The results of coronavirus contain both positives and some very distressing negatives.

This post addresses the consequences for both Jews (whether religious or not) and non-Jews.

First of all, it first achieved infamy in a place known for its violations of all 7 Mitzvot Bnei Noach.

As one example: Rabbanim in Eretz Yisrael actually forbade receiving organ transplants from China when they realized the likelihood of an innocent person (aka, political prisoner) being murdered to provide the new organ.

(This never became Israeli law, as far as I know, so only people who care about halacha listen. But still.)

And yes, some of the mitzvot violations in China are against the people's will, but not all.

For example, no one is forcing anyone to eat ever min hachai – yet some Chinese people do so happily with the approval of their surrounding society.

And while the Chinese government forced abortions on women about to violate their former one-child policy, no one forced Chinese women to abort their unborn females so that couples could have the son more desirable in Chinese culture. 

​(This has also given China the unnatural result of more males than females. Naturally, a society should have more females than males. China's ratio of males to females is the highest in the world: around 115 males for every 100 females. And yes, this is causing social problems.)

Furthermore, growing research shows that an increasing number of Chinese babies available for adoption are actually kidnapped from their families of origin. This is a particularly serious violation against the Noachide prohibition against stealing.

​And again, very few within Chinese society seem to care about this. Some do (and it's unfortunate that they're suffering along with everyone else), but most don't seem to.

And so on.

Secondly, many venues reflective of ancient Greek culture are now either banned or limited.

A very happy result of coronavirus is the increasing shut-down of ancient Greek cultural activities, the shut-down of the Olympics being most symbolic.

Increasingly, people can also no longer gather together to watch young men chase leather balls across a wide swathe of green or across a polished court (AKA soccer & American football & basketball).

People can no longer watch the licentious half-time shows performed by young women who have no respect for their own tzelem Elokim.

They no longer have an excuse to brawl and commit other senseless harmful acts in their great enthusiasm for watching guys in funny uniforms assault leather balls with their feet or bats.

​Music performances, especially those known for their degenerate lyrics & acts, accompanied by rampant drinking & drugging & violent or lewd behavior, are being cancelled one after the other. (Yay!)

Movie theaters are emptying out.

And bars & dance clubs? These are the scenes of so many crimes (and are, in fact, the main source of college girls being violated — though most liberals refuse to acknowledge this), in addition to drinking & drugging & licentious behavior — and now they're emptying out.

How many lives have been harmed by the whole bar-hopping culture?

​That's all coming to an end.

Certainly, if people have stored a supply of alcohol at home or know how to make their own, they can still act like drunken chimpanzees in their own home.

But bar brawls that spill out into the street & prowlers looking for female prey are coming to an end (at least temporarily).

And who knows? Maybe drug addicts & alcoholics will have no choice but to dry out during quarantine.

Also, I heard about one couple with a young child from which the husband walked out and went to live with his brother.

But when the lockdown started, the husband decided he preferred to be with his child and decided to do his best to get along with his wife.

And so he moved back home.

​​Our enemies in Iran are being decimated.

Interestingly, it seems to have hit the leaders first. During the Obama administration, the Iranian people themselves tried to change their government. Also, Iranian Jews repeatedly claim that your average Iranian does not suffer from Jew-hatred & are actually pretty nice in general.

The desire to destroy the Jews of Eretz Yisrael lies with the leaders of Iran, not the average citizen – and that's exactly who got hit first.

Furthermore, with Iranian leaders consumed with the virus now among their general population, they can no longer afford to focus on destroying Israel or funding terrorist groups.​

​Having said that, I'm still sorry for the suffering of those who wish to live moral & peaceful lives.

I still think Italy's high death rate (around 10%) is because the hospitals are making unethical selections, as per Rav Moshe Heinemann's Q&A session, in which (using well-known examples from the Gemara) he states that you cannot turn away a patient simply based on age. 

Italian hospitals have been turning away people over 60 – just because they're not 59. Or 22.

If a person reaches the point where he or she needs hospital treatment (whether a respirator or a vitamin C infusion or other effective treatments unable to be performed at home), and that person is turned away...well, that naturally increases the chance the person will die.

And by behaving with such a lack of integrity, a nation sours the din against themselves even further, which also increases illness & fatalities.

Italy is also the birthplace of Rome.

Chocolate, wine, opera, fashion, a powerful mafia, and unholy religious practices had and still have their root in Italy. 

There's nothing innately wrong with chocolate or wine, of course. By their focused excellence in these areas, it becomes a symbol of indulgence (rather than a criticism of the actual food itself).

​Also, while opera is considered a classy activity, have you ever read the opera storylines? They're silly at best & immoral at worst, as are some of the costumes.

And all these activities have drawn to a halt. (Well, mostly anyway.)

And now this center of Rome is singing self-aggrandizing songs (patriotic or sports anthems) from their porches to keep their spirits up while their hospitals turn away desperate people simply due to their lack of youth.

It's all rather Edomite, if you think about it.

I'm sorry for the innocent there who are suffering along with the self-indulgent. 

Countries must be more independent now.

The current situation forces them to enforce their borders.

Even within a country, they are enclosing cities and states.

In America, despite its lack of physical boundaries around each individual state, some states (like Florida) are enforcing its boundaries by placing checkpoints at all incoming roads and the airport.

Because most of Florida is surrounded by ocean, it only has states on its northern boundary. States surrounded by other states (like Wyoming, which has 6 states along its boundaries) will have a harder time doing this.

We learn in Parshat Noach that Hashem does not approve of mass unification.

Along with the plain text of the Torah regarding Migdal Bavel (the Tower of Babel), the commentaries are quite clear on this point.  

You can see the Kli Yakar detail all the problems with mass unification in The Kli Yakar on Parshat Noach, in which he explains the despite the nations' proclamations of peace as their objective for mass unification...in reality, mass unification leads to more war.

Remember, prior to World War I, Europe was led by monarchies who were related to each other – some several times over.

For example, Kaiser Willhelm II of Prussia & Germany was a first cousin to the British King George V of England; both were the grandsons of England's Queen Victoria. The monarchies of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark intermarried with each other and siblings ruled bordering countries.

The Queen of Greece had a royal British mother (Princess Victoria) and a royal German father (Frederick III).

Queen Marie of Romania was the daughter of a Russian princess and a British prince.

Even today, European royalty consists of second- and third-cousins.

​Yet all those marriages and intertwining sibling & cousins did not prevent WWI.

The only time unification leads to peace is when it consists of tzaddikim.

When Hashem disperses people, it's for their own good.

Likewise, you can peruse An English Translation of the Malbim on Parshat Noach to see that Malbim makes the same points as the Kli Yakar.

Most of the leaders of different countries (maybe all) are not good people. They operate out of self-aggrandizement and the desire to perpetuate anti-God ideas throughout society – just like Dor Haflagah.

All their ideas for mass unification and being "one big happy family!" and creating "a global village" actually lead to destruction, as detailed by the Torah commentaries.

Via coronavirus, Hashem has put a stop to this.

If you think about it, it could easily be that the number deaths from coronavirus is actually less than deaths resulting from mass unification, and this is Hashem's Chessed, even though it doesn't look like a chessed on the surface.

