As concern and even panic sweep the globe regarding the spread of coronavirus, most Jews opt to do as they have always done: Have bitachon, and do hishtadlus. At this stage it seems the best hishtadlus is to follow the instructions of the local health departments, to wash hands regularly, and to avoid touching one’s face. The rabbanim chime in, however, with another form of spiritual hishtadlus: Giving tzedaka to help those who are ill.
“My father, my teacher the Sar HaTorah shlita said that all those who donate a tangible sum to the Kupat Hair fund … should merit, measure for measure, that he should not be ill and there should be no illness in his home.
Signing in honor of the great mitzvah,
Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky son of HaGaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita”
Donations made to a Kupat Ha’Ir fund will go toward poor Jewish families affected by illness. Now is a particularly urgent time, as many are hastily preparing for Purim and Pesach, and simultaneously struggling to afford life-saving treatments. This, midah k’neged midah, is part of your hishtadlus for your own health.
All donors will be davened for by Rav Chaim Kanievsky every Erev Shabbos before candle lighting.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
First off, this is an old letter. Nothing to do with coronavirus in particular.
Second off, it is mistranslated at best, an outright deception at worst. The Hebrew does give a guarantee that one ‘will merit’, but a bracha that one should ‘merit’. Judaism is not a cult with magical grantees in this world, other than asser kdei she’tisasher, and perhaps one or two others.
Like I’m sure many others do, I know those who have donated, and have gotten sick; so it is sheker as stated, and hashem hates sheker. I am ashamed that Jewish publications would publish such misleading nonsense.