I'm sure many of you have already seen at least parts of the list floating around of rabbanim who oppose this newest & most aggressively promoted vaccine.
(Many bloggers avoid writing the exact name so as not to get flagged by censor-bots. We could just call it kavod-19, pronouncing kavod with the Ashkenazi pronunciation & it sounds the same, heh-heh.)
I'd like to thank Hava of the Hava Ha'Aharona blog for sending out this latest list of these rabbanim and Neshama of Habayitah blog for posting the list on her blog.
Others are posting it too, but these were the first I happened to see with this most recent list.
It's very helpful for those of us who truly care about daat Torah, and continue to encounter a very one-sided presentation of daat Torah regarding the vaccine—that THE daas Torah is to take the vaccine (especially when this concerns a not-well-tested new injection allegedly against a disease that often appears with mild symptoms & a 99% survival rate for people without pre-existing medical issues—such an approach bothers our basic common sense).
Yet looking at the list, it's impossible to ignore globally & highly regarded talmidei chachamim on the caliber of Rav Adas of Kol Yaakov or Rav Kotler of Lakewood (just to name two of the many), and several highly respected chassidish Rebbes.
Rav Eliyahu Brog is a grandson of Rav Avigdor Miller.
But before you scan the list, I've got some personal knowledge to add regarding 2 of them.
(Many bloggers avoid writing the exact name so as not to get flagged by censor-bots. We could just call it kavod-19, pronouncing kavod with the Ashkenazi pronunciation & it sounds the same, heh-heh.)
I'd like to thank Hava of the Hava Ha'Aharona blog for sending out this latest list of these rabbanim and Neshama of Habayitah blog for posting the list on her blog.
Others are posting it too, but these were the first I happened to see with this most recent list.
It's very helpful for those of us who truly care about daat Torah, and continue to encounter a very one-sided presentation of daat Torah regarding the vaccine—that THE daas Torah is to take the vaccine (especially when this concerns a not-well-tested new injection allegedly against a disease that often appears with mild symptoms & a 99% survival rate for people without pre-existing medical issues—such an approach bothers our basic common sense).
Yet looking at the list, it's impossible to ignore globally & highly regarded talmidei chachamim on the caliber of Rav Adas of Kol Yaakov or Rav Kotler of Lakewood (just to name two of the many), and several highly respected chassidish Rebbes.
Rav Eliyahu Brog is a grandson of Rav Avigdor Miller.
But before you scan the list, I've got some personal knowledge to add regarding 2 of them.
Rav Dov Kook of Tiveria
My husband's youngest sister & her husband consider Rav Kook their Rav.
Rav Kook is against ALL vaccines—including The-Vaccine-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Though my sister-in-law generally follows Rav Kook's psakim, she can't bring herself NOT to vaccinate her children at all, so her children have undergone all the standard vaccinations (polio, whooping cough, etc.) recommended for children.
I don't blame her.
My own 6-year-old is not up-to-date with his vaccinations, but he was vaccinated for diseases like polio & meningitis & the other really scary ones because I could never forgive myself if a child caught those devastating diseases when a vaccine possibly could have prevented them.
The point here is to note that Rav Kook is not singling out this particular vaccine.
He opposes vaccines in general & refuses to make an exception for this new & aggressively promoted vaccine.
Anti-vaccine: That is his shitah.
To certify this information, my husband called his youngest sister several months ago to clarify Rav Kook's position. I was also there for the phone call. My husband asked her several times regarding Rav Kook's position and she repeated the above information several times.
So there you have Rav Kook with the details behind his decision.
The Amshinover Rebbe
The Amshinover Rebbe allows the standard vaccines that have been around for decades—generations, even.
However, he does not allow the flu vaccine or the "kavod" vaccine.
Why?
He concludes they have not been tested enough to determine their safety.
Needless to say, his stance is most sensible.
By their nature, flu vaccines can never be tested long enough because they're seasonal & change from year to year. So he opposes them.
The "kavod" vaccine has not even been around for a year.
No one KNOWS the long-term consequences of the vaccine.
(Science is about KNOWING. Scientific knowledge is assumed to be based on FACT.)
And in fact, even some of the short-term data is alarming.
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/10/cdc-says-heart-inflammation-found-16-24-year-olds-2nd-shot/ (New York)
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/02/israel-sees-probable-link-pfizer-vaccine-myocarditis-cases/ (Eretz Yisrael)
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/22/concern-possible-link-pfizer-shot-rare-blood-disease/
(I purposely linked to mainstream, pro-vax sources that tone down the harm possibly caused by the injection so the evidence cannot be dismissed as conspiracy theories or subjective anti-vaccine agendas.)
We don't even KNOW if the vaccine even WORKS! (And I mean the long-term too.)
(Case in point: My husband's friend took all the recommend injections then promptly got infected with the new Delta variant.)