​But it is.

Despite the obvious fairness of the din and the positive results from the lockdowns, there is also a painful & difficult side to the whole situation.

And that shouldn't be ignored.

And while I haven't written so much about my personal experiences within one of the most intense lockdowns in the world (Eretz Yisrael), there are definitely very challenging aspects to it, believe me.

I've had my moments in which I feel seized with fear. Baruch Hashem, they've been moments and not entire days.

And there are other challenges too.

And I also know that people who live alone, or who live in cramped conditions within a large family, people who live with at least one difficult family member who refuses to try to get along and behaves even worse due to the situation, people with existing health problems, people who were dependent on cleaning help, people who naturally possess bundles of energy and are now confined to their apartment, people who find it exceptionally difficult to endure the current grocery-shopping challenge (waiting outside for a long time while maintaining the proper distance from other shoppers) only to enter and discover there are no eggs or pasta or band-aids left, people who need a constant supply of essentials like diapers & baby formula, people who've lost a family member & cannot receive the support they desperately need right now, and all sorts of other situations...

...so by focusing on the positive outcomes of coronavirus, I certainly do not mean to tromp all over the very real suffering of people.

It's just that we should realize that this pandemic and its bizarre consequences did not come for no reason.

For example, it's good that all the stupid sports events that lead to pritzus & violence & animalistic behavior have been nullified.

Some couples with poor shalom bayit have actually been treating each other better & helping each other more because they can't afford NOT to get along in the current lockdown. Also, there's more appreciation because of actually being at home & seeing what the other spouse actually does. (The ones I've heard from aren't saying that things are perfect — they still have their snapping-turtle moments — but there has been overall improvement.) 

Another benefit is that people who (consciously or unconsciously) built their self-worth on tremulous values (such as the ability to run a pristine home or produce amazing meals or excel in their career or sculpture themselves with gym workouts, etc.) are finding themselves trapped in limiting circumstances that are forcing them to redefine themselves.

In other words, people who (consciously or not) defined and/or esteemed themselves by their outside activities are now having to adjust themselves to their home & immediate family.

​This is ultimately a good thing, but understandably very difficult & even painful in the beginning.

Another example: For some people, the sudden opportunity to run their own Seder for the first time this year is the chance they've been waiting for.

For others, it's an overwhelming duty rife with disappointment & stress.

So again, the obvious good & seeming bad run in parallel lines.

What's more, it's very distressing that people are sick & dying, and that the bereft cannot receive the support and comfort they need.

It's also very distressing that people whose livelihoods depend on outside activities (like musicians, caterers, store owners, store clerks, plumbers, electricians, house cleaners) or people whose livelihoods depend on people coming to their home (ganenets, in-home daycare, health & cosmetic practitioners, in-home sellers, etc.) can no longer earn a livelihood.

​VERY distressing. (That's somewhat our personal situation right now too, BTW.)

Yet even when we can't physically help people, praying for them helps tons.

By seeing the results of coronavirus pandemic (especially the positive results), we get a better idea of what Hashem wants from us (both Jews whether religious or not & non-Jews) – ideas we can take with us for the long term.

• He wants us to get along better – especially being nicer to those with whom we make our home.

 

• He want us to enjoy all aspects of life, including chagim & simchas, just for themselves without feeling that extra extravagance is vital. (It might be more fun and more attractive, but we can still be perfectly happy without ice sculptures or crazy music or a limo, and so on.)

 

• He wants us to become more inner-focused.​

 

• He wants us to focus on ridding ourselves of actual chametz (and all the spiritual meaning that implies) rather than the non-essential spring-cleaning aspects (which, again, add a nice feeling for Leil HaSeder, but are not essential to Pesach).

 

• He wants us to let go of our taavot. (I suppose I'm not the only one who bought lots of essentials without having the room or the money to stock up on cookies, candy, white flour, and chocolate?)

​

• He wants us to give up our addictions. (With increasing lockdowns, alcohol & drugs are much harder to come by, if not impossible. Online gambling is unfortunately available – though increasingly limited finances discourage it – but casinos are no longer an option. Other unmentionable vices are also unavailable.)

 

• He wants us to pay attention to how we pray.

 

• He wants us to be careful about our speech and what we do when we interact with others.

There's more messages from Him, but you probably have your own good ideas.

Also, we probably all realize that in some ways, people might also behave increasingly worse, despite the obvious messages to behave better.

When isolated or cooped up in stressful environments, people also immerse themselves even more deeply in hi-tech outlets. (How many people are surfing, tweeting, texting, uploading "stories," playing video games, and watching videos even more than they were before?)

People are also sinking into less ideal behaviors, like drinking more, oversleeping more, smoking more, eating more, snarling more, fighting more, depression, paranoia, etc.

So yeah, again, there's the good and the bad together.

However, by conforming ourselves to Hashem's messages, we can avoid a worsening of the situation and hopefully halt the negative consequences in their tracks.

​​May Hashem eliminate coronavirus from our midst and grant all the cholim a complete & speedy refuah. May He also return us to our schools, yeshivot, and schools. May we experience true "simcha shel mitzvah." And may we always gather together for good reasons!

Years ago, during a blessedly short stint as a kiruv rebbetzin, I found myself with a 4-year-old at home with me all day.

His brother, older than him by 1 grade, needed to be in school. Because of the exorbitant American tuition of private school, we could not afford to put the 4-year-old in school too. 

Fortunately, Hashem had me irrationally (or so I thought at the time) save all his older brother's weekly sum-up sheets (daf kesher) from school last year, so I actually had all the material necessary to homeschool this child.

I decided to get started homeschooling via candy.

That, and this 4-year-old being a particularly well-behaved, acquiescent, and intelligent child, made me believe that homeschooling would be a breeze.

Only it wasn't.

The child refused to learn. He got distracted easily. He wouldn't listen. He wouldn't participate.

I tried different methods (rewards, a this-is-fun! approach, calm yet firm, calm yet stern, etc.) and absolutely nothing worked.

I started to feel like a failure. I also started to panic. Planning return to Eretz Yisrael at some point, I felt frantic about him being place a year behind.

Then I decided to consult with one of the other young women who'd also come from Eretz Yisrael in our kiruv group.

She'd been teaching in Eretz Yisrael for several years and loved her profession. She was also a determined, passionate, intelligent, and organized person whom I was sure could offer me good advice.

(In general, she was good at giving good advice.)

But when I explained my goals and my problems to her, she gazed at me intently without answering.

Finally, she said, "I don't know how to tell you this, but in my experience, parents can't teach their children. Children simply refuse to learn from their parents."

Flummoxed, I began stammering my response. But what about all the homeschooling parents? And what about parents who do homework with their children (knowing full well that homework is often a miserable stress on the parents and the cause of much child-parent tension)?

She shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "It could be that because homeschooling parents started off that way, like the children were never in school, so the children simply adjusted to that reality. Or maybe because they don't offer any other choice, so eventually the children come around."

She sighed and looked at me with great seriousness. "But I really don't know how homeschoolers do it. Because in my experience, it just doesn't happen." She paused. "Even me. My children won't learn from me."

"Really?" I said. "And you know how to teach!"

