Kollel Heads Call On Avreichim To Vaccinate ‘And Then We Will Be Able To Study As Before’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Due to the recent rise in infections as well as the large number of tragedies within the chareidi community since the advent of coronavirus, tens of heads of kollelim around the country are calling on all avreichim (Torah scholars) to vaccinate. The letter, signed by the heads of kollelim including Rabbi Yitzchak Ezrachi of Mir, Rabbi Avraham Kahanaman of Ponovezh, Rabbi Simcha Sheinberg of Torah Or and Rabbi Shaul Karelitz of Kollel Chazon Ish as well as many others, was written at the behest of Rabbi Chaim Kanievski and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein.

It should be noted that those who receive two vaccination shots in Israel do not need to isolate even if they were in the proximity of a coronavirus patient. This would mean that kollelim would not have to isolate even if one member for some reason tested positive and would be able to continue their Torah studies rather than being forced into isolation, and this may have motivated the rabbis to encourage avreichim to vaccinate.

The kollel heads wrote that “due to the difficult situation of infection in the land of Israel and the rest of the world due to the coronavirus, with many people sick, some in serious condition, men and women even at a young age, and some having unfortunately passed away including great people, we rule at this time to add prayers and supplications to Hashem that he remove the pandemic from us and to strengthen Torah study, while ensuring not to be harmed and not to harm others. Therefore it is of paramount importance to maintain all the regulations.

“We are obligated to listen to the rulings of our great rabbis, the leaders of the community Rabbi Chaim Kanievski Shlita and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein Shlita, who ruled that avreichim are obligated to take the vaccination against coronavirus which according to doctors is safe for use.

“We therefore call upon all avreichim who are permitted by doctors to vaccinate to hurry and take the vaccination which is necessary to guard both body and soul and then we will be able to continue to study as before without concerns and without any harm. Whoever is faster is more worthy.”