To me, the Amshinover Rebbe's position shows good old-fashioned plain logic & common sense.
Bluntly, I do not think you need to be a stunning talmid chacham to arrive at this common-sense position, though being a stunning talmid chacham definitely helps.
And I heard this position a few months ago directly from one of his female followers, who was constantly in touch with the Rebbe regarding his views on the topic.
She & her husband host very difficult people within their chassidus—emotionally challenged guests not easily managed by most people.
And they do so on a regular ongoing basis.
So the Rebbe remains in close contact with them, providing them with answers & support throughout the whole saga (including what to do about hand-washing with difficult people who won't do it as often as recommended, etc.—every aspect of it).
In addition, the Rebbe told them that in the merit of hachnasat orchim, they will not be harmed by the virus. The merit of hachnast orchim (hosting guests) will protect them.
So I heard all this directly from this Amshinover lady.
My husband's youngest sister & her husband consider Rav Kook their Rav.
Rav Kook is against ALL vaccines—including The-Vaccine-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Though my sister-in-law generally follows Rav Kook's psakim, she can't bring herself NOT to vaccinate her children at all, so her children have undergone all the standard vaccinations (polio, whooping cough, etc.) recommended for children.
I don't blame her.
My own 6-year-old is not up-to-date with his vaccinations, but he was vaccinated for diseases like polio & meningitis & the other really scary ones because I could never forgive myself if a child caught those devastating diseases when a vaccine possibly could have prevented them.
The point here is to note that Rav Kook is not singling out this particular vaccine.
He opposes vaccines in general & refuses to make an exception for this new & aggressively promoted vaccine.
Anti-vaccine: That is his shitah.
To certify this information, my husband called his youngest sister several months ago to clarify Rav Kook's position. I was also there for the phone call. My husband asked her several times regarding Rav Kook's position and she repeated the above information several times.
So there you have Rav Kook with the details behind his decision.
The Amshinover Rebbe
The Amshinover Rebbe allows the standard vaccines that have been around for decades—generations, even.
However, he does not allow the flu vaccine or the "kavod" vaccine.
Why?
He concludes they have not been tested enough to determine their safety.
Needless to say, his stance is most sensible.
By their nature, flu vaccines can never be tested long enough because they're seasonal & change from year to year. So he opposes them.
The "kavod" vaccine has not even been around for a year.
No one KNOWS the long-term consequences of the vaccine.
(Science is about KNOWING. Scientific knowledge is assumed to be based on FACT.)
And in fact, even some of the short-term data is alarming.
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/10/cdc-says-heart-inflammation-found-16-24-year-olds-2nd-shot/ (New York)
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/02/israel-sees-probable-link-pfizer-vaccine-myocarditis-cases/ (Eretz Yisrael)
https://hamodia.com/2021/06/22/concern-possible-link-pfizer-shot-rare-blood-disease/
(I purposely linked to mainstream, pro-vax sources that tone down the harm possibly caused by the injection so the evidence cannot be dismissed as conspiracy theories or subjective anti-vaccine agendas.)
We don't even KNOW if the vaccine even WORKS! (And I mean the long-term too.)
(Case in point: My husband's friend took all the recommend injections then promptly got infected with the new Delta variant.)
To me, the Amshinover Rebbe's position shows good old-fashioned plain logic & common sense.
Bluntly, I do not think you need to be a stunning talmid chacham to arrive at this common-sense position, though being a stunning talmid chacham definitely helps.
And I heard this position a few months ago directly from one of his female followers, who was constantly in touch with the Rebbe regarding his views on the topic.
She & her husband host very difficult people within their chassidus—emotionally challenged guests not easily managed by most people.
And they do so on a regular ongoing basis.
So the Rebbe remains in close contact with them, providing them with answers & support throughout the whole saga (including what to do about hand-washing with difficult people who won't do it as often as recommended, etc.—every aspect of it).
In addition, the Rebbe told them that in the merit of hachnasat orchim, they will not be harmed by the virus. The merit of hachnast orchim (hosting guests) will protect them.
So I heard all this directly from this Amshinover lady.
And with that, here is the list:
Over one hundred leading rabbis worldwide are opposed to the [You-Know-Who] \/accine.