She nodded with a rueful smile. "Yeah. And I REALLY know how to teach! Parents love me because I give my all to my students and make sure that every one is working up to her full potential. And I've tried teaching my own children. But I just can't. They simple won't learn from me."

It was a comfort to know that I wasn't doing anything wrong; the situation was simply a genuinely challenging one.

So I mostly gave up and baruch Hashem, we were back in Eretz Yisrael a few months later and the 4-year-old was able to catch up.

(Interestingly, it was the older child who got messed up with school and switching languages & programs twice in one year.)

​But why I am telling you this story?

It's not to discourage those of you who have found yourself quarantined into an impromptu homeschool.

By the way, I'm also homeschooling my 5-year-old now. We started off with a couple of minutes of morning davening. (Disappointingly, that was a grueling & frustrating activity for the first week, but then got better). Then we started doing very small amounts of reading. I also expected that to go well because this child loves reading his worksheets from school, but has suddenly dug in his heels about reading with us with no impetus from school (although that also improved a bit recently).

I decided to make parsha and weekly topics his bedtime story, so hopefully that will go well.

And no, we're not overwhelming him. Literally a couple of minutes for davening and then for reading should not be a huge pressure. (Except that for some reason it is. Even with chocolate.)

This time, there really is no choice and I know I must keep plowing ahead. (Asking Hashem to make this go more smoothly has definitely helped.)

But the point is for you homeschoolers to realize that teaching your own children, ESPECIALLY after they've been habituated to classroom schooling, is a real transition and a real challenge.

If you're not accomplishing what you hoped with homeschooling (even if you made sure to start out with minimum standards) or if you're finding it very frustrating and stagnating...then please know there is nothing wrong with you or your child. 

It's the situation.

It's a genuinely difficult situation. As we saw above, even a successful, experienced, professional teacher struggled with teaching her own children.

Yes, it ultimately can be done, and Hashem grants siyata d'Shmaya in situations like this, but please don't blame yourself or think that you're doing something "wrong" or that you're missing some secret "key" to homeschooling.

You're not. You're totally fine.

And also, I've read accounts of committed homeschooling moms who described days that, even for them, the kids just won't settle down to learn or the mom just can't bring herself to teach them that day. (Or even a few days in a row.)

So it's not easy-shmeezy for anyone.

Also, we're all getting ready for Pesach right now.

So...please don't feel bad.

Please feel good.

Because whatever you're doing (even if you haven't actually accomplished much with the kids) is all part of the effort and the transition, and you deserve a lot of credit for any efforts you are making.

UPDATE: Just came across this from Rav Itamar Schwartz (source):

Keser or (Keter) is a crown – meaning the Crown of the Klippah.

There is a famous Gemara (​Sanhedrin 97b), which says the following:

I always wondered about this because throughout history, we've had truly evil rulers (like Hitler & Stalin yemach shemam) who issued decrees as harsh as Haman (if not harsher), and hardly anyone repented.

Also, it's even harder nowadays because so many Jews have been denied access to their own religion & tradition.

​We are especially referring to today's younger Jews growing up in families in which both their parents and their grandparents are both Jewishly ignorant (even if they think they're not) and assimilated.

They may or may not have a frum synagogue or school anywhere near them.

Furthermore, with liberal values having skidded so hard to the Left, plus warped science (i.e., the gender identity stuff, etc.), and core Jewish values being portrayed so negatively in movies, TV, and literature for at least 2 generations now... 

Concepts like Heavenly consequences for immoral behavior are contradicted with simplistic yet convincing castles-in-the-air arguments and also ridiculed in mainstream society — both performed with great vehemence.

How would anyone come to consider looking into Torah-true Judaism in response to harsh decrees from an evil ruler?

And even if such Jews did decide to, say, use the Internet to seek the Truth, how would they manage to sift out all the watered-down loophole-lovin' self-proclaimed Orthodoxy for the real thing?

In other words, logically speaking, how could that possibly happen?

Based on the above, I thought perhaps Hashem will do something different to make people feel that seeking out Torah-true Judaism is the only answer.

Not coincidentally, I originally had the same type of question regarding an ancient prediction that Yishmael would rule the world for a time period before Mashiach.

I couldn't get my head around it because their militaries and economies are such a mess worldwide. Their bureaucracy stinks in every Yishmaelite country.

How could these societies conquer the successful societies & militaries of places like America?

Again: How could that possibly happen?

Then I saw that it was happening gradually by using the liberal values (like political correctness, etc.) of these advanced Western countries against themselves.

Media manipulation and other types of manipulation. Population growth. Culture.

It wasn't a military conquest.

It was a cultural & social conquest.

True, the predicted global Yishmaelite conquest hasn't been completely fulfilled. But until coronavirus, it was definitely on its way to fulfillment. I'm not the only one who looked at Europe, for example, and said, "Europe is already lost."

So that was just another example of Hashem's Plans being beyond the ideas of the human mind.

Therefore, I started wondering whether the king with the harsh decrees might also play out differently than what one might assume.

​For example, we know that statements from Chazal and Tanach can also be metaphorical; in some cases, we don't always know until the statement is actualized.

In the above example (regarding Yishmael taken over the world for a period prior to Mashiach), it always sounded like Chazal meant a military conquest – and with ISIS, it is military – but in the Western world, the conquest has primarily been non-military.

Likewise, I'm wondering whether there is a connection between coronavirus and the Gemara from Sanhedrin quoted at the start of this post.

Maybe I'm totally barking up the wrong tree (I don't know Gemara and certainly have not investigated the mefarshim on this), or maybe others have already mentioned this, but you know how the connection between corona and keter (crown) have already been mentioned by several modern sources (and also that 2020 equals keter in gematria – see Rav Itamar Schwartz HERE)? 

So I'm wondering if corona is the "king" meant to impose harsh decrees like those of Haman.

For example, many of the corona restrictions are exactly the same we've seen throughout Jewish history – except those restrictions were imposed by a Torah-hating tyrant.

No going to shul (many shuls even closed indefinitely), yeshivahs & frum schools closed down, no gatherings of more than 10 people, limited transportation, interference with Pesach preparations, (the Nazis decreed that Jews could no longer employ non-Jewish help; many Jews cannot hire any household help now due to health restrictions), access to women's mikvehs and even natural bodies of water are closed in some countries (source), you need a permit to work/to be on the street (in Eretz Yisrael right now) if you are out for any other reason than essential shopping or medical care.

It's all so familiar!

But now it's decreed by a highly contagious virus, not a human tyrant.

Personally, I prefer it this way, rather than via an evil human tyrant. Though coronavirus is distressing, and I'm particularly concerned about those in the higher-risk groups, it's a bit less frightening & threatening somehow than a Fuhrer.

​But maybe that's just me.

Also, the potential breakdown of society due to the results of quarantine (as opposed to the results of the virus itself) is of concern, especially if essential personnel or services are unable to work (as has already started happening).

For some reason, America seems unable to get a factory somewhere to mass produce masks, for example. One business is doing it by hand. So why can't America get its act together? How difficult can it be to produce masks when factories already produce more complicated products?

