Halachot Related to Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic: Difference between revisions

#The poskim recommend taking the corona vaccine.<ref>[http://podcast.headlinesbook.com/e/121920-show-302/ Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky on Headlines (min 23)] stated that if one's doctor recommends taking the vaccine that one should do so. [http://podcast.headlinesbook.com/e/121920-show-302/ Rav Schachter on Headlines] thought that everyone should take the vaccine but if someone is worried about taking vaccines they are not obligated to. [http://www.torahbase.org/%d7%94%d7%97%d7%99%d7%a1%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%9c%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%94/ Rav Osher Weiss] agreed in a lengthy teshuva. [https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1930228/watch-it-hagaon-harav-chaim-kanievsky-people-are-required-to-take-vaccine-dont-be-afraid.html Rav Chaim Kanievsky] holds that it is an obligation to take the vaccine since it is a practical effort, ''hishtadlut'', to be health.</ref>

#It is forbidden to violate [[Shabbat]] for receiving the vaccine, however, it is permitted to do [[amirah lnochri]] to get to the hospital, but they should not leave the hospital after taking the vaccine.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/982201/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-should-one-recite-a-beracha-or-say-a-tefilah-on-receiving-the-covid-vaccine-/ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (Ten Minute Halacha)], [https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/981805/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/from-the-rabbi-s-desk-corona-vaccine-on-shabbos/ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (From the Rabbi's Desk)]. The actual taking the vaccine is not a melacha. The data being entered into the computer on Shabbat it is permitted since the non-Jew is doing it and not on one's command or for one's benefit. Since it is permitted to do amirah lenochri it is best to arrange a non-Jew to transport one to take one to the hospital from before Shabbat. The source of Rabbi Lebowitz's opinion is this teshuva of [http://www.torahbase.org/%d7%94%d7%97%d7%99%d7%a1%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%9c%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%94/ Rav Osher Weiss].</ref>

#It is forbidden to jump the line, to get a vaccine before the government warrants you to get it by bribing someone to do that. Doing so is putting someone else at risk.<ref>[http://podcast.headlinesbook.com/e/121920-show-302/ Rav Hershel Schachter on Headlines (min 33)]</ref>

==Pesach==

===[[Taanit Bechorot]]===

#A person can sell his chametz on the phone or online and if possible a kinyan can be made virtually in order to appoint the rabbi to sell the chametz. The kinyan would take place as follows: the rabbi would ask if there's someone standing next to the one who wants to appoint the rabbi and if there is then that person can give a pen or a utensil to the one who wants to appoint the rabbi as his shaliach. This is considered a valid kinyan between the person standing there and the one who wants to appoint the rabbi on behalf of the rabbi to be appointed. If that isn't feasible it isn't necessary. Nonetheless, one could stipulate in the document that this appointment of the rabbi is done with the full knowledge of its legal ramifications and it is accepted completely.<ref>[http://www.torahweb.org/torah/docs/rsch/RavSchachter-Corona-1-Mar-24-2020.pdf Rav Hershel Schachter (Teshuva dated 28 Adar 5780 p. 2)], Nefesh Harav p. 179, [https://zoom.us/rec/play/7sJ8f-2h_Dw3T4KRtgSDC6AoW429LfqshnVI-_tcmkewVnQEZlDyMrYTarN3uUfeS8PCmTWJp298J75t Rav Schachter (min 1-5)] explained that the minhag is to make a kinyan to appoint a someone to sell something for you. This is classically done with a handing of a handkerchief from the rabbi to the one selling chametz. However, when they call on the phone that isn't possible. The Steipler held in such a case it isn't necessary to be careful about that minhag and simply have the person orally declare that he appoints the rabbi. However, Rav Soloveitchik felt that we should try to fulfill the minhag in any event. How can it be fulfilled? One can have someone standing in the room next to the person on the phone give something to the person on the phone on behalf of the rabbi. That is an effective halachic kinyan on behalf of the rabbi (see Kiddushin 7a). [https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=106099 Rav Shmuel Fuerst (min 10)] explained that one can appoint the rabbi to sell his chametz online. Rav Asher Weiss (Minchat Asher Corona p. 66) agrees. [https://youtu.be/Yo6IJi2V-bw Rav Nevinsal] allowed appointing the rabbi online if he is a talmid chacham.</ref>

#There is no issue with the selling of Chametz even though the Chametz is in a locked building or in a place that isn't accessible to the non-Jew because of the coronavirus situation.<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/950290/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-10-chametz-sheeno-birshuso/ Rav Schachter (Piskei Corona #10)]</ref>

===Buying for Pesach===