Rabbis Call Fast Day To Thwart Swine Flu

Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Ovadia Yosef declare a day of fast and prayer this Wednesday.

Sephardi rabbis declare day of fasting over flu
By DPA • Ha'aretz

Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Ovadia Yosef declared a day of fast and prayer this Wednesday because of the swine flu epidemic. 

The unusual fast day was announced in a joint letter published by Amar, Israel's chief Sephardic rabbi, and Yosef, the [former Sefardic chief rabbi and current] spiritual leader of [the ultra-Orthodox] Shas [political party]. 

The "evil" swine flu spread from Mexico throughout the world "because of our many sins," they stated in their letter. 

It called for fighting the disease by "medical means and by maintaining excellent hygiene," but also through fasting and prayer from sunset Tuesday to sunset Wednesday. 

Those who were unable to do so, should fast at least half a day, or take a vow of silence for half a day, they said. 

"We call upon everyone who is able to fast to accept upon himself a fast day on this coming Wednesday, the 29th day of Av, 5769, and pray much and recite the penitential prayers on the afternoon of Tuesday, the twenty-eighty day of Av," they stated in the letter. 

Swine flu started out relatively slowly and mildly in Israel, with the first local contraction confirmed in May and the first death only late last month. 

But, sparking belated widespread media attention and worry among the Israeli public, its spread has accelerated in August, with more than 2,000 cases and seven confirmed deaths.

Comments

[A]

Maybe they should allow science to make medicine instead of trying to make the State of Israel, which can achieve a lot scientifically, go back to medieval times.

NOW THAT WILL HELP.

[ah-pee-chorus]

i shall listen to the great rabbis. i will take a vow right here not to eat anything on wednesday between my meals and snacks, and will eat nothing at all while i sleep. unless i make an ambien induced sleepwalk to the fridge.

[zach]

Maybe another flyover is called for? Oh wait, maybe that would call attention to the fact that their first one was just ineffective, superstitious narishkeit.

[Ben]

It seems that Rav Ovadia's and Rav Amar's medicine cabinets have only 5 drugs in it: 1)Fasting, 2)Kabbalist mumbo jumbo,
3)Teshuva, 4)Prayer and 5) Tzedaka (i.e giving large and small amounts of money to the rabbis).

I like this. It seems like a very cheap way to treat world illnesses. Perhaps they can start medical insurance that will cost only $0.1 per month.

The only task remains is to proove its effectiveness. Oh wait! There is no neeed to proove anything,because we just need to believe that it works and if we do it will work.

The only question then that I have is - Why these flying kabbalists and Rabbis in chief use national health insurance themselves?

[Shmarya]

They're very clearly saying to take every reasonable medical precaution like washing hands, etc.

[Ben]

Ok, negel wasser is ancient medicine number 6.

[steve]

Many observant Jews fast on Erev Rosh Chodesh every month (Yom Kippur Kattan). Whenever there is a calamity, it is befitting to fast on that day.

[L.Krawitz]

Fasting to stop a virus?

What utter drivel.

These superstitious rabbis are no better than the local
"sangomas' (i.e., witch-doctors in South Africa, - who also hand out strange advise, such as instructing men that thye must rape a infant to cure their AIDS.
And, these sangomas also hand out hand out 'magic' potions (known as muti), for all sorts of bizarre cures and 'fixit alls'.
For example,- to make men 'strong' all night,
to cancel your debt, or
to help criminals so that bullets won't penetrate their skin.

To me there is no difference between these sangomas and the rabbis who flew over Israel reciting prayers and blowing shofars to "chase' away the H1N1 virus and the rabbi calling for a fast to prevent swine flu.

[R]

Why don't they just get hold of vaccines? I can't wait to get mine.

[ah-pee-chorus]

i commend the rabbis for recognizing the overwhelming evidence supporting scientists' germ theory, and encouraging people to take appropriate precautions.
but i'm wondering by what criteria do these same rabbis reject the overwhelming evidence supporting these very same scientists' evolutionary theory?

are scientists brilliant when it comes to germs,math, physics,energy,engineering,genetics,chemistry, etc.. and utter fools regarding the origin of species?