Also, it's concerning (and bizarre) IF having been infected with coronavirus does NOT grant immunity. I understand it's not known for sure whether a coronavirus infection confers immunity or not. But if it doesn't, then how can anyone create an effective vaccination?

We've already seen that the quarantine (with all its disadvantages) has also had the wonderful effect of improving shemirat Shabbat in Eretz Yisrael (and as we all know: Just one Shabbos and we'll all be free!).

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is also encouraging tefillot on the infamously anti-Torah Israeli media. 

On the other hand, people are turning to tumah pastimes while waiting out the epidemic at home. I heard that the most popular online movie-outlet suffered some kind of crash or lack of service to do the volume of people trying to access all their trash.

Once again, we see the good and the bad running in parallel paths, both growing stronger.

There's a lot more to say about both the positive & negative effects of coronavirus, but there are still a lot of unknowns too.

There's heavy din going on; just this past week, we've seen the passing of several Rebbes, rosh yeshivahs, and other chashuv leaders (include Neve Yeurshalayim's Rabbi Refson's brother, a dayan in England). Some passings were sudden & unexpected. Some resulted from coronavirus, but most not. (Please see HERE; you need to scroll down through the list, which contains general news about the frum community.)

Anyway, for a variety of reasons, it seems to me that corona could be the Hamanic king who impels the Jewish people to do teshuvah.

But I don't really know. It's just a thought.

Either way, I sincerely hope we all merit to dig deep within ourselves and do complete teshuvah from love.

(Please see a follow-up post here: Are We Seeing the Beginnings of King-Inspired Teshuvah?)


May Hashem have rachmanut on all of us, and may all those infected with coronavirus merit a speedy and complete healing along with all the ill & suffering of Am Yisrael.

In Rav Avigdor Miller's dvar Torah Parshas Vayikra 3 – Coming Close to Hashem, we learn the proper procedure for coming close to Hashem.

One aspect of coming close to Hashem is in the mind & the heart: thinking about Hashem, striving to perform mitzvot l'Shem Shamayim, with the best motivations.

But Rav Miller emphasizes that movement is also indispensable in coming close to Hashem. That's why the parsha mentions walking toward the Mizbe'ach (the Altar); you need to actually move.

Likewise, Hashem also commanded the people to walk up to the Beit Hamikdash 3 times a year – with their animals for korbanot.

Imagine how inspiring it must have been to be in your home or yard and see a group of fellow Jews dancing & singing along the road as they went up to Yerushalayim.

​And the throng of singing & dancing Jews only grew bigger because other Jews they passed joined them along the way.

In the beautiful love song to Hashem, Shir HaShirim, feet enclosed in shoes (or sandals) are praised in 7:2.

Rav Miller notes that in the olden days, not everybody wore shoes regularly. But for aliyat haregel (Pilgrimage to the Beit Hamikdash), people certainly needed to put on shoes.

So Hashem loves Am Yisrael for this act of donning footwear because that footwear enabled them to come to the Beit Hamikdash – it enabled them to come close to Hashem.

Even without the proper intentions (which are very valuable), just the act of walking toward Hashem is beautiful in His Eyes. 

We don't have that privilege today, tragically.

We will again – hopefully very soon! – but what should we do in the meantime?

David Hamelech said (Tehillim 27:4), "One thing I desire from Hashem, that I seek – that I should sit in the house of Hashem all the days of my life."

Let's take a working man who, when he comes home, prefers to relax on the couch with a newspaper.

But instead, he picks up his legs and heads to the shul or the beit medrash.

This makes Hashem very happy; this is using his legs to come close to Hashem.

And if his wife understands, Rav Miller says it's as if she's saying, “When you go there, take me along with you. I can’t go in body but I’m there in spirit,” then she gets full reward in this too.

If his wife says, "Hurry up; you might miss Maariv," Rav Miller promises her 100% share in his mitzvah – including his walking to there. Even if he drives, he still needs to walk to the car and then get out of the car to walk from his parking place into the shul.

And as long as the wife's heart is committed to these acts, she gets 100% share even if she's at home occupied with other things.

And just sitting in the shul is still a great thing. It feels like nothing, but it's great.

In fact, let's look at the halacha of going back to get your coat if you forget it in shul; you can't just go into the shul and grab your coat.

No, says Rav Miller, you need to sit down for a minute. It's good to learn or say Tehillim during that minute, but everyone should know that just sitting there is really good too.

It is a mitzvah all on its own.

If you are just sitting in a shul or beit medrash, even if you do nothing else, you should still feel really good about it.

​On page 8, Rav Miller describes exactly how to do this (boldface my addition-MR):

With everything Elisha Hanavi learned in the yeshivah for Nevuah, all the profound secrets of Torah & coming close to Hashem, Hashem saw fit to focus on how Elisha Hanavi washed the hands of his Rebbe, Eliyahu Hanavi.

This, Rav Miller says, is to show us how important it is to draw close to great people. That's a form of drawing close to Hashem because they represent Hashem's Will; Hashem loves them very much.

On pages 11-13, Rav Miller offers compelling examples (some very witty, some very serious) about how to draw close to great Torah people.

Another way to draw close to Hashem is to live in a frum area, an area with frum homes, yeshivot, and shuls.

Rav Miller goes into this very descriptively on pages 13-15, including his own recommendation for a kol korei (a public call to action).

He explains the practical positive ramifications of doing so, and also notes that people living outside frum neighborhoods suffer the creeping influence without even realizing it. 

If at all possible, it's important to live near a tzaddik or a talmid chacham (pages 15-16).

It's important to avoid living near an am ha'aretz (an ignoramus). Even if he is a pious am ha'aretz, he can still influence you negatively.

Even where you sit in shul is important; sitting next to a serious davener is essential.
​
Rav Levi Yitzchak Bender was so firm about this that even though he & other truly good Jews desperately needed to be near the heater during the harsh Ukrainian winters, he and the other truly good Jews davened away from the nourishing warmth because a lowly person insisted on holding court there with his vulgar chatter.

(Please see Learning Spiritual Growth from the Low-Life Butcher who Eventually Achieved a Good Name on the happy ending to that story.)
​
Rav Miller describes the time when a newly frum man, an idealist, began attending his shul.

Unfortunately, this idealist sat next to "a leitz – a ba’al loshon hara who was constantly ridiculing people; speaking against the rov, making fun of the gabbaim and the president. He was a patpaton [one who engages in useless chatter] – he would sit and tell you all the slanders against the people in the shul."

And why was that guy talking so much in shul anyway? That's not allowed either.

​Anyway, the idealistic new baal teshuvah got turned off and left.

I wonder why the leitz didn't do the same. After all, he was clearly so unhappy himself with the shul. Why did he stay if he was so disgusted with it?

I sure wouldn't like to be in the leitz's shoes on Yom HaDin. He chased a newly frum guy out. What miserable responsibility!

Ultimately, says Rav Miller, we need a goal.

Rav Miller notes that even virtuous people haven't always clarified their goal.

And that goal is coming close to Hashem.

We can ask ourselves, "Is what I'm about to do, say, or think bringing me closer to Hashem...or farther?"

We may not be able to do this all the time, but we can build up over time. 

Every step in the right direction counts A LOT.

May we all merit coming close to Hashem Yitbarach.

