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Public health officials the world over are desperately trying to cope with the spread of coronavirus. There is a growing fear that the global pandemic might be impossible to subside. The terrible respiratory sickness, labeled COVID-19 – COronaVIrus Disease 2019 – has afflicted upwards of 75,000 globally and took the lives of well over 2,000 in 24 countries. Nine deaths were recently reported in Washington State. This virus is different from the common coronavirus that may cause a cold. This strain was discovered to have probable origins from a bat, where humans never had the chance to develop immunity. Now the virus is no longer spreading via wild animal, rather, person-to-person; and it remains active on contact surfaces for two days and up to a week in carpeting. It differs from the recent measles outbreak, as that was a highly contagious virus and this seemingly is spread only in communal areas. An actively sick individual can protect others by remaining in isolation.

In a remarkable show of concern, US President Donald Trump lived good on his promise to donate his salary, and sent his fourth-quarter earnings of $100,000 to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health as a small way “to support efforts being undertaken to confront, contain, and combat” coronavirus, according to a release by his press secretary’s office.

Today there is no cure, but labs in New York City, around the US, and in Israel are hurriedly working to release a vaccine. To date, the only remedy is to quarantine. On Tuesday, March 3, this option was exercised close to home as the Young Israel of New Rochelle was forced to cease services and have its members who attended Shabbos services on February 22, and a funeral and bas mitzvah on Sunday, February 23, at the shul seclude themselves until Sunday, March 8, at the earliest, as a 50-year-old Orthodox Manhattan attorney from New Rochelle, who davens there, came down with symptoms of COVID-19. Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed that the gentleman had “not traveled to any locations on the so called watch list and had sought treatment at the NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville on February 22.” He was later transferred to NewYork-Presbyterian Manhattan, where the virus was confirmed. George Latimer, Westchester County Executive, stated, “The family of this individual is quarantined at home.” It was then publicized that he has four children; two are abroad studying in Israel, one is a student at SAR High School in Riverdale, and one attends Yeshiva University in Washington Heights. Reports then surfaced of students at YU, the Modern Orthodox educational center, entering self-seclusion as a precaution to possible exposure to the virus following interaction with the son of the inflicted. “We are trying to be cautious and not walk around as much,” said one student asked about the fear on campus. Other students expressed outrage that classes remained in session while they were left to wander about in fear and confusion without much direction. SAR was closed for cleaning on Tuesday as a safeguard, as well as the Beth-El preschool and Westchester Day School. An early morning statement to parents from Rabbi Binyamin Krauss of SAR explained that the closure was simply for “precautionary measures” and stressed the need “to remain calm and continue following preventive measures.” Residents were quite concerned, as their lives were thrown into disarray, but there was no widespread panic in the religious community.

Then, Yeshiva Bais Hillel of Passaic canceled Parent-Teacher Conferences as a potential exposure of a staff member was uncovered. The Yeshiva alerted parents: “Our students and staff are not at risk… We are following the recommendation to conduct a thorough cleaning of our building.”

Citizens are advised to wash our hands with soap regularly, use an alcoholic-based hand sanitizer, avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth, use tissues when coughing, disinfect surfaces, phones, and doorknobs often, keep toothbrushes separated, change our clothes when coming in from the outdoors, and get a flu shot (if not already done so).

With the constant spread of coronavirus, the effects are not only being felt within the public arena. Business and tourism have both taken major hits. With the looming Pesach holiday just a mere few weeks away, the Jewish world is in for a fast awakening. Resorts have long run getaway programs in picturesque areas like Prague, Thailand, Italy, Spain, and the Adriatic region, among other locales. Milan is Italy’s second most populous destination, but the onslaught of the coronavirus epidemic in that region of Europe has brought tourism there to a screeching halt. Often this is due to airlines abandoning scheduled flights as demand has fallen to near zero. It seems the Jews of Europe, Israel, and the US may have to cope with the grind of Pesach cleaning after all, as no money in the world can make certain programs a reality. Doni Schwartz operates PassoverListings.com, a destination for review and advertisements of Pesach options. “Consumers have been very nervous. A lot are scrambling for new programs in the US.” The Queens Jewish Link spoke with Rita P. who booked a retreat with Leisure Time Tours and was easily able to transfer to a new program within their network. Her friend opted instead for a full refund.

El Al is one airline close to home that has since laid off 1,000 of its 6,300 workers, and stopped many flights from taking off, due to a lack of interest in service to destinations far from the Chinese source of the epidemic. The company is in the middle of a bailout from the State of Israel and expects revenue to fall by nearly $70 million by the end of April. Some travelers resonate the era with wartime or natural disasters, but all are happy to be healthy. “It is hard to take solace knowing so many are suffering. It is just terrible,” related Rita.

Endless businesses, both large and small, around the US and abroad are banning their employees from traveling both domestically and internationally out of COVID-19 fears. Companies are instituting wide-scale sanctions on their staff for violations. For example, Ford Motor has put these new regulations into effect until March 27. Tech giants like Twitter have suspended “all non-business travel and events” to reduce the risk of contracting the virus even inadvertently. The stock market has had one of the most volatile weeks in recent history, as each day brings new fears for what COVID-19 can unleash.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement explaining that the Westchester father “remains hospitalized and is in serious condition.” All are requested to have him in mind in their prayers: Eliezer Yitzchak ben Shifrah. A hotline was established for further information on the deadly virus: 1.888.364.3065.

