry it even on Shabbos without an eruv, as the internet poskim have paskened that it’s mamesh pikuach nefesh? Wow, so many shailos. We must get the biggest poskim working on this latest crisis.
It’s like…
Making a hole under your own seat in a boat, filled with other people. It’s called herd immunity, so 1 anti-vaxxer can be self-righteous, and not immunize, no big deal. When others follow, devastation happens. Ask anyone in their 70’s about their pre-vax childhood experiences. Easy to play big man, when you never witnessed the consequences.
And this stuff goes “viral” very fast (and way before the internet invented/popularized) the term, so it needs to be shut down immediately!
The leaders of the community have presented their opinions
Many great Rabbis were against letting those that were not inoculated yeshivos. This was the opinion of Rav Ekyashiv z”l, Rav Shmuel Auerbach z”l and other gedolei torah
Rav Kanievski, Rav Malkiel Kotler and Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky said to allow those that don’t inoculate into yeshivos.
“YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN SHUL!” The letter quoted in the article uses respectful language to inform their membership know that unvaccinated adults and children are not permitted in shul. Your headline, while ultimately conveying the same message, does nothing to help this situation. There is enough divisiveness these days without creating new obstacles to Shalom. Is the editor concerned that without sensationalizing the headline, no one would read the article? WORDS MATTER. It would be wonderful to see a concerted effort to choose yours more carefully going forward. TY and good Shabbos.
as long as shuls /people are stating that this or that is based on a psak from X or Y, there is an important lesson to learn – you do not go to an auto repair shop for a heart transplant and you do not get medical advice from those without real medical knowledge. too bad it is children who are suffering for the sins of their elders
“We must get the biggest poskim working on this latest crisis.”
Why? This is a life and death matter, not a religious matter.
Anti vaxcers are boneheads
There is a ton of evidence that vaccines can cause injury. They are risks on both sides. The pro vaccination people make strong statements, but are usually far less educated than those against vaccines.
To shigger1, some people consider the anti-vaxers to be in the category of rodfim, even if that’s not the ant-vaxers direct intention. I don’t think there’s halachic issues or concerns about divisiveness or shalom with rodfim. What about Gedolim who have a laid back opinion in this? Well many Gedolim were smokers too about 30 or 40 years ago. So maybe we shouldn’t worry about second hand smoke and allow smoking in the beis medrash again, like there was many years ago. Who cares what doctors say, we can find Gedolim who were matir it.
“Rav Kanievski, Rav Malkiel “Kotler and Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky said to allow those that don’t inoculate into yeshivos.”
Did they say the same during an outbreak? didnt anyone ask them?
Not getting involved,
as your name says, don’t get involved. Your sarcasm is not appreciated. Obviously this is all based on trust. No, no one will be checking your immunization records. But if you are not vaccinated, be considerate to others and stay home. What you do in your own home is your business. But don’t affect others.
Why is this any different then a rav of a shul telling the mspallelim not to enter the shul with a Smartphone.
I didnt see anyone having bg issue with that request.
Measles is a sakanas nefashos. And you can be mechallel shabbos for it.
We are making a simcha this week. There is a reason why 2 of our family members are not immune now for against measles. We are terrified. We are planing to put a sign. Words will be something along this ” Due to epidemic of measles, after consulting our Rabbi and Doctor, please only enter if you were born.before 1957 or had measles confirmed by a Dr more than 4 weeks ago or are sure that you had both MMRs shots more than 4 weeks ago, or had a lab test that confirmed you are immune (titers). If you do not meet any of these please take a souvenir and come another time. Thanks for your respect and care. Oif Simchas “
I agree with shvigger 100%. This is another case of FAKE NEWS.
To mylogic37 I know that REB Elya Ber Wachfogel personally advised not to vaccinate.
sammyb, I could not care less what Reb Elya Ber says. He is way to right wing like his “brother” RMK.
To Sammyb, I remember years ago when I was a bachur how in my Yeshiva smoking was forbidden and strictly enforced. While in Reb Elya Ber’s Yeshiva smoking was as normal as breathing. So perhaps think twice who you’re taking medical advice from. And besides, why is it that the Rambam was known as a medical authority? All the Reshonim were Gedolim, so shouldn’t they also be known as medical authorities? Perhaps, just maybe, it’s because the Rambam actually studied and practiced medicine? So perhaps being able to give a shiur on a Rambam doesn’t qualify one to give medical advice like the Rambam.
I commend the efforts of this Shul. Antivaxxers shouldn’t complain that this Shul (or if many other shuls) refuse their entry, as there will always be a dependable, welcoming, and secure place for them to daven. That place is located in their own living rooms at home, where their wives will gladly welcome them and their medical ideals. No one will ever harass them in their own homes, “safe places” away from myself and others who might endanger them from our vaccinated bodies. I really don’t want to inflict them with any of the illnesses they said would occur with vaccinations (cancer, ADHD, autism, early death).
my logic37. you may find those rabannim to ge too right wing but that doesn’t mean that their psak doesn’t carry weight among those that too hold of them. No anti vaxxers are proposing that you should stop vaccinating only that you stop harrassing them as they may be following their halachic guidance.
Attacking our Gedolim is not the way to go.
Rkyk. They are entitled to their opinion. As is the Rav of the shul who hung that sign. If he truly advised not to vaccinate, feel free to daven in his yeshiva and educate your children in his mosdos,not in a shul where the Rav and menahel asks otherwise.
TY, sammyb. I never said I don’t agree with the subject matter.
to theywnreader have you ever asked a rov or rabbi for advice or do you just rely on your doctors, lawyers and financial advisory’s advice?
Cowards! Why didn’t you post my comment of last night??? Because I don’t see it your way???
Not getting involved isn’t the way to solve this either. Anti-vaxers have a right in this country to have their opinion. But we also have a right to publicly shun them. It’s a 2 way street and it’s not ok for them to be handed the right of way.
Any person who recommends that anyone not get vaccinated for other than a very specific medical reason to that person is an ignoramus when it comes to science and is actually endangering the lives of Yidden. The original research that indicated vaccines caused autism was completely fraudulent and has been disproven many times. There is absolutely no proven evidence that vaccines cause harm to the general population, but a lot of evidence that the lack of them does. Parents who refrain from vaccinating their children are totally guilty of being over U shamrtem es nafshosechem.
To sammyb, yes I do ask my Rav many sheilos and for advice. I’ve even asked him for recommendations for which doctors to use. One of those doctors actually gave me opposite advice of what my Rav initially thought to do. My Rav was surprised, but didn’t tell me not to listen to the doctor.
To bahby don’t worry you are not the only one most pro anti-vaccine post are not posted including my own.
There are doctors who advocate not to vaccinate in addition zero trials are done on vaccinations so those who choose to not vaccinate have valid reasons to be concerned.