Oberlander Báruch rabbi (szerk.): A rabbi válaszol. Modern kérdések, hagyományos válaszok 4 - Zsidó Ismeretek Tára 38. A rabbi válaszol 4. (Budapest, 2021)
I. rész. Kérdezd a rabbit világjárvány idején - Zsinagóga és imádkozás
39 A rabbi válaszol were to stay closed. This would show that Shuls and serving Hashem are less important than food stores etc. But that claim is also based on a big mistake. The stores are open because the physical body must eat meals daily. It cannot exist solely on bread and water, because it already got used to much better food for many years. Our animalistic soul is unable to compromise and come to terms with the fact that in a time of an epidemic it has to make do with much less. But the Shuls are closed and we pray at home because our Divine spirit knows that it does only that which Hashem wants, even if it happens to be the exact opposite of its nature, and it differs from what it does on a normal basis. Therefore, if Hashem commands us to “Live by them”, our Divine spirit immediately says that it does not want to remove from itself the Divine yoke and go against the Divine commandment. Rather, it wants to be stringent regarding that commandment of “Live by them” and perform that commandment in full detail. “Just as I don’t settle for simple Tefillin, but rather I buy the most glorified set I can, so too I do not want to settle for fulfilling just the basic commandment of “live by them”. Rather, I want to fulfill the commandment with a great passion, and in a way which will show that I am fully committing myself to the Divine will. (In addition, by doing so I will be saving myself from possibly making Blessings in Vain, etc.).” When our Shuls are closed it should be a Sanctification of G־d’s name in the world, showing that we follow the commandment to “Live by them” no matter what, because the sanctity of life is of paramount importance to us. “BEING STRINGENT” IN LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS AND NOT “BEING LENIENT” IN THE MATTER OF PRAYING WITH MINYAN It is known in the name of Reb Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk (יפכו אבוהש רפסב םידעומה הכלהב קרפב םוצ׳ ׳רושעה), who was known in cases of life and death to say: “I am not being lenient regarding prohibitions, I am being stringent in matters of life and death”. Actually, our Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek already mentioned this idea before him (תורגא׳ ׳שדוק ולש ׳מע ,חצ ת״וש חמצ׳ ׳קדצ ח״וא ב׳׳ח ׳יס טק). He writes regarding fasting on the 9th of Av during a pandemic: “There is no room to be stringent at all, because in this case being
