It was Yom Kippur, though, and those details don’t matter, as long as preserving life is your priority, Singing ‘Amazing Grace’ for Ruth Bader Ginsburg is perfectly fine, Mourning for the Jewish Supreme Court Justice is hard enough without taking offense at what may seem ’inappropriate’ gestures, ‘Social distance’ is the exact opposite of what we need as we ask forgiveness from God and one another, The US president’s record of lies and unfounded insinuations renders him a fickle and unreliable ally for the Jewish state, Justice Ginsburg knew that results often count more than procedure, especially when rigidity serves no purpose – and in that vein, took care of some specifically Jewish concerns, Mayim Bialik on what Yom Kippur and the book of Jonah mean to her this year, My religious tradition reminds me of my powerlessness. (David knocks on the door)
Talmudic sages instructed Jews to visit a grave when faced with a national calamity — especially a drought or plague. It was soft and heavy. They could not even find the words needed to call off the horrible beast. Could they take up arms against the gentiles? Jews have prayed at his graveside — marked only by a pile of stones until the mid-20th century — ever since it was “revealed” half a millennia ago.
Virus surges to over 7,500 daily cases as Israel set to enter full lockdown, 669 in serious condition, 167 on ventilators; 12.8% of tests come back positive; MKs haggle over amendment to law meant to allow for tighter closure, limits on protests, prayers, IDF punishes officers, expels 2 cadets from course over virus outbreak on base, Israel’s COVID-19 death toll leaps up by 59 within 24-hour period, For the sins you have committed: What the press is saying on September 25, As Israel enters tightened lockdown and virus deaths rise, Netanyahu blames politicians, undisciplined Israelis for the spike; pundits say the government must take responsibility, Virus czar: Reopening schools with older kids was ‘failure’ on my watch, Gamzu says there has been ‘bad conducting’ by the government, but remains diplomatic when asked about Netanyahu; plans to return to job managing Tel Aviv hospital in November, Israelis flock to airport ahead of planned shutdown of flights, Virus czar: Lockdown stricter than it should be, will have ‘tremendous’ costs, The Netanyahu failure: A lockdown with no plan, With inaction and political bickering and with no clear exit strategy, the government has abandoned its public, Orthodox NYC chat group warns not to test kids for COVID or risk school closings, Message circulating on WhatsApp says administrations’ ‘hands are tied,’ advising that ‘If your child is sick please keep them home, and indicate that they have a stomach ache’, NYC authorities warn of crackdown as infections mount in Hasidic areas, As a new outbreak grows in Brooklyn, mask-wearing appears to remain scarce, Navy, Defense Ministry tests new missile for corvettes, Weapon system declared operational, will be put to use on Sa’ar-5 and soon-to-arrive Sa’ar 6 missile ships bought to assist in the defense of natural gas platforms, military says, After complaint, tiny Swastika, NY, decides nothing wrong with town’s name, Councilmember says ‘only an intolerant person’ would think name connected to Nazis, but state senator announces plans to force upstate hamlet’s hand, Jewish MSNBC commentator: ‘What is the difference between Hitler, Donald Trump?’, Coronavirus crisis tests resilience of Europe’s dwindling Jewish communities, After years of building the infrastructure to be self-reliant, many smaller Jewish centers again require outside support — but are confident they have the tools to bounce back, Chinese firm claims it will have vaccine ready for world by early 2021, Cosmonauts say they’re not ready to try Russia’s virus vaccine, Sweden avoids 2nd virus surge, but many questions remain on its outlier approach, WATCH: Philosopher Micah Goodman on how to overcome pandemic of polarization, Join the ToI Community for Rabbi David Wolpe on Yom Kippur and Jewish resilience, Gain access to Friday’s Behind the Headlines webinar by becoming a ToI Community member today, Hebrew courses at the University of Haifa fall semester, Fall 2020: October 20, 2020–January 14, 2021.