Coronavirus, Shabbat and The State of Israel

Courtesy of Hidabroot:

As aggravating & inconvenient the increasing lockdowns are, it's impossible to ignore the Heavenly Hint.

Since before the establishment of the State, the religious Jews of Eretz Yisrael have been begging for and working toward a Sabbath-observant State.

Yet even many religious Jews have been hesitant to try to hard to impose Sabbath restrictions on public transportation & public places.

It's often felt that people need to grow at their own pace. Imposing religious requirements on people who don't care can foster more opposition, which is detrimental — that's the feeling of many.

With the influx of non-Jews, especially from Russia & Africa, enforced Sabbath observance in public places & transportation feel like even more of an imposition. After all, non-Jews aren't supposed to even keep Shabbat — so what's the big deal? And how can we be so unfair to them?

And the Muslim & Christian populations would also be affected, although they continue their daily commerce in their own neighborhoods, not Jewish ones.

Transportation, theaters, sports, restaurants, beaches and malls — these are often run by Jews catering to a Jewish majority.

And yes, it's a chilul Hashem when a JEWISH country cannot even adhere to the 10 Commandments (of which Shabbat is one).

But this Shabbat, we in Eretz Yisrael will all experience what a public shut-down on Shabbat feels like.

Finally, it's possible.

Coronavirus & government-imposed quarantines do not respect your "freedom of religion" or your need to grow at your own pace. 

They do not respect your "inalienable" right to do whatever the heck you want.

We could've had a national Shabbat shutdown in a more enjoyable way.

But many of us were too weak or too apathetic to push ourselves for it.

So it's happening this way.

Yishtabach Shemo.

May we all use this opportunity to observe Shabbat k'halacha (which includes a great deal of joy), and may Hashem protect us all from all harm, and may Hashem quickly & completely heal all the sick people.

And may we serve Hashem with so much simcha & dedication that we no longer need these unpleasant consequences.

​Interestingly, a big upsurge in quarantine restrictions affecting the frum community occurred last week, during Parshat Ki Tisa.

That is the parsha in which the Kli Yakar discusses at length the slander against Moshe Rabbeinu and how that results in an epidemic.

The Kli Yakar on Shemot 32:25 discusses the people's sin against their Torah leaders, regarding the debacle of the Golden Calf.

The Kli Yakar notes that the sin against Moshe Rabbeinu flowed from the heart to the eye.

Why?

Because the people (influenced by the Erev Rav) held reservations in their hearts against Moshe Rabbeinu. Because they envied Moshe Rabbeinu's status and suspected him, their eyes were blinded as a result.

They denied things they saw with their own eyes.

All this cumulated in them doing the opposite of what their actual sight showed them.

The Kli Yakar then goes on to say,

He does not mean political leaders.

He means religious leaders.

The entire commentary on this verse focuses on the tendency to suspect and speak against our own leaders, even against leaders on the status of Moshe Rabbeinu.

And he notes that eye problems, leprosy, plague, and illness come about because of this.

In fact, even lashon hara against regular people results from speaking against Torah leaders.

(I guess if people feel that they can badmouth a Gadol, then kal v'chomer, a regular person.)

​Anyway, as far as I can see, there are 3 reasons why a person speaks against a Torah leader:

The Torah leader's influence is dismissed as "charisma" and his piety is considered extremist or show-offy.

Various sources are cherry-picked out of context to contradict the Sage's sage advice.

​In this person's world, everyone is equal and the tremendous talmid chacham is certainly not superior to this university-educated critic.

A variation of this is thinking your own group is not only superior, but the only real way.

Interestingly, Am Yisrael always consisted of different groups. (Twelve, to be exact.)

Wouldn't it have been silly of Shevet Efrayim (who pronounced "shin" as "sin") if it had insisted that everyone who said "Shabbat Shalom" (rather than "Sabbat Salom") was saying it wrong?

And wouldn't it have been equally silly if all the other Tribes derided Shevet Efrayim for saying the words "wrong"?

After all, if Efrayimite pronunciation was so problematic, wouldn't Moshe Rabbeinu or Yehoshua bin Nun have told them?

Avraham Avinu & Yitzchak Avinu also had very different ways of serving Hashem. They had very different personalities.

And that's fine.

Even among Gadolim today, there are different ways of expressing themselves.

Some are clear & concise while others are more esoteric.

(For example, the Spinker Rebbe of the early 1900s used to answer questions by quoting a verse until his questioner came to the answer on his own via this holy hint.)

Here is a brief summary of the 3 main different ways in serve Hashem in Judaism:
Ways of Litvaks, Chassidim, and Sefardim.

(And within those 3, there are fine-tuned variations.)

This stings even more sharply if your Torah leader is a genuine holy person who never criticizes anyone else, including the people who attack him, and even shows them respect.

​(There are also modern examples of this. So as not to re-fan flames, I won't discuss those details, but you probably can think of a few yourself.) 

I will just say that in some cases, it seems the criticism was given in order to curb certain tendencies in that group that had gotten or seemed about to get out of control.

I've heard this regarding the Vilna Gaon's rejection of original Chassidus, for example.

The Baal Shem Tov and his disciples were fine, of course, but other people were taking things too far. (I heard stuff like people doing cartwheels in the middle of davening, and other things.)

Today, most of us are grateful for Chassidus, even if we aren't chassidim ourselves. (And heck, who HASN'T personally benefited from Chabad when they got stuck somewhere? Or Satmar. My son has been rescued by a Satmerer with a car more than once.)

But it could be that without the Vilna Gaon's initial opposition, Chassidus among the masses may have ended up taking a wrong turn somewhere. (Look at the Shabbatai Tzvi debacle, which initially sucked in many good sincere Jews. In fact, it was Post-Shabbatai Tzvi Stress Disorder that fomented so much opposition to early Chassidus.)

Sometimes, these high-level controversies reflect an even higher controversy going on in Shamayim. The opposing Torah leaders are the human earthly representatives of an opposition occurring in the upper dimensions of Creation.

I can't remember who the leaders in the following story were, but there were two Rebbes in opposition. Yet one day, one of these Rebbes announced to his chassidim that the other Rebbe had died. (The other Rebbe lived far away and there was no natural way this Rebbe could have known that.)

The chassidim asked how he knew.

This Rebbe then stated that the light in the world had diminished. If so, who else could have died, causing that effect on the world?

The chassidim were shocked because this implied that their Rebbe's critic (or target of his criticism – can't remember which) was actually an exceptionally holy person.

Obviously, there were things going on behind the scenes to which the regular people were not privy. 

And so...we have 2 reasons why Torah leaders might criticize each other (and do so sharply):

1. To curb certain behaviors that might get out of hand.
2. To reflect (and somehow rectify) a machloket (controversy) occurring in Shamayim.

There are other reasons, but these are 2 big ones.

It should also be emphasized that the above refers to people who are genuinely great people.

Unfortunately, there are rabbis with a lot of book knowledge who lack good middot and engage in controversies NOT l'shem Shamayim, but rather due to their ego.

At the same time, it's important not to shove a genuine Torah leader into that category. Sometimes people do that to allow themselves to criticize him, but such people really are catering to their own ego needs in that case.

