Protecting Ourselves by Creating a Safe Environment
To Members of CLY
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
It's important to remember at this time in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak that everything that happens is not by chance, rather that everything that happens, including this pandemic, is happening from Hashem.
While it is true that we don't understand the full extent of what's going on around us or why nonetheless we have bitachon in Hashem that it will all work out well. As chassidus says and as the Rebbe often quoted the Tzemach Tzedek; “Tract Gut Es Veit Zayin Gut- Think Good and it will be Good”. It's against our emunah to frighten ourselves and others. There is no place for hysteria.
As Jews, in situations like this, we turn to Hashem with Tefillah during davening and our daily and extra Tehillim, and especially during Shemona Esrei in the bracha of ‘Refaeinu’.
Aside from our daily Chitas and Rambam we add in Limud HaTorah. It is especially important to add in learning the Torah now that schools are being closed temporarily. As parents and asteachers we have an added responsibility to find ways for our children to continue to learn and it requires our involvement. It's not acceptable to go so long perhaps until after Pesach without addressing our children's best interest with regard to learning Torah. It’s self understood that we should say with the children the 12 Pesukim every day.
At times such as these we also add in Tzedaka to help others, especially before Pesach, to give maos chitim in addition to any special needs they may have.
In these times it's very important to strengthen in ahavas Yisroel.
It’s also a good idea to check your Tefillin and Mezuzos if they weren’t checked in the last 12 months as the Rebbe would often point out.
In addition to the aforementioned, according to the Torah and to Halacha we need to listen to the professionals about how to act and take all the precautions that they recommend to avoid contracting or spreading the coronavirus. No one should feel that they are an exception from taking their warnings seriously which is something that could cause them to endanger others and themselves.
This week’s parsha discusses the kiyor, the washing of the hands of the Kohanim in the avodah of the Mishkon and Mikdash. Just like we have to wash our hands physically, so too we should see to it that in our homes which are a Mishkon and Mikdash to Hashem we cleanse not only in the physical sense but also cleanse ourselves of any spiritual viruses as well.
May Hashem hear our Tefillos and take away this machala this pandemic and may we quickly go from the geula of Purim in Adar to the geula of Pesach in Nissan (Mismach Geula l’Geula) with the miraculous disappearance of the galus and with it the coronavirus and the miraculous appearance of geula with Moshiach now.