They say it takes a village to raise a child. I was reminded this week that once the children are raised, it takes a village to raise the child into her work and life of responsibility. This week, that meant the important task of registering my mother for her COVID19 Vaccine. In the 75+ category, she was eligible and reminded by her daughters that this was her time. While she initially thought to take care of this independently, my mother eschews computers and tablets for her daily existence. While I shared the vaccination hotline number with her, it did not prove successful. Local pharmacies on the
website were not yet set up to vaccinate and my mom was at a loss. So I dove in. Phone on speaker, fingers flying over the computer keys, I searched for proximate locations to her home. Community members shared information with one another as information expanded - at Havdalah, morning minyan and our weekly parashat hashavua. I texted a friend who lives near my mom in wonderment. Is it possible that all appointments are full? Very likely, she wrote back. Oy, I thought. A community member texted that she discovered they have reserved slots for elderly who cannot use online booking. After more than 2 hours by phone, she made an appointment for her mother. Her success made me feel hopeful. Later that evening, a direct link appeared in my text messages from the friend who lives near my mom. Try as I might, I could not find an appointment. The next day, a note from that same friend, Our shul what's app group says there are new appointments. Try now. Always perseverent, I logged in at the right time and secured my mom her appointment for next month. What a relief.
If you're wondering what Jewish law and tradition teaches about vaccination, know that the Mishnah reminds us that whoever sustains one soul (human) is considered as if sustaining the whole world. Whoever destroys one soul is considered as if he had destroyed the whole world (Sanhedrin 4:5). The Talmud reminds us not to rely on miracles. It's our responsibility to care for our bodies which are themselves on loan from the holy one. As you prepare to receive your vaccine (if you've reached your place in line) you might wish to offer one of the blessings crafted by my colleagues Rabbi Karen Reiss Medwed and Rabbi Sarit Horwitz. You might also say sheheheyanu, the blessing for arriving at that moment - Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha'olam sheheheyanu vikiy'manu vhigiyanu bazman hazeh.
In this week's parasha, we recognize the words from our Passover Haggadah aligned with the four cups of wine, I will take you out/free you....I will deliver you...I will redeem you....I will take you to be My people (Exodus 6:6-7). This is Gd's message of redemption and liberation. I understand, says the Holy One, what it means to be enslaved, to bear the weight of constriction and isolation. I will escort you into the future. The past 44 weeks and more have separated us from the life we've wanted to live. Now is the time for planting and seeding the earth for our future. Now is the time for tilling the soil with holiness and compassion. The Polish born 20th century Rabbi Yitzhak Hutner teaches, When a person receives a benefit from another, a seed of hesed/compassion is planted in that person's world. If the nature of hesed is functioning healthily and properly, this seed cannot but give rise to additional hesed. But if the person is an ingrate, it is as if he uproots the sproutings of hesed with his bare hands.
It is on all of us to see one another as partners in our communal world. Together, we can plant for now and for our future so that justice will roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty and everflowing stream (Amos 5:24). Until and even then, we should give thanks to the one who brings healing in all ways.
Shabbat Shalom, rg
Congregation Habonim 103 West End Ave New York, NY 10023