Sometimes, a non-Gadol rabbi of a community or shul attracts a following due to his own charisma, his agility in dealing with people, his ability to reassure people (even if it means offering them loopholes of halachic questionability), and the fact that he possesses more knowledge than his audience.

His adherents can be quite loyal to him.

Yet he is not a talmid chacham, he is not a Torah leader, and he has no right to criticize real Gadolim...and real Gadolim have every right to criticize him. 

Again, in this post, we are speaking REAL Torah leaders, REAL talmidei chachamim.

(This can be hard to figure out sometimes, so here is more information to assist with this: More Tips on How to Recognize a Real Gadol.)​ 

Early Chassidus suffered this.

The Baal Shem Tov was a tzaddik with ruach hakodesh and the early founding Rebbes were also tzaddikim with ruach hakodesh (albeit maybe not on the level of the Baal Shem Tov). Yet the slander and controversy they endured in unbelievable.

Moshe Rabbeinu and David HaMelech endured terrible slander.

It's very important not to get involved.

Unfortunately, today's cultural mores drive people toward halachically questionable behavior.

In British culture, you're supposed to be decisive. Waffling and indecision isn't acceptable.

In American culture, you're supposed be CON-FI-DENT! You must SPEAK OUT! 

EXPRESS YOURSELF!

​Take a STAND!

Feeling undecided or hesitant is not so acceptable. It's seen as insecure or lacking in intelligence.

Yet it really is okay to feel that way.

And regarding Torah leaders, it's fine not to take a stand when you suffer doubts.

For example, the Yismach Moshe, Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum (1759 – 1841), remembered himself in a previous incarnation as a member of Sanhedrin in the time of the Moshe Rabbeinu-Korach controversy.
 
While all his fellow Sages joined the camp of Korach (the masses followed Moshe Rabbeinu), the Yismach Moshe-as-Sanhedrin-Member retained a certain doubt as to whether Korach was really in the right.
 
When his grandson expressed astonishment as to how the Yismach Moshe could have indulged in any speculation against the righteousness of Moshe Rabbeinu, the Rebbe explained that Korach's position was so persuasive, his doubt was actually very precious in Shamayim.

Ultimately, the Yismach Moshe said, "Not wanting to be part of the machlokes[controversy], I ran into my tent and closed the entrance tightly. I refused to come out until it was all over."

Astonishingly, his thoughtful doubt & refusal to pick sides became his salvation.

(For the original story, please see Not Everything is Black & White & Parshat Korah: The Jewish Eye.)

​Another massive problem in today's world is the manipulation of images. Photoshop can do amazing things, as can video-editing software.

Photographing or filming from a certain angle can also distort a scene.

Using this against frum people is nothing new.

For example, in Stefania Heilbrunn's Children of Dust and Heaven: A Diary from Nazi Occupation through the Holocaust, a Polish survivor recalls one Sunday in September when journalists & film-makers invaded a town comprising a significant Jewish population.

​These media pros set up tables with cards and piles of money, then (with the military assistance of beatings kicks, and rifles) they forced respectable Jews to sit there and play cards.

Even more appalling, a bearded chassid was forced (via the same violent means) to sit on a chair while they made a "notorious Polish streetwalker" sit on him...the resulting events both filmed and photographed.

All of the above was done to show the alleged "vice and debauchery" of the Jews.

Conveniently, the soldiers with their fingers on their triggers and their beatings and kicking of the victimized Jews were not shown.

Please note the collaboration of military personnel, journalist, professional photographers, and film-makers in this revolting scenario — all admired members of society, of course.

This certainly happens today. 

How much lashon hara against real rabbis is inspired by journalists, newspapers, news blogs, and carefully edited video clips?

There is not one non-frum media outlet (whether Jewish or not) that really wishes to show a Gadol in his true light.

Unless you are very committed to Torah & mitzvot, you really do not like what the Gadolim say nor what they stand for.

Sure, maybe you'll cherry-pick certain phrases that sit well with you, but not more than that — unless you're very committed, as said.

Be careful of what you read & watch; so much of it is manipulated.

And get comfortable with not being decisive or CON-FI-DENT.

​It's okay not to know. It's okay not to be completely sure...until you are.

So in these trying times of quarantine and all sorts of strange results of a new virus, let's try to avoid a transgression that leads to plague & illness: speaking badly about tzaddikim.

And if we're not sure if someone is a tzaddik or not? 

​Better safe than sorry advises: Keep mum.

Hidabroot uploaded a 5:51-minute video of Rav Zamir Cohen speaking about some insights into this coronavirus episode.

I'm sorry the video is only in Hebrew, but there are Hebrew subtitles also if that helps (it helps me) and lots of really cool & illustrative images are interspersed throughout, if that helps too:

Rav Zamir Cohen Reassures & Encourages:
How Should We Deal with the Coronavirus? (Hebrew only) 

He makes lots of interesting points on the spiritual aspects behind this challenge, which also helps us understand what we can do to remedy the situation at its spiritual root.

​Here's a summary of the main points:

• Hashem placed Jupiter at the right size, distance, and gravitational pull to shelter Earth from being destroyed by meteors & comets (according to a popular theory of most astronomers).

• Hashem maintains just the right amount of oxygen throughout the world. Even when trees are cut down, the remaining trees produce more leaves to assist in maintaining the necessary oxygen in the world.

 

• Rather than attacking us, our enemies attack each other, which prevents us from being destroyed (as stated in Yeshayahu 19:2).

 

• No matter how many missiles are shot into the Jewish areas of Eretz Yisrael, Jews still feel pretty secure about it because we are used to being saved by the hundreds of miracles that have saved us until now. (Or those of little faith rely on the not-totally-effective Iron Dome.) People in places like Sederot get frayed nerves, of course, but even they feel pretty optimistic and are likely to talk about how Hashem protects them.

Following these points, Rav Zamir then states (at minute 2:14):

Yet lack of fear should NOT lead to a lack of responsibility, the rav immediately emphasizes.

A person must still observe the health protocols and also obey quarantine orders.

The rav states that health protocols and quarantines are hishtadlut and follow the Torah's directive to "guard your soul."

But aside from the recommended hishtadlut, Rav Zamir warns against submitting to fear & stress.

​We must strengthen our emunah & bitachon to know that we are under Hashem's intimate personal Supervision.

Things don't happen for no reason.

Events we perceive as bad should rouse us to engage in self-introspection, both personally and on a larger scale.

​That's exactly the reason Hashem sent us these events.

How do we do this?

Rav Zamir advises the following:

1. Look to see what caused the disaster.
2. Examine the results of the disaster.

Following these 2 steps regarding coronavirus leads us to...

The rav quotes Devarim 28:47:

Rashi says:

When you had access to everything, what did you do with it?

Did you exercise your free choice properly?

Rav Zamir notes several things that people indulged in or were lax about:
​

• Unkosher food
• Trips out of Eretz Yisrael (for those already living within Eretz Yisrael) that are not halachically mandated (Rambam, Laws of Kings & Wars, 5:9)
• Netilat yadayim upon rising from sleep, after using the facilities, before eating bread, before eating wet fruit & vegetables, etc.
• Parades & events that "aren't exactly in the spirit of Torah."
• Shomer negiah

The source of coronavirus possibly came from unkosher food (which is not unkosher for non-Jews, but being that it is a message for Am Yisrael and that there were also Jews who indulge in these foods, this is an important point & the message still stands).