The following rabbis issued public statements prohibiting Jews from taking the injection:
Rabbi Aharon Reisner, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Avraham Pinchas Koritz, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Shimon Nebenzhal, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchok Stern, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Yechiel Michel Friedman, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Yosef Mordechai Salamon, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Moshe Zev Zorger, Posek, Dayan, Jerusalem
Rabbi Avrohom Simcha Chanun, Rebbe, Khal Chaseidei, Jerusalem
Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, Av Beis Din, Masores, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Chaim Rabinowitz, Rebbe of Mishkanos Haroyim, Jerusalem
Rabbi Shimon Shapiro, elder Mashpia, Breslov, Jerusalem
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Sabowitz, Khal Chareidim, Beit Shemesh
Rabbi Yehoshua Atik, Rosh Kollel Giboirey Hachayil, Jerusalem
Rabbi Chaim Zev Shneider, Mir Yeshiva, Jerusalem
Rabbi Reuven Marzbach, Rosh Kollel Lomdes Yirosecha, Jerusalem
Rabbi Yeshua Asher Rabinowitz, Khal Mishkanos Haroyim
Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Zorger, Dayan, Eida Chareidis, Jerusalem
Rabbi Dov Meir Stein
Rabbi Yosef Berger
Rabbi Aharon Yitzchak Stern
Rabbi Meir Chakak Halevi
Rabbi Yonoson Hahn
Rabbi Gideon Charlap
Rabbi Arel Segal Halevi
Rabbi Yekutiel Ohab-tzion, Tiberius
Rabbi Shlomo Pollack, Chelek Levi, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Yosef Dovid Teitelbaum, Sassover Rebbe, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Naftoli Tzvi Rotenburg, Kossoner Rebbe, Beit Shemesh
Rabbi Yoav Alon, Rechovot
Rabbi Yeshaya Rottenburg, the Rozla Rebbe, Beitar
Rabbi Yosef Zalman Bloch, Monsey, NY
Rabbi Dovid Michoel Shmidel, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik
Rabbi Simcha Yisroel Bloom
Rabbi Asher Mordechai Rubin
Rabbi Yosef Mozes, Kroli Rav
Rabbi Yoel Moshe Friedman, Dayan, Monsey
Rabbi Tuvia Shulzinger, Kiryat Atta
Rabbi Avrohom Cohen, Dayan, Sefardic community, Jerusalem
Rabbi Eliyahu Brog, Flatbush, NY
Rabbi Shimon Chyrek, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Daniel Green, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Michoel Green, Westborough, MA
Rabbi Avraham Rachamim Sofer, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Yehoshua Finkelstein, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Dov Gross, Dayan of Gur, Ashdod
Rabbi Mordechai Vizhnitzer, Dayan of Vizhnitz, Ashdod
Rabbi Meir Eliyahu
Rabbi Dovid Meir Shmueli
Rabbi Uri Michoel Sofer, Dayan
Rabbi Meiri Chananel
Rabbi Menashe Amon
Rabbi Amos Gweta
Rabbi Daniel Asor
Rabbi Menachem Edri
Rabbi Natan Kofsitz, Eidah Hachareidis, Beit Shemesh
Rabbi Yitzchok David Smith, Passaic, NJ
Rabbi Yuval Asherov Hakohen
Rabbi Yuval Ovadia
Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak
Rabbi Dov Berkowitz
Rabbi Sholom Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva, Philadelphia
Rabbi Smilowitz, Kremintzer Rov, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Karp, Kiryat Sefer
Rabbi Yosef Binyamin Wosner, Zichron Meir, Bnei Brak
Rabbi Ahron Raz, Jerusalem
Rabbi Bentzion Biaron, Senior Dayan, Jerusalem
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Chazon Yaakov, Jerusalem
Rabbi Chananya Weissman, Jerusalem
Rabbi Avraham Yosef Zaide
Rabbi Alon Anava
Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver, Germany
The following rabbis instructed individuals not to take the injection under any circumstances:
Rabbi Dov Kook, Tiberius
Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, South Fallsburg, NY
Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, Rosh Yeshiva Porat Yosef, Jerusalem
Rabbi Yakov Shiknazi
Rabbi Yakov Adas, Jerusalem
Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, mekubal, Breslov Mashpia, Jerusalem
Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva, Lakewood
Rabbi Shmuel Meir Katz, Lakewood
Rabbi Binyamin Halpern, Lakewood
Rabbi Raphael Szmerla, Lakewood
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva, Philadelphia
Amshinover Rebbe, Yerushalayim
Rabbi Mordechai Sheinberger
Rabbi Eldad Shmueli
Rabbi Mordechai Gottlieb
Rabbi Ravid Nagar
Rabbi Yitzchak Kohen, Jerusalem
Rabbi Yosef Asyag
Rabbi Eliyahu Shiri
Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch
Rabbi Ezra Zafrani, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Bentzion Halberstam, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Zemba, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Moshe Shinom Wosner, Lakewood, NJ
Rabbi Eliezer Ginsburg, Rosh Kolel Mir, Flatbush, NY
Rabbi Noson Zeigelbaum, Dayan, Vien, Boro Park, NY
Rabbi Feivish Hager, Kossover Rebbe, Boro Park, NY
Rabbi Dovid Biderman, Lelover Rebbe, Boro Park, NY
Rabbi Zev Epstein, South Fallsburg, NY
Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Lakewood, NJ
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