[Yochanan Lavie]

The rabbis should declare a slow day, instead.

[R]

apc you are talking the theory of evolution...as it so happens to only be a theory and hasn't been proven and cannot be proven, i don't blame them. But also there is only so much un-proven theories one can believe in, so they choose the theory of the bible instead.
Not all science is based on making people live longer, look at how much money scientists waste when they don't even put the same amount of money in finding cures...it's so much more exciting to go into space or go to mars.
Nothing is perfect, but to completely ignore medical science when this is a medical issue is pure folly and they are putting far more people in danger.
I hope they have the ad "catch it, bin it, kill it" because that obviously really really helps....not. Not everyone stays home when they feel flu like symptoms and there your problem lies. So the only way to make sure you don't get this epidemic is to vaccinate.

[ah-pee-chorus]

r:

++as it so happens to only be a theory and hasn't been proven and cannot be proven, i don't blame them. ++

you dont understand the word 'theory' as it applies to science. the only reason it is not referred to as 'law' is that something must be proved mathematically to be called 'law' and that cannot be done in areas outside of math. 'theory' does not mean a scientist came up with some idea one day and called a few friends. for a hypothesis to be worthy to be elevated to the exalted level of 'theory' it must first be backed with huge amounts of observational data, and then must withstand any contrary evidence presented(all of this in transparent peer-reviewed publications) followed by rigorous testing of its principles, as well as measuring its predictiveness.
note that germ theory is "just a theory" and yet we know its true. or atomic theory. the bomb works. or the 'theory' of gravity.
scientists in the field of embryonics have come up with a philogenetic tree based solely on their observations of embryonic development.
comparative anatomy scientists have done their own tree of life.
molecular bio the same, and geneticists as well, and the results of each individual fields tree matched up perfectly with all the rest. then we have paleontologists and the fossil record, and of course geology. the odds of any 2 of these matching is too high to mention, of ALL matching statistically impossible on a random level. so science knew there was a reason, and evolution can be tested in each of these fields (and is, thousands of times a day in labs all over the world.) each experiment done which is based on assumption of evolution's theory is a further test. how did scienctists predict that humans have a fused chromosome, even before this could be verified? because evolution PREDICTED it would. another test passed. how did paleontologists know where to look to find a specific linking fossil for a previously undiscovered species? because evolutionary theory PREDICTED where. so, 200.000 papers on pub-med supporting evolution, none, yes, none supporting any alternative.
so anybody claiming there are 2 unproven theories , evolution and the bible, each one being as likely as the other, does not understand the first thing about the scientific method or reality.

[ah-pee-chorus]

i would not want to be one of the first to be vaccinnated.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-killer-nerve-disease-Leaked-letter-reveals-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html

[ah-pee-chorus]

++The "evil" swine flu spread from Mexico throughout the world "because of our many sins," they stated in their letter++

so are mexicans the biggest sinners?

[Ben]

As these Rabbis readily admitted this particularily virulent strain of flu spread "because of our many sins,".

Therefore the Mexicans are the first victims of the "many sins" that these Rabbis just admitted in this letter having committed.

[ah-pee-chorus]

but does the "our sins" refer to the rabbis? or to us jews? or to all of humanity? if it refers to all humanity, then mexicans are the biggest sinners. if as you say it refers to the rabbi's sins, then mexicans are merely gods chosen first victims. and what a way to punish the rabbis by killing mexicans. and besides, rabbis are not great at admitting their sins until they get caught. so i think they were referring to all of humanity.
i feel like i'm learning a blatt gemara. its a machloikes.

[L.Krawitz]

These rabbis area all hypocrites.

If all human illness, including the H1N1 virus, are spread and contracted because of humanity's'many sins, - then why do these rabbis consult allopathic medical practitioners for ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart ailments? -(not to mention issues related to their prostates and impotence)

Don't these men know that their 'sins' are the reason(s) for all their illnesses?

This attitude to illness and medicine is a very insane and very unscientific 'blame game.'

[WoolSilkCotton]

Their best idea was for a vow of silence. They should start with themselves.

