I heard in the news that in New Zealand the government is quashing protests against mandates to take the Covid-19 vaccine in a very creative way. They are blasting, at loud volumes, 80s and 90s songs that can be defined as earworms (they will not leave your ear, and you cannot get rid of them). One example is the song “Macarena,” which would send me running away from any protest in search of noise-cancelling headphones. I know—just by mentioning the song you are already singing it repeatedly in your head.
I thought this was quite a wonderful way of defeating these protests. It sends a clear message of the importance of vaccines and governmental health care initiatives that will save lives, it is non-violent, and it displays a sense of humor. All of these ways to share a message resonates with me as a Jew.
Judaism takes health and healing seriously. There is no doubt in my mind that we must take a vaccine that will save our lives and will minimize the pain and suffering brought on by the pandemic. Following the vaccine mandate is how we fulfill the mitzvah of choosing life and of Pikuach Nefesh, the caring for a soul. This concept originates from the Torah, when we read, in Leviticus 14:16: “You shall not stand over the blood of another human being.” In other words, if there is a way in which one can save another person’s life, one must do it. That is the principle behind a vaccine mandate—vaccines will help save lives, and we have a mandate to take them and make sure that others take it.
Regarding nonviolence, Judaism has plenty to teach. In the Babylonian Talmud (Gittin 59b), Abbaye affirms: “The whole of the Torah is for promoting peace.” Every morning we recite a personal meditation asking God to fulfill the ideal of the Torah: “May we be disciples of Aaron the priest, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving our fellow creatures and bringing them closer to the Torah.”
We pursue peace and are vigilant against committing any act that may cause harm to others.
In Parashat Mishpatim, in the Book of Exodus chapters 21 through 24, we encounter many laws designed to punish negligence, such as leaving an open hole where people and animals can fall and be hurt, or allowing an ox that gores to roam free and hurt people and animals. Not only we pursue peace, we also ensure that we do not hurt others in the process.
And, when it comes to a sense of humor, we indeed know a thing or two about it. Humor has always been central to our identity. There are plenty of examples of it already in the Torah. When I read in the Book of Numbers chapter 11, a harrowed Moses asking God: “Why do you inflict these people on me? Have I conceived all these people?” I hear the clear irony of the text. Another example is Deuteronomy chapter 20. The Torah forbids cutting down fruit bearing trees when in a prolonged siege. The Torah poses a question (verse 19): “Are trees of the field human that they can run away from you in the siege?” Already in our earliest texts we recognize the need for a little humor!
I hope that we see many more examples of humorous, nonviolent, and caring leadership that will achieve their goals of protecting the people without hurting them in the process, conscious of human limitations and having compassion for them, loving and pursuing peace while ensuring the health and well-being of the whole community. And I also hope that I can follow New Zealand’s example in my own life, dealing with annoying or tough situations without violence, with humor, and with a clear goal of promoting health and healing.