Even if corona is a biological weapon that escaped (or was released), many have noted that having a "wet" market of live or raw animals for sale near the lab likely assisted in its spread.

Either way, people are being more careful about food because of corona.

People are also feeling forced to stock up on food — and not boiled bat or ever min hachai foods, but plain non-perishable foods like rice, flour, canned peas, and so on.

Everybody's washing their hands now.

Okay, it's not necessarily the halachic way, especially the alternating water-pouring done upon rising in the morning, but that's the whole point: You weren't careful about it or you didn't try to learn what you need to know about Jewish Law?

Now we're washing our hands all the time — even more than the halacha demands.​

Rav Zamir has such a refined way of expressing himself.

​We all know what events and parades he means.

In the current situation, NO ONE, no matter how liberal and degenerate, can organize a parade celebrating his or her degeneracy in Eretz Yisrael right now.

As for events...I still remember the Israeli response when one England's most famous performers came to give a concert in Israel.

His fans mobbed him with such enthusiasm that he immediately left Israel. (Good. He's not our type anyway.)

Halevai these same people would get so excited about seeing Rav Kanievsky (not mobbing him, but just feeling the same enthusiasm).

Another thing that pained me was the masses who showed up at Israeli soccer games. All that Jewish enthusiasm, singing, and unity — it couldn't be directed toward Torah?

Also, I've seen some weddings in which the bridal gown exposed way too much. Mixed dancing on the dance floor. Inappropriate entertainment, like dancers and stuff.

And even in some very frum weddings, the over-the-top extravagance (particularly when people really couldn't afford it but did it anyway) and the sometimes unrefined behavior and lax modesty — Hashem finally put His Foot down against it all.

In Israel right now, you could be the biggest billionaire, but you aren't having more than a wedding in your backyard with no more guests than your yard can hold — IF that. (Remember, the current protocol is to host no more than 10 people in one place.)

Not touching the opposite gender is a big challenge for many people.

You'd think that at least in the frum community, that wouldn't be a problem, but cultural courtesies can a pose a challenge.

Afraid to offend, even some strongly committed frum people struggle when faced with a proffered hand for a polite handshake.

Others who enjoy seeking out loopholes to make life more comfortable postulate that it's permitted in professional situations or in any situation so as not to offend people.

I know baalot teshuvah who found it very difficult to tell, say, their favorite uncle they could no longer hug him — especially if he and/or other family members would find this no-hugging stance very hurtful.

One asked a rav about this, declaring she simply could not NOT hug her beloved uncle.

After a thoughtful moment, the rav said something like, "In that case, I won't tell you not to" or "I won't tell you it's forbidden."

She enjoyed his answer as it clearly informed her of the actual halacha, but did not force her out of her comfort zone.

Yet because the rav still made it clear to her, she realized it was a behavior she needed to stop, and she did eventually.

It's very easy to understand her discomfort & stated inability to conform to halacha. (She's a wonderful person, by the way, and has been fully frum for years now.)

Yet at the same time, hugging a man who is not your husband is forbidden – full stop.

And because of coronavirus, many people in her situation can no longer hug their favorite uncle, no matter how much of a family custom it is and no matter how platonic she feels toward him.

All the more so, all sorts of other touching that is completely forbidden.

And now, anyone who found it impossible to refuse a proffered hand due to halacha now refuses a proffered hand due to corona.

Finally, Rav Zamir emphasizes that we shouldn't arrive at a situation in which we follow Torah dictates because we are forced to (like now), but we should do so out of:

• ahavat Hashem (love of Hashem)
• simcha b'Torah (joy in Torah)
• our certainty that keeping mitzvot is both good & correct
• our knowledge that this is what Hashem wants for us 

May we all succeed in doing true teshuvah from love.

Some people won't like what's going to follow this opening (because it ruins the feel-good brotherhood feeling they get), but let's look anyway at what's going on in Italy and Eretz Yisrael in response to the corona quarantine.

In Italy, people are singing from their balconies to keep up their spirits.

Sounds cheery & innovative.

But what are they singing?

Patriotic songs (which tend to be self-praise & self-aggrandizing).

Soccer team songs (enough said).

And sure, they are also apparently singing "Don't give up" and other lyrics of encouragement.

It's all better than being depressed or fighting with those with whom they're cooped up.

But look at what's going on among the frum Jews of Eretz Yisrael.

Probably you've seen the video clips, but here's a sample anyway (click on the teal link):
A Wedding in the Shadow of Corona

Here you have yeshivah bachurim (of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav) dancing on their balconies for the chatan & kallah.

Not for themselves (although they are clearly enjoying themselves too).

They're doing all this in an effort to make things as good as they can for someone else.

There are several such clips, of people dancing outside a building for that newly married couple or hosting the chuppah in what looks like the stairwell of an apartment building.

And people are happy; the marrying couple is happy. They're all rising to the challenge with smiles on their faces.

Torah Jews, in an effort to do good for others despite the limitations, found ways to dance and sing for someone else.

And they're singing beautiful songs & niggunim (holy melodies) that give nachat to the Creator.

The mind's intent and the heart's feeling are what makes all the difference in response.​

A valued reader generously summed up a shiur (which I don't have the opportunity to access right now) on the present situation by Rav Avraham Schorr. 

(The recording is available here: 732-400-9003; press 1; then 1; then 41.)

Here are the main points:

• Saying Ketoret is very important.

(For more information on how to do that and Ketoret's profound meaning, please see Interesting Facts about the Ketoret Incense Prayer.)

• The rav expressed a lot of pain over the sway shmutzy technology holds over so many people.

He used this parable:

Let's say a person comes to a fork in the road with 2 options:

Road #1 has a lion.

Road #2 has a nisayon (a challenge).

Which road should the person take?

The road with the lion.

Why? Because there’s only danger to his body — his physical well-being.

But the path with the nisayon endangers his very soul.

That's not how most of us make our decisions, but this is the true priority.

Rav Schorr saw a similar example of this when he witnessed 2 people in the street who wouldn’t shake hands out of fear of the coronavirus...but they held smartphones in those same hands they refused to shake.

He said that, really, smartphones are so much more dangerous than coronavirus.
​

• Shamelessness has invaded the streets & unfortunately infiltrated the frum community to some extent.

Just like Torah is more severe with men than women (though women don't get a free ride either) regarding their taavot, it is likewise more severe with women regarding tsniyus (dressing & behaving with dignity), even though men also must adhere to tsniyus.

Rav Schorr emphasized the necessity of a husband talking to his wife about her tsniyus. It's not ahavat Yisrael to remain apathetic to how our loved ones dress in the street.

(I'm also going to add that the idea of a "trophy wife" is completely un-Jewish and any man who secretly enjoys showing off what he's got as far as his wife's material attributes are concerned is a bit of a sicko. But don't worry — this can be fixed! Anyone can heal his sicko aspects. Also, the Pele Yoetz speaks a lot about a man's responsibility to guide his household in the ways of Torah, and to do so PLEASANTLY. Men can speak to their wives with love, appreciation, and respect regarding her tsniyus. He can also buy her gifts and do other things to show her how much he appreciates her, which helps her appreciate his POV regarding her tsniyus.)

