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`340 Rabbi Schachter's position on the covid shots is unchanged

Chananya Weissman

September 10, 2024

The following is from an email I received ten days ago:

“I am reaching out as a talmid of HaRav Schachter shalit"a...Donations will go to support Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan. The names of each sponsor will be given to Rav Schachter and posted online. As a talmid of Rav Schachter, please join us in showing your hakaras hatov for his harbatzas Torah both in yeshiva and online and his halachic and hashkafic guidance. The average donation for past sponsorships has been about $100, though we welcome any size gift.”

I replied as follows: “I'd like to sponsor a shiur on whether Rav Schachter still thinks it's an obligation for everyone, including children, to get covid shots, after all the undeniable information that has come out, and all the Jews who were harmed. Let me know.”

To my surprise, it did not end there. My reply was forwarded to Rabbi Judah Kerbel. Rabbi Kerbel is a “Development Associate” at RIETS, Yeshiva University's rabbinical seminary.

Before we get to the correspondence, it is worth noting that Rabbi Kerbel is also the Rabbi of the Queens Jewish Center. He posted the following on January 11, 2021: https://www.myqjc.org/rabbi-kerbel-blog?post_id=1151410. Note the following excerpts:

“I will not elaborate much here, but my position is that based on the medical consensus that the vaccine is safe, halacha mandates taking the vaccine (this has been stated by Rabbi Mordechai Willig). IY"H, I will take the first dose of the vaccine this afternoon, and I encourage everyone to do so when you are able to!”

“We are very privileged to be able to offer a presentation and Q&A with Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt on Monday, January 25 at 8:00 PM regarding the vaccine. We are doing this in conjunction with other shuls with Forest Hills. Please join us! ”

“It isnisim v'niflaot, nothing short of wondrous, that we have reached the point that people are being vaccinated so quickly. I encourage everyone to make a bracha upon receiving the vaccine: ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם, הטוב והמיטיב - blessed are you Hashem, ruler of the universe, who is good and grants good.”

Rabbi Kerbel contacted me with a copied and pasted fundraising email that is not worth reading. I replied: “Why does Rav Schachter need a collection to give a shiur?”

He replied that the Yeshiva needs to raise funds in order to be able to operate. That's right, he seriously made the claim that YU is in danger of being unable to operate unless its rabbinic alumni put some change in the collection plate.

Here's what I replied: “YU is so short on funds that they need to have a collection for Rabbi Shachter to give a shiur? I find that very hard to believe.

“How much would it cost for Rav Schachter to clarify his position on the covid shots in light of all the information that's come out and all the people that have been harmed? I think it's a responsibility, but if it needs sponsorship that can be arranged.” After not hearing back for three days, I asked how we could make this happen.

Rabbi Kerbel replied that Rabbi Schachter “has not changed his position on this issue, and assuming that remains the case, he will not say anything to the contrary.”

It doesn't get clearer than that.

If you believe these rabbis are fit to continue guiding and influencing the Jewish people, that we should continue supporting them and their institutions, and it's people like me who raise a fuss that are the problem, you've chosen your side and will face the consequences eventually.

If, however, you believe these rabbis and their institutions have caused great harm to the Jewish people, and doubling down at this late date reflects incredible corruption and downright evil, it's time to hold them accountable. I don't want to hear about bringing Moshiach and fighting our enemies if we can't even hold low-hanging rotten rabbinic fruit like this accountable for poisoning our people without a pang of remorse.