Thursday, May 23, 2019
Monsey Hasidic group battles anti-Semitism tied to measles outbreak
A Hasidic group is using a Jewish holiday to fight anti-Semitic sentiments tied to a measles outbreak.
"We find the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Hasidic language to be tied to the measles outbreak," said Rabbi Avraham Katz, the leader of the Monsey-Tosh group.
Katz invited local lawmakers and politicians to Wednesday night's Lag B'Omer bonfire as a show of solidarity and understanding amidst the measles outbreak primarily affecting the Orthodox Jewish community.
The outbreak, which started when seven travelers from Israel visited Rockland, has reached 244 reported cases since it began last October. It led the county to issue an exclusion order affecting the Monsey and Spring Valley area that bans anyone infected with the measles from public places.
Katz, whose Yiddish replies were translated by an assistant, said it is hurtful that the entire Hasidic community is targeted and lumped together with a small minority within the community that is anti-vaccine.
"For me specifically, it isn’t fair and doesn’t make sense," he said. "As the head of a large Hasidic community, I support vaccinations, all of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated and I encourage anyone who asks me to do the same."
Katz added: "Almost everyone in the Hasidic community today does in fact vaccinate and we hear and see how we’re being talked about so we are grateful that the politicians are coming to show their support."
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/monsey/2019/05/22/monsey-hasidic-group-battles-anti-semitism-tied-measles-outbreak/3765625002/
"We find the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Hasidic language to be tied to the measles outbreak," said Rabbi Avraham Katz, the leader of the Monsey-Tosh group.
Katz invited local lawmakers and politicians to Wednesday night's Lag B'Omer bonfire as a show of solidarity and understanding amidst the measles outbreak primarily affecting the Orthodox Jewish community.
The outbreak, which started when seven travelers from Israel visited Rockland, has reached 244 reported cases since it began last October. It led the county to issue an exclusion order affecting the Monsey and Spring Valley area that bans anyone infected with the measles from public places.
Katz, whose Yiddish replies were translated by an assistant, said it is hurtful that the entire Hasidic community is targeted and lumped together with a small minority within the community that is anti-vaccine.
"For me specifically, it isn’t fair and doesn’t make sense," he said. "As the head of a large Hasidic community, I support vaccinations, all of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated and I encourage anyone who asks me to do the same."
Katz added: "Almost everyone in the Hasidic community today does in fact vaccinate and we hear and see how we’re being talked about so we are grateful that the politicians are coming to show their support."
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/monsey/2019/05/22/monsey-hasidic-group-battles-anti-semitism-tied-measles-outbreak/3765625002/
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