Public health officials around the world are desperately trying to cope with the spread of the coronavirus. There is growing fear that a global pandemic may be impossible to stop. So far, this respiratory illness has infected more than 75,000 people and killed at least 2000 to the best of our knowledge. Cruise ships, unwitting tourists, travelers and others are slowly transmitting this angel of death to destinations far from its Chinese source.
Modern medicine, with all of its miracles, is stymied. There is no cure. The best and only solution for now is quarantine. Those suspected of being carriers need to be isolated. Contact with the infected is simply too dangerous.
There is a biblical parallel of quarantine that Jewish scholars viewed from a moral perspective.
The book of Leviticus describes the metzora, a person afflicted with tzara'at, a disease commonly mistranslated as leprosy. In fact, the disease is a spiritual malady, primarily caused by speaking slander about others. The metzora is someone who was, in Hebrew, motzi ra - an originator of evil talk, and he was to be quarantined, sent outside of the camp, sparing the community from his ability to infect others with his destructive gossip.
Thus, the biblical quarantine was intended not to isolate a carrier of physical disease but rather of moral turpitude.
While we hope to find a cure for the coronavirus, let us derive an ethical lesson from the ongoing misfortune. Everyone acknowledges the obvious: we dare not allow the healthy to be exposed to those who can harm them.
Isn’t this the most fundamental truth about human relationships?
Friends are assuredly good for you. In recent years, scientific research has suggested that people who have strong friendships experience less stress, they recover more quickly from heart attacks and they are likely to live longer than the friendless. They are even less susceptible to the common cold, studies show.
But not all friends have such a salutary effect. Some lie, insult and betray. Some are overly needy. Some give too much advice. Psychologists and sociologists are now calling attention to the negative health effects of bad friends.
Do not underestimate the warning of King Solomon in his book of Proverbs: “He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).
It's important to not only have good friends but friends who are good.
One of the saddest illustrations of this truth is found in II Samuel 13. King David's son, Amnon, was struggling with sinful thoughts and lusts in his heart. He powerfully desired a forbidden physical relationship with his half-sister, Tamar. Amnon knew his desires were wrong and he could not bring himself to commit such wickedness.
Then five little words changed everything: “But Amnon had a friend.”
Amnon’s friend, Jonadab, was also his cousin. Jonadab devised a plan for Amnon to fulfill his lusts. Amnon got what he thought he wanted. Shortly thereafter he lost everything he had. He ruined Tamar’s life. He created division and heartache in his family. And two years later, he was murdered by his brother, Absalom.
Friends can enrich our lives. They can also destroy them. ''The wrong kind of friendship is often very painful,'' wrote Dr. Harriet Lerner, a psychologist and the author of ''The Dance of Connection.''
Perhaps the most important way in which we can help direct the path of our children’s lives is by constantly reminding them how important it is for them to not only have good friends, but friends who are good. It's a lesson we all need to take to heart. Some people need to be quarantined before they get a chance to infect us with their diseased values.
(11) LaJauna Johnson, March 30, 2020 8:48 PM
Excellent teaching.
(10) Maria Dodoc, March 23, 2020 9:14 AM
Thank You!
(9) Mack and Orietta Weinstein, March 15, 2020 3:42 PM
excellent.
Because speak about our Spiritual life in our BLESSED America Where we do not appreciated, freedom ,. We take for granted everything without THANKING GOD . THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE.
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(8) Anonymous, March 1, 2020 7:06 PM
Impossible to have friends these days
Impossible to make friends these days when you look at how the race to the bottom has pity people against other people. People are more than willing to sell you out in order to get that promotion for a few lousy dollars. In addition, people have to travel farther to get to their workplace due to various reasons which leave little time to make friends with people in your neighborhood or a work. Moreover, friendship like anything else is now considered an expendable item. People just use their friendship with you to advance their own agenda and then throw it away once they no longer need it. Finally, people ended friendship over anything and everything no matter how trivia.
(7) Raymond, March 1, 2020 6:40 AM
And a Rock Feels No Pain...and an Island Never Cries
I guess I will be living a short life, because I really do not have any friends. I am an extreme introvert who feels an intense need to be alone. When I am with others, I feel like I always have to impress them, always have to meet with their approval, and spend so much time feeling defensive against possible criticism from them that it saps me of all of my energy. Only when I am alone, do I have any chance of gaining back my energy. That is why if I have to interact with others, that I prefer that they be introverts like I am, because then I don't have to be the life of the party in order to please them. I am sorry if I am sounding so down on people here, but they have so often disappointed or hurt me, that in most cases I would rather just read a good book or two than go to some social function.
(6) Clifton, February 28, 2020 12:53 PM
Greatvread
Typical article from AISH. Informative and I learned something. Love you guys. How idiotic are libs They down vote the truth. The truth is the CDC reports 9,000 to 12,000 deaths annually due to the flu Coronavirus has killed approximately 2,200 GLOBALLY! The CDC reports 9,000 to 12,000 deaths ANNUALLY in the US. Much of this is being sensationalizes for media attention. I am putting any extra change I have in the stock market Monday.
Anonymous, March 1, 2020 6:42 PM
Wrong about liberals.
Wrong about liberals. It is the conservatives who are idiotic and they have proven it for the last 39 years and don't take any health/disease outbreaks seriously. Reagan never took the AID epidemic seriously until it was finally forced on him, and Mike Pence didn't take the HIV outbreak in his home state seriously when he was governor and he stated that he would go home and "pray" about it before making a decision and then he shut down the Planned Parent facility in the area that was capable of handling the treatment of HIV in that affected area. You want to talk about voting down the truth, then look at Trump's statements about US response to the Coronavirus which are not truthful at all.
(5) Anthony J Ciaccio, February 27, 2020 2:51 PM
Brimming with insight
I loved this article for it’s insight regarding a scripture many, including myself, have historically misunderstood due to mistranslation. The application of this scripture explained in the article shows the many layers of meaning and direction available in the Torah. This article has never been more needed than the day in which we live. Thanks!
(4) Roy Araujo Calfoforo, February 27, 2020 12:32 AM
Thanks
Thanks Rabbi for the wonderful inputs in this challenging time. Please include my family in your prayer... God bless us all
(3) Anonymous, February 25, 2020 10:33 PM
Physical and Spiritual
The hand washing precautions the mikvah laws the laws of not eating food sacrificed after one day and even in an army having a shovel for body products in an area well outside the army quarters -which the British Army ordered in the desert battles - for example ElAlamein November 1942 -the laws of a clean water source and contamination of food containers - marriage purity laws - all genius insights both for the body and spirit .
(2) Asesela Vakacegu Naureure Wainiqolo, February 25, 2020 9:50 PM
Coronavirus and the biblical quarantine
You have give the best advice on how to stay away from the virus.
Please remember me and my wife, Akosita Mekemeke, my children, Naibuka Biu, Talica Radinivulagi, Milika Moala, keresi Buli and vatiliai Vosawale in your prayers.
May the LORD our GOD continue to watch over Israel and Fiji.
(1) Ralph David Ortegon, February 25, 2020 5:43 AM
OUSTANDING!
YES ?OUTSTANDING, i.e. YOUR WRITING TELLS THE READERS THAT YOU'RE POURING OUT YOUR HEART & SOUL INTO THOSE EXPERIENCES OF WHICH ONLY YOU HAVE LIVED THRU AND REMAIN UNHARMED BUT BY GOD YOU GO...........AND GROW AND THRU THE TORA...............YOU WILL BE WITH GOD.
TAKE CARE