Amid a troubling surge in measles cases throughout the country, Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rav Kalman Ber and Rav Dovid Yosef, released a strong statement imploring the public to get vaccinated without delay.
“Recently, there has been an outbreak of measles, posing a serious threat to many — endangering the lives of children, adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. According to leading medical experts in Israel and worldwide, vaccination is the response to this disease,” the rabbis wrote.
They stressed the importance of following the protocols and instructions of medical professionals and the national healthcare system.
“We call on the public in Israel to fully cooperate with all medical authorities and to follow their guidance,” they urged.
The rabbanim highlighted the Torah obligation to guard one’s health and avoid preventable dangers, noting the central role of vaccination in that effort. “A person needs a healthy body to fulfill his purpose and mission in life, and everyone is obligated to make efforts to prevent illness in advance. Vaccination is a key part of preventive medicine.”
On Thursday, the Israeli Health Ministry confirmed that the number of measles cases has reached 48, with some of the sources of infection still being traced.
An especially concerning trend has emerged: 77% of those infected had never received a measles vaccine. Among the confirmed cases, 40 are minors under 18, and not one of them was fully immunized.
Thirteen individuals are currently being treated in hospitals, with children making up the overwhelming majority — eleven in total. Three of those children, all of whom were not vaccinated, are in critical condition and are being cared for in intensive care units. Health officials cautioned that these numbers may only represent a fraction of a broader and expanding outbreak.
{Matzav.com Israel}