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TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI EDUCATORS

Rabbi Reuven Taragin

What Covid Taught Us

About the State of Israel

risis brings out the worst and We have also shown this in the exten- needs. We grew accustomed to needing
best in people and peoples. Cel- sive and intensive vaccination drive. to work around governments to protect
Cebrating the anniversary of the our individual needs in situations when
founding of the State of Israel a year Working Together with the national authority was attacking or
into and hopefully emerging from the a Common Goal even just neglecting us.
Corona pandemic is an excellent time
to reflect on what we have learned The vaccination drive also showed Now, Baruch Hashem, we have returned
our ingenuity and ability to work well
about ourselves as a people and about to our own state. This does not mean
the State of Israel. On the one hand, together as a people and country when our government is perfect, but it does
we have been reminded of the special we share a common goal. The fact that mean it is our government – elected
we managed to acquire and administer
qualities of Am Yisrael as a people and, by us and committed to our health and
on the other, about the challenges of one of the world’s highest percentages of success. Even if one is of a different
returning to and building a country vaccines so quickly is truly remarkable. political persuasion and/or disagrees
after thousands of years in exile. Benny Gantz and his party’s decision to with the government’s decisions, dis-
join the Netanyahu government (after respecting its guidelines threatens the
Mi KeAmcha Yisrael they had previously promised not to basic notion of its ability to play its crit-
We Value Human Life join) is also a great expression of our ical national role.
ability to prioritize the value of human Obviously, the State of Israel’s current
Judaism places a very high premium life and our common goals.
on life. We are commanded (not just political instability and hostility has
allowed) to violate Shabbat and almost not helped matters. We can only hope
all of our mitzvot in the face of even a Where We Are Lacking that the recent election will help bring a
potential threat to human life. In fact, There is, unfortunately, another side stable government that can strengthen
halacha brands one who is cavalier to the story. Sadly, as Corona dragged our sense of statehood.
about human life a rotzeach (murderer). on for months, many people grew tired On Yom HaAtzmaut, we celebrate the
of the restrictions and lost faith in the
Israel has one of the world’s lowest founding of our State. After a Corona
Covid deaths:infections ratios. One of government and its guidelines. We saw year that reminded us of our values and
this from many different segments and
the reasons for this is our health profes- sides of the political spectrum. Mass unique abilities, but also challenged our
sionals’ devotion to helping the infected sense of statehood, it is critical that
recover. This devotion is reflective of gatherings for funerals, protests, orga- this year’s celebration reinforces our
nizational and individual disregard
the value they and we place on saving for guidelines, and even document appreciation of what the great zechut of
and sustaining human life. having the State of Israel demands of us.
forgeries.
Am Yisrael as a whole also showed Feelings of tiredness and even loss of
its appreciation for human life at the faith are very understandable and there
beginning of the pandemic, when we are many government decisions that
respected the guidelines of the first can definitely be criticized. That said, it
closure and safely distanced ourselves is important to understand that the only
from our parents, grandparents and way to properly face national challenges Scan here to join Rabbi Taragin’s
close relatives even during the chagim. WhatsApp group with daily Divrei Torah
is by having a government that coor-
As opposed to many countries who dinates our joint efforts. As a people Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
prioritized keeping their economy and in exile, we grew accustomed to living Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the
Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program.
travel/leisure open above protecting in countries run by governments often
human life, we have been consistent in antisemitic or at least unsympathetic A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
prioritizing human life. to their Jewish population and their mizrachi.org/speakers

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