• He advised: “Be ready to give away a taavah (a non-spiritual craving): clothing or books or magazines; take something you want and get rid of it."

​

• ​As far as prepping goes, the rav advised against panic-hishtadlut (efforts) in favor of mentschlikeit hishtadlut.

(I guess this means no ramming other shoppers with your cart or giving people dirty looks because they are doing the same last-minute shopping that you are...I heard this happening in some areas of the USA.)

• And here are 4 final points from the shiur:

1. Corona is from Hashem, not China. Do teshuvah!
2. No lashon hara! Quarantine your MOUTH!
3. Get a flip phone (or the little phones we have with no Internet connection at all).
4. Real ahavat Yisrael (He said: “Help others now! What are you saving your money for?”) 

Thank you again to the wonderful reader who took the time to sum up the shiur, which gave me so much chizuk & guidance. (You know who you are, wonderful person!)

I hope Rav Schorr's ideas offer encouragement, direction, and reassurance to anyone else reading this.

May Hashem protect us from all harm & may all the ill people enjoy a complete & speedly healing of the nefesh & the guf.

​Both Rav Itamar Schwartz & Rav Shalom Arush voiced their thoughts on how to respond to coronavirus, based on spiritual "physics":

• Source for Coronavirus & The Tikkun
• Daddy – Save Me from Coronavirus!

​Along these lines (and based on opinions heard from different rabbanim on previous misfortunes in Jewish history), this post expands on possible connections. Again, these follow the mussar I've learned, plus Jewish perspectives of similar events, however, they're still just my own ideas and not more than that.

Sometimes, when we don't show enough appreciation for a mitzvah, Hashem temporarily withdraws it.

Our halachic obligations are actually privileges, even if they don't always feel that way.

Serving Hashem b'simcha is one of the most vital aspects of Judaism (and sometimes, one of the hardest).

So Hashem might temporarily withdraw the opportunity to learn Torah in yeshivah, to learn in a frum school, to daven in a minyan, and so on, if we haven't been doing so with enough zest.

Likewise, if we go according to Rav Arush's idea, we see that a quarantine is either a way to separate us from others and/or an effective way to make us spend more time with others (if we have family at home), which can also be both a blessing & a challenge to our middot.

Yearning for these sometimes unappreciated opportunities is a good way to earn them back.​

On the other hand, going according to Rav Itamar Schwartz's idea of all the social media connection being "cold" (like Amalek) and back-to-back, when we need more "warm" face-to-face connection:

Imposed quarantines can force us into more face-to-face communication (if we live with others). But for those alone, it forces them into more back-to-back communication (because that's the only way they can communicate in quarantine).

On yet another hand, even people living together can turn toward technological distractions as an escape.

We see this now when a group of people sit in a room together, yet each person is staring into his or her own tablet/laptop/phone.

And on still yet another hand, technology is less available right now (though I don't think we're feeling it so much at this point).

For example, I delayed buying a new printer when my old one crashed. Now the printer best suited for my needs & pocketbook is on-hold in China, even though the store I visited usually carries it. Apple says the quarantines & illnesses are delaying software updates.

The big clincher here is we're all expecting the Internet to remain running.

I don't know how much a working Internet depends on people being out in an office. Other related aspects, like the necessary electricity, does need hands-on people to keep going.

But even with those who escape into their phones or computers at home, we'll still be forced to spend more time with actual people (if we have them around).

Certainly, a downturn in our ability to go out or use other forms of communication opens up more opportunity to spend time in prayer & learning Torah.

Right now, our ability to engage in certain mitzvot is limited.

​Why might Hashem do that?

It's connected to the idea above, that if we don't use a spiritual privilege properly, Hashem might temporarily withdraw it.

So if we invest ego gratification in a mitzvah or perform it with a non-Jewish flavor, then that also cheapens the mitzvah.

In the past few parshas, for example, the Kli Yakar has discussed copiously the intent of wealthy people when they give tzedakah. If there is pride involved, it diminishes the mitzvah quite a lot, even if the actual amount given was quite generous.

Likewise, sometimes people get caught up in a well-intended yet misguided perspective regarding mitzvot.

Sometimes, very precious mitzvot like hachnasat orchim or bikur cholim invite lashon hara or other prohibitions if we're not careful.

Bitul Torah (or just plain bitul) can also be a problem in conversation. Even just taking upon oneself to insert at least one Torah thought into an otherwise tiflus chat can make a huge difference, spiritually speaking.

As much as we can, our get-togethers should consist only of mitzvot & real Jewish simcha.

Some communities love to celebrate mitzvah milestones, like weddings, bar mitzvahs, chalakas, brissim, etc., with a massive investment of money & planning.

The core desire is rooted in the neshamah's awareness of the spiritual beauty of the event.

But the mind & heart can get caught up in the material or competitive or insecure aspects that sometimes end up coming to fore.

Yet even a tiny bit of restraint or looking into one's underlying motivations (even if it doesn't feel like extravagance because so many other people are doing the same) can have a resounding effect in Shamayim.

Another example: In the effort to look nice l'chvod Shabbat or attending shul, some people style themselves in a way to knock people's eyes out. 

This too can be remedied by using very small steps.

For example, a little less blush "l'shem Shamayim" or a skirt that's a bit longer or a hair-covering that's a bit more refined or going with regular heels (or even flats) rather than 2-inch spindly heels can have a surprisingly powerful impact in Shamayim.

Also, woman habituated to scarlet-nail manicures can choose a more refined color.

Even though long nails are still a problem within tsniyut, and in some communities nail polish is a big no-no regardless of color, the fact that she's refining herself for Hashem even in a small way is still a VERY BIG DEAL IN SHAMAYIM.

​If you're doing it for Hashem, these little refinements can resound far more than imaginable.

Seriously.

Just as one example, Malky Feig’s Mountain Climbers 2 tells of how a young frum woman overcame a bleak diagnosis when she resolved to stop using a soft-bristled hairbrush on Shabbat (because it unintentionally pulls out hairs, which is forbidden on Shabbat, even though she’d bought the soft bristles to avoid such a thing—but it unintentionally pulled out some hair anyway).

Many people will scoff if you focus on such small seemingly insignificant acts, but the proof is in that story and many other stories of this type.

Other people might not notice your efforts, but Hashem sure does.

​Hashem cares about our heart.

So yes, seemingly insignificant acts reap huge results...as long as we're doing it for Him and His Torah.

Everyone's on a different level and each person excels at one aspect while struggling with another aspect — and these aspects are different for each person.

Deciding what aspect (no matter how small) to focus on is a very individual decision.

Frankly, I think heeding Rav Avigdor Miller's recommendation not to discuss your process with others is very wise.

(He's repeats this recommendation in several lectures. Here's one example: Rav Avigdor Miller on Friends & Cronies.)

Especially regarding small steps, another person can scoff at your contemplation and ruin everything. 

That's not okay.

No matter how small, if you're taking a step in the right direction, then that is GREAT.

It really is.