A global pandemic requires a global response and tomorrow, Wednesday March 18th, with the encouragement and chizuk of Gedolim, a worldwide campaign is launching to join Klal Yisroel together in taking on a simple but powerful Kabbalah for 14 days as a zechus to protect us from all harm from the Coronavirus.
As the crisis deepens each day, Hashem is calling to us to look upward and recognize that everything is in His control. While the rest of the world continues trying to figure out stopgap measures to stem the ongoing spread of the disease, we know that it is only through Rachamei Shamayim that it will come to an end.
By accepting to not text, forward or post any hurtful messages for 14 days starting Wednesday March 18th until Tuesday March 31st we will send a message that we recognize the potential damage that a seemingly “harmless” comment can make. Parallel to the Coronavirus, we understand how the unchecked spread of such negativity can painfully impact individuals and groups in a very short time period.
Joining the campaign is easy by visiting www.joinstopthespread.com or texting “stopspread” to 474747.
Together with our continued Tefillos, the merit of this united campaign should BE’H again turn the months of Adar and Nisan into a zman of Nissim and Yeshuos for all of Klal Yisroel.
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4 Responses
Unfortunately there was a tremendous amount of machlokes and lashon hara during the measles situation, which started in November 2018. Since Rav Kanievsky, shlita, recently said that in order to protect ourselves from the coronavirus we must be careful with shimiras halashon (“Eveyone must be mechazek to refrain from Lashon Harah and rechilus”), perhaps this virus came about because of negligence with shmiras halashon.
Maybe it would be a good idea for those who unfortunately were involved in this machlokes and lashon hara to ask mechila from those they hurt, and those who were hurt can grant forgiveness (even if not asked for forgiveness) because Rav Kanievsky, shlita, also said that we should strengthen ourselves in the middah of humility and “maavir al midosav” (let things slide).” Can all our tehillim and tefillos be answered l’tovah now if we are still tainted with the machlokes and lashon hara that occurred starting November 2018, and perhaps still occurs?
There is actual sinah and attacks upon almanos by supposed “frum” yiden. Pirkei Avos 5:11 warned that “pestilence comes to the world for the death penalties not administered by the court” (i.e. those from shamayim). The Torah says to expunged the evil from our midst. The second half of the pasuk about Lashon Harah warns not to stand by your brother’s blood! The Ibn Ezra says that even those who stand by silently as a widow is tormented ARE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. I will not go into the two specific cases here but New Rochelle has definite connections to them. Those cases of rashoim causing extreme tzar to widows are what you SHOULD be reporting!! How much more bluntly does Hashem need to deliver his messages??
What is this campaign? An attempt to silence those who have been calling out that the response to this pandemic is going to spill blood? You have a mitzvah to warn your fellow jew about being oiver an issur d’oraisa.
Unfortunately, rabbonim, including R’ Kanievsky who numerous Rabbonim here looked to when formulating their own response, have never dealt with such a situation and are simply uninformed of the facts. There is no other way to explain how shuls and schools were being kept open and why weddings with large groups (more than the requisite minyan, if even that is allowed) were allowed to go on. The rabbobim were either ignorant here or were advocating that we be oiver a major issur d’oraisa.
I get it this movement is well intentioned to bring a yeshua. But as long as frum yidden are not taking this with deathly seriousness you cannot be silent about this. If you are, your silence will cause people to die. All the people during WW2 that kept silent about the situation there are something we cry about and point fingers at. Should we do the same when Jewish life is at stake?
SPEAK UP AND DON’T STOP TILL EVERY RABBI UNDERSTANDS THE SEVERITY OF THIS AND GIVES AN UNEQIVOCAL PASAK HALACHA THAT THIS IS A SITUATION OF PIKUACH NEFESH AND ITO BE OIVER IS TO BE OIVER AN ISSUR D’ORAISA. MAYBE THEN WE CAN SALVAGE SOMETHING FROM THIS.
Very important campaign. Nothing as important as Shulem!!
I think people need to understand that this is not contradicting to following any other safety guidance ( or what what wasn’t followed enough) . Even if we follow everything and it would be more under control it will bderach hatava spread.
So yes you need have to do what Hasahm wants from us and stop hate between us as advised by the Gedolim. Forget about any personal feelings on how this was handled before (not saying that you are wrong but is irrelevant now )
Why would someone say that R’ Kanievsky is uninformed with the facts.?? Everyone in the world is aware of the facts…..