[seymour]

it is very simple there are not as dumb as you think

if the vaccine comes out they will say see our fasting works.

If not they will say not enough fasted
it is a win win

[Mr. Apikoros]

"I would not want to be one of the first to be vaccinated." -- ah--pee-chorus

Neither would I. Fortunately, we alter kockers (I'm 62) have immunity from a similar flu -- the Hong Kong Type A flu of 1957-58. That's why very few people over 55 have developed this disease.

[Ben]

APC, I agree it is a massive machloikes.

Should Mexicans blame rabbis, or should rabbis blame Mexicans or should Mexicans blame all humanity, or should all humanity blame Jews (thanks to the insane rabbi's hints).

[ah-pee-chorus]

Ben: i have voodoo dolls of mexicans, jews,all of humanity(its a LOT of dolls) and rabbis, but i will have to hold off on poking any of them until i get clarification from the rabbis.

[William Dwek]

The Swine Flu is common in PIGS.

This is a clear indication that it is the Dayanim (“Judges”) and “Rabbis” of today who are the PIGS and swines.

They twist and use the Torah for their own power and commercial benefit.

They are corrupt. And they are interested in only one thing:

MONEY.

Not the Torah.

[William Dwek]

When “dayanim” and “rabbis” use the Torah for their own power and commercial profit, this is the behaviour of a swine i.e. a Pig.

No other “rabbi” will ever act against another “rabbi” - even when he knows his colleague is clearly desecrating the Torah. Each rabbi is only worried about losing his own position.

Therefore, the “rabbi” and “dayan” will never effect justice. And he will never truly stand for the Torah or the Honour of Hashem. His pocket will always prevail.

The Torah must never be used for commercial gain and profit. Am Yisrael can only be lead by those who have the necessary love and respect of Hashem and the Torah.

[William Dwek]

1. The “dayan” and “rabbi” may use lies. They turn the innocent into the guilty, and the guilty, become the innocent. They will not hesitate to tell lies in the Synagogue.

2. The “dayan” and “rabbi” may steal. They steal and siphon off money for themselves, from the community and individuals.

3. The “dayan” and “rabbi” may commit murder. They may shame a fellow Jew in public, even repeatedly. This is one of the most vile acts of murder in Jewish law – and they know this.

4. The “dayan” and “rabbi” will not hesitate to use Lashon Hara (the “Evil Tongue”) to suit his own ends. Slander and gossip. This too, is one of the worst acts of murder in Jewish Law. Their slander is never challenged by the community, because they hold positions of power. And the slander may begin with the Rebbetzin herself.

5. The “dayanim” and “rabbis” worship idols and other gods. Their only god is Money. Especially the “Dayanim” – the “Judges” who sit on a Beit Din. They only care about their high incomes and retirement packages. They have little or no love for the Torah or Hashem.

In the case of Lubavitch/Chabad, all their rabbis are carrying out a form of Avodah Zarah – strange worship. They are using mediation and intercession. This is completely forbidden, and against the Torah. We are only to pray to Hashem, directly ourselves.

6. When the NAME of Hashem has been taken in Vain – repeatedly - by reshaim, the “rabbi” will turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the

CHILLUL HASHEM.

This is the abhorrent behaviour of a Pig. This is an extremely severe and dangerous situation. There is NO forgiveness for this evil sin and aveirah.

7. The “dayan” and “rabbi” may also offer large bribes, tell lies and bring False Witnesses – when he in fact has committed the crime. These are heinous acts of the most despicable kind. This is especially vile when the “dayan” is sitting on a “Beit Din.”

8. The “rabbi” may commit adultery. And when he gets divorced, he may spread slander about his own ex-wife, blackening her name – when in fact he was at fault.

9. The “dayan” and “rabbi” may also desecrate Shabbat – if it suits him. He will use physical violence against another Jew or Jewess at any time. This evil and venomous behaviour is 100% against the Torah.

10. The “dayanim” and “rabbis” have also carried out evil acts of kidnapping and assault-but they do not go to prison. Charges are never brought against these criminals. Why not?