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| Strange Fedbellows |
Purim may have passed, but it's still in the air (and for some of us, around our waistlines).
In the spirit of last week's world mask message, we can start to peel back the mask, looking for hidden messages.
The world brought to its knees by an invisible force.Question for your table: For those stuck inside because their schools, shuls and almost every other activity have shut down - is there something deeper to meditate on here?
In the spirit of last week's world mask message, we can start to peel back the mask, looking for hidden messages.
The world brought to its knees by an invisible force.Question for your table: For those stuck inside because their schools, shuls and almost every other activity have shut down - is there something deeper to meditate on here?
Let's first lay out seven facts:
1. There is worry and even panic.
2. The coming storm is invisible and quite unpredictable.
3. It's name Covid-19 sounds a lot like "kavod-19", which is Hebrew for "the honor of 19".
4. The threat is global.
5. It's shutting down shuls and schools.
6. It's shutting down sports, theaters, restaurants and excursions.
7. Korea has suffered only a fraction of the average fatalities, not by massive quarantines but by massive testing, making an interesting comparison to Italy (also see this) (for some, bringing back memories of an earlier Korea-Italy match). This proves that indiscriminate quarantines is not (in theory) the only rational policy response.
As far as I know, the number 19 (like all numbers) has a very specific Jewish symbolism:
1. Prayer (because the traditional Amida consists of 19 blessings).
2. The various idolatries that people often get sucked into (because the Torah warns us 19 times not to stray after "other gods").
And now we have a worldwide disease that sounds a lot like, "kavod-19" - the honor of the 19.
These are some facts.
1. There is worry and even panic.
2. The coming storm is invisible and quite unpredictable.
3. It's name Covid-19 sounds a lot like "kavod-19", which is Hebrew for "the honor of 19".
4. The threat is global.
5. It's shutting down shuls and schools.
6. It's shutting down sports, theaters, restaurants and excursions.
7. Korea has suffered only a fraction of the average fatalities, not by massive quarantines but by massive testing, making an interesting comparison to Italy (also see this) (for some, bringing back memories of an earlier Korea-Italy match). This proves that indiscriminate quarantines is not (in theory) the only rational policy response.
As far as I know, the number 19 (like all numbers) has a very specific Jewish symbolism:
1. Prayer (because the traditional Amida consists of 19 blessings).
2. The various idolatries that people often get sucked into (because the Torah warns us 19 times not to stray after "other gods").
And now we have a worldwide disease that sounds a lot like, "kavod-19" - the honor of the 19.
These are some facts.
Question for your table - how do you interpret them?
Further food for thought - this and this (advanced: this, this)
Shabbat Shalom
PS - A nice Jewish high school student in Seattle has created a basic and useful COVID-19 tracking site.
PPS - Are you counting down to Pesach?
Enjoyed this Table Talk? Vote with your fingers! Like it, tweet it, forward it....
Further food for thought - this and this (advanced: this, this)
Shabbat Shalom
PS - A nice Jewish high school student in Seattle has created a basic and useful COVID-19 tracking site.
PPS - Are you counting down to Pesach?
Enjoyed this Table Talk? Vote with your fingers! Like it, tweet it, forward it....
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