CARLSBAD, California — We are definitely in uncharted territory. Today (Tuesday, March 17), for the first time, I had to livestream a funeral because of coronavirus and social distancing that is being mandated by governmental agencies across the country. My team spent hours yesterday developing Chabad Virtual Academy; a place where anyone, anywhere, can log in and participate in a class on varied Jewish subjects, or watch them at a later time. In this regard we are not unique. Thousands of institutions are doing the same; allowing people unfettered access to everything from Torah classes to opera.
The only thing I can even remotely relate this to was the reaction after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. I vividly recall the suspension of the baseball season and the precipitous drop on Wall Street. At that time religious gatherings were encouraged so we could find solace in each other’s company, but, sadly, that is not the case in dealing with this pandemic – this is an entirely new level of darkness.
I firmly believe that our attitudes can have influence on the direction this plague takes.
There is a beautiful Chasidic story I would like to share. It is about two saintly brothers, Rabbi Zushe and Rabbi Elimelech. At one point the two were imprisoned. They were not arrested for jaywalking, speeding, or tax evasion. They were arrested because the government considered Jews the enemy, and continually trumped up charges against prominent Jews so as to make their lives miserable (and to ‘encourage’ the Jews to abandon Judaism).
The two holy brothers were thrown into a prison cell with a group of actual thugs and roughnecks. Believe it or not the cells in those days were not known for their high level of sanitation and personal hygiene of most prisoners left something to be desired. Prominently found within the cell was a pail, into which the inmates were expected to attend to their personal needs.
In Jewish law we have been given the obligation to pray to G-d, at least thrice daily. However, one may only pray in a clean place. The pail in the corner of the cell certainly rendered that environment unfit for prayer.
We are told that Rabbi Elimelech cried bitter tears because he couldn’t say his daily prayers, his davening. He yearned to serve the Almighty through prayer, and the fact that he could not do so caused him intense grief. In fact, he was probably more upset at his inability to daven than by his incarceration. His dear brother, Rabbi Zushe, came over and explained to his brother that while it is true that it is typically G-d’s will that we pray, in this situation it is G-d’s will that we don’t pray. He emphasized that NOT praying under these circumstances was a total fulfillment of G-d’s will!
When Rabbi Elimelech grasped the meaning of his brother’s words he and his brother broke into a joyous Chasidic dance accompanied by a full-throated rendition of a joyous niggun (Jewish song). The brothers caused a tremendous commotion and the guards came to check on the tumult. When they saw that the brothers were so happy and were told that they were so happy because of the bucket in the cell the guards naturally responded by removing the pail!
I don’t think anyone knows when the coronavirus situation will stabilize. We are given additional instructions on almost a moment-by-moment basis. As a rabbi of a beautiful community, social isolation physically pains me. I know there are lots of people out there who are feeling scared and lonely. But maybe if we can spontaneously break into joyous song and do our own version of a Chasidic ‘jig’, the Almighty will have mercy on us and ‘take out the pail.’
G-d willing, this is the final act in our long, bitter exile, and perhaps these are the birth pangs of the dawning of the Era of Redemption, which will be actuated through the immediate arrival of our Righteous Moshiach!
*
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.