NEW YORK (JNS) – Rabbi Herschel Schachter, a leading Modern Orthodox rabbi who received a COVID-19 vaccine Thursday at a clinic now under investigation for improperly administering the vaccine, said he was led to believe that the vaccination was above board.
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Schachter and Rabbi Mordecai Willig, both head teachers at Yeshiva University and major authorities on Jewish law, were photographed getting the vaccine through ParCare Community Health Network, a network of clinics serving Orthodox communities in and around New York City. State health officials say ParCare gave the vaccine to members of the public before that was allowed and may have obtained the vaccines “fraudulently.”
The fact that health care workers and nursing home residents and staff are the first to receive the vaccines has been widely publicized. Before an online Torah lesson Sunday night, Schachter said he and Willig had both asked whether the vaccines they had been offered were legal and legitimate and that they hoped to encourage others to be vaccinated by publicizing their own vaccinations.
“We were led to believe that it was,” he said. He added, “If either of us would have been told that this was inappropriate, that it wasn’t legitimate, we would not have done that.”
Schachter, already a sought-after authority on matters of Jewish law for decades, became an outspoken leader urging compliance with pandemic guidelines early on in the crisis. He issued dozens of written Jewish legal opinions throughout the spring and summer, addressing a range of questions involving Jewish ritual and social distancing and has frequently encouraged mask wearing. Earlier this month, he said on a podcast that jumping the queue to obtain a vaccine was not permitted under Jewish law.
He and Willig were photographed getting the vaccine, Schachter said, to inspire confidence in the vaccine.
“You all realize that I feel it is very important we should all take this vaccine,” he said Sunday.
On Saturday, New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said on Saturday that state police would investigate ParCare and people associated with it. Schlesinger deleted the photograph of his own vaccination sometime after that.
May Hashem bless him with health and all good until 120 years.
Rabbi Schachter is a hero of the Jewish nation and his integrity remains unquestioned. This was a pure oversight. His intentions were certainly pure and praiseworthy.
ParCare did not intentionally violate DOH guidelines. They legitimately obtained the vaccines through their servicing of many group home clients. The vaccines come with instructions that they need to be prioritized in a certain order. They understood it to mean that each facility must prioritize their clients in that particular order. That dis not think that after they had vaccinated their highest priority clients that they have to keep the vaccine in storage until given the green light to go to next level. As soon as they realized they immediately corrected course. No need to make a federal case out of this. They will be playing an important role in getting the wider community vaccinated. If you put too many stumbling blocks in their way it will hamper the effort.
A Disney employee in California bragged that she got a shot of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine early due to her husband’s aunt being a “big deal” at the Redlands Community Hospital outside Los Angeles. The woman got the vaccine despite not being a frontline health care worker.
Unfortunately this has become a(nother) chillul Hashem and regardless of intention and misunderstanding, there has to be a corrective action to repair the damage to to the Jewish community.
what about them getting the second required dose? Will they have to forgo that?
I’m not understand why some people are so quick to throw people under the bus. They got the vaccine legally, the provider got the vaccine legally and so did the rabonim. Let’s bear in mind that these two are not spring chickens! They have nothing to apologize for. As we have been finding out over the past number of days the provider was 100% correct. Governor Cuomo, the man child in Albany is upset that The provider wasn’t listening to him and him only. After all Governor Cuomo is the know all and end all of this whole virus.
It baffles me. I know I’m going back to the beginning, but it really baffles me that they’re so quick to say Oh no it wasn’t our fault it wasn’t our fault it wasn’t our fault. You’re right it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t the other guy’s fault either. Stop trying to slip away from things especially when you didn’t do anything wrong.
The guide lines where explicit as to how it would be distributed. How they got it Joe thrust advertised it Leads one to be Leary. First responders and those over 75 or with failing health. Seems quite clear. Except in boro park williamsberg and monroe. It’s called beating the system
Rav schechter is a giant but surprised he threw gary under the bus
THIS IS WHAT I ORIGINALLY SAID. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
I totally respect him but anybody with a brain had to understand that only healthcare workers were being vaccinated AND reputable doctors and clinics like CityMD did not have the vaccine — how could this small center with a not so kosher reputation get the vaccine? come on.
So he doesen’t get the second dose.
And their names are Besmerched on the internet Worldwide.
Modern Orthodox/Haredi, whatever, a Shomer Shabbos Jew should ALWAYS be given Kav Schut ( benefit of the doubt). I beleive them when they say it was well intended.
Too bad they did not actually research what this injection is ( gene therapy) , maybe they would not have been in such a rush to get it. 2.5% have severe adverese reactions right off the bat, that is why there is a 15 minuite observation period.
With all due respect to Rav Schechter, please do not bite the hand that helped you! Arent we all innocent until proven guilty? why are Yidden shomrei Torah U’mitzvos jumping to conclusions? Condemning another Yid only because King Cuomo and his kingpins said so? Where is the Yashrus?
Yidden, wake up! Do not kid yourself that our government meant nursing home patients. This has nothing to do that someone obtained the vaccine before nursing home patients because DOH did not care about nursing home patients in the first place! Yidden, this has everything to do with the fact that the clinic is run by visibly Jewish people. Antisemitism has reared its ugly head and every Jewish owned business is vulnerable! If this would be Mt Sinia hospital giving it to other than… it would never make the news!!! Wake up!! You can be next!! This is precisely what happened pre World war ll. They are going after the Jews. We need Rachmei Shamayim
Why wouldn’t he have done that if he knew? The gonivim at the clinic said it was kosher. Now NY State Troopers are investigating this shanda. Another chillul haShem from BP/Willy/CrownHeights… Thanks boychicks…
Like SHachter the NY tough guy, who never bothered to find out if he’s sneaking in line.
The lesson: Modern Orthodox Rabbis, like Rav Schachter שליט”א, a paragon of integrity/ישרות, should practice social distancing from alleged “Chareidim” (phony Chareidim actually) like the guy behind this chain of clinics, who’s standards don’t come near his in this area, unfortunately.