 By Shabsie Saphirstein

Did you know that a money judgment from any U.S. state can be brought in and enforced against you in New York or New Jersey? Thanks to a straightforward process known as “judgment domestication,” your New York and New Jersey assets will be subject to seizure just the same as if they were located in the state where the judgment was entered. This is because the U.S. Constitution requires states to give “full faith and credit” to judgments from other states. Here’s how it works.

Arising somehow from the jaws of once-certain defeat, it appears that former Vice President Joe Biden has likely clinched the Democratic nomination. With just a few primaries remaining, Biden has beaten back Senator Bernie Sanders and a bevy of earlier contenders.

Rabbi Steinsaltz, who passed away August 7 in Jerusalem at the age of 83, was a rabbi in the most authentic meaning of the word: He was an educator. And the world was Rabbi Steinsaltz’s student body. He spent decades teaching, writing, publishing, lecturing, mentoring, and organizing, and all of this work was focused on bringing Jews closer to Judaism and Jewish sources.  

Almost exactly nineteen years ago, on August 9, 2001, 15 people were brutally killed, including 7 children, and about 130 were injured in a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria at the corner of King George Street and Jaffa Road in downtown Jerusalem.

As Orthodox Jews, we practice our age-old traditions no matter how current events shape world outlooks. Since the onset of COVID-19, many have taken a moment for inner reflection and heed the words of orators to better themselves in the smallest of ways. As you read this, ruminate this notion regarding our role in the world, and then compare it to physical boundaries. Stepping outside the realm of spirituality into geographical borders, imagine the three-dimensional capacity of a very tiny country: Eretz Yisrael. Seven times smaller than the state of Florida, 19 times smaller than the state of California, and 33 times smaller than the state of Texas, Israel is just a dot on the globe – a tiny speck, a fragment. Yet no country continues to dominate international headlines more than that of the Jewish state. Every major news outlet blares Israel’s triumphs and tribulations; nothing goes unnoticed. Last week, something historic, something hopefully monumental and great, happened.

On Thursday, August 13, President Trump announced America’s help and support for the full normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a monumental breakthrough in Middle East relations and part of his administration’s efforts to garner support against Iran.

This step acknowledges the international community and Arab world pressures as it halts efforts by Israel to annex West Bank territory originally outlined in the Trump peace plan for Israelis and Palestinians.

“As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump and with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Muslim world,” the joint statement by Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, claimed.

The UAE is one of the world’s most powerful and wealthy conglomerations of disparate elements due to its vast oil and gas reserves. This Islamic state, where much of its court system operates according to the extreme fanatical Sharia law, outlaws public displays of affection, like kissing. It is the same backwards country where Israeli goods bearing an emblem, logo, or trademark from the Jewish state are banned. This means that a mere orange or apple with a stamp from Israel would be considered contraband. Most would find its tyrannical, autocratic, theocratic rule dangerous; yet this same country declared peace under the auspices of President Trump, paving the path for other countries like Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to follow suit.

“Only two countries thus far, Egypt and Jordan, have clasped Israel’s extended hand. We applaud the UAE for taking this courageous step and pray that other countries will be emboldened by its leadership and foresight,” read an Agudath Israel of America statement on the peace accord.

Just a few short days ago, it was unfathomable for a country like the UAE to acknowledge the existence of Israel, let alone open its doors to diplomatic relations. The opening of embassies and tourism, a delusional and fictional thought before Trump assumed office, is now a reality.

“The Arab world must come to realize that the more countries that come to the peace table, the greater the benefits that will accrue to Israel and its peace partners, the Middle East, and the entire world,” continued the Agudah release.

Our Jewish studies dictate a time when the nations once embroiled in warfare will be at peace. The country of Israel, a land whose people were displaced, exiled, and persecuted, is amid an historic reversal. Israel has developed itself as a superpower, something that defies logic and reason. In a Thursday evening talk to members of the Brooklyn Jewish Experience, cosponsored by the Chazaq Organization and TorahAnytime, Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer noted in reference to the momentous announcement: “No one, no mortal, no human being could design, contrive, orchestrate, or manipulate such a miracle.”

“The historic, diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders,” the joint statement by the leaders of the US, Israel, and the UAE read. “All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.”

Earlier Monday morning, August 17, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin extended an official written invitation to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to visit Jerusalem. “Trust will promote understanding between all of us, will march our region forward and will bring economic welfare and provide prosperity and stability to residents of the Middle East,” read the bid of friendship.

The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperate and set a roadmap towards establishing a formalized bilateral relationship. There are talks of an alliance on security matters with specific regard to the existential threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the statement, the normalization of relations was quick to point to a partnership for a COVID-19 vaccine: The UAE and Israel “will immediately expand and accelerate treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus.”

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the declaration and ability to unite with unforeseen allies will undoubtedly provide a much-needed political boost, as he faces widespread domestic gripes over ongoing corruption scandals and his administration’s handling of COVID-19. It was not so long ago when the prime minister met Sudan’s leader in Uganda or when he made an unexpected visit to Oman, the first trip a sitting Israeli prime minister took to the Persian Gulf region since 1994.

“A cult of cold peace is better than a bloody war. This is significant, this is important, this is historic,” expressed Rabbi Fingerer. With less than three months to go before Election Day, President Trump’s unilateral achievement is yet another notch on the game board of his administration’s foreign policy efforts with Israel. It began with the decisive decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, then to recognize Jerusalem as the capital, and finally the acceptance of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

By Shabsie Saphirstein