Starting from today, everyone in Israel can go to his family doctor and get the swine flu vaccination.
I am among those who won't although the papers tell us that we should go because we may get infected and thus cause the death of others. But how can we do so if others got a vaccination ?
So far, 48 Israelis have died of swine flu. One of the recent victims was a 51 - year - old woman without any record of illnesses.
Some companies in Germany have started forcing their workers to get the swine flu vaccination. Believe it or not, people follow those orders in order to keep their jobs. The company's behaviour, however, reminds me of "1984" by George Orwell.
A 31 - year - old man from Ashdod is marking Israel's 42nd swine flu victim. The young man died although he was totally healthy and did not even smoke.
So far, 17,000 Israelis have received the vaccination against the swine flu (according to the daily "Israel Hayom").
There are countless reports on how damaging the swine flu vaccination is and lets be honest: Has the vaccination really proven right so far ? Does it help or is it just another unproven product given out by the pharmaceutical industry ?
I do not think intend playing Russian Roulette. Maybe I am getting the swine flu but lets just hope that it will not be a life threat. However, who knows what is going to happen after receiving the vaccination. Dangers of the Vaccination:
I haven't noticed them in Jerusalem but they are obvious in Tel Aviv: Posters with advise how to prevent the swine flu are almost everywhere. Even as a commercial in the cinema.
Here is a New York advertisement against the swine flu in Yiddish:
1. Mach es nass - Make it wet 2. Seif - Soap 3. Reib - Rub 4. Schwank - Wash off 5. Wisch ab - Dry 6. Vermach das Wasser - Close the water 7. Giess ab - Rinse 8. Wisch ab - Dry 9. Say "Ascher Yazar"
"Asher Yazar" is the blessing after having been to the restroom. I do not get what no. 9 is trying to say us, as we wash our hands not only after being to the loo.
The victim was a 50 - year - old man from the coastal area who passed away in a hospital in Kfar Saba. The man had suffered from breathing problems before due to a problem with his lungs.
It may sound crazy but when I went to the grave of the Baba Sali more than two weeks ago, I saw this fire place outside the Kever. People went over and threw small notes into the flames. I don't know if this is a particular Sephardic custom but another visitor told me that people throw notes with their personal wishes into the flames. I did the same and my was, asking G - d to protect me from the swine flu.
I had the choice: Either I win the lottery or I protect myself from swine flu.
It just occurred to me: Israeli Haredim only call the swine flu "Mexican Flu", as any mentioning of pigs is inappropriate. I completely forgot about this fact but I am going to continue using the name "swine flu".
Yesterday (Thursday) three people died of swine flu in Israel. A 66 - year - old woman from abroad suffering from cancer. A 22 - year - old man from Kiryat Arba died at Jerusalem's "Shaarei Zedek Hospital" and a 60 year - old man died at the "Rambam Hospital" in Haifa.
So far, 16 people have died of swine flu in Israel.
The 27 - year - old Vered Basson is Israel's 13th swine flu victim. She died yesterday and her family is now accusing the "Assaf HaRofeh Hospital" of not having noticed the sickness of Vered.
I am just mentioning this briefly and everyone of you can make up his own mind or have his own thoughts on this:
There are Rabbis who found a way to keep away the swine flu from Israel. This is what some people claim and Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, together with 50 Kabbalists, is planning to fly over Israel and cancel the G - dly decree. The swine flu reaching Israel would be due to "Lashon HaRah - Idle Speech" and "Peritzut - Behaving not according to the Torah".
In order to keep the swine flu outside of Israel, the secular should do some Teshuva (repentance) but also haredi society has a lot to rectify.
This is the claim and every one of you can think it over.
The Israeli Health Ministry is expecting the worst figures for the upcoming winter. Every fourth Israel would be infected with the swine flu and about 700 people would die.
If those Kabbalists think they are able to change G - d's decree, so, why not. And that everything depends on each one of us, I knew. In fact, I have thought about that for a while and besides vaccination or not, preparing oneself through healthy food and prayer wouldn't hurt.
So far, one person has died of swine flu in Israel. A man from Eilat in his thirties who was suffering from a lung disease. Yesterday, eight people were taken to hospital and the doctors suspect that the new patients have swine flu.
It is said that this winter, the swine flu is going to spread in Israel. The predictions are that a quarter of the Israeli population is going to suffer from the disease and about 6000 may die. Especially people suffering from chronic diseases as well as pregnant women are in danger of getting infected.
Now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a mass vaccination for all Israelis:
This morning while riding on a bus in Tel Aviv, a young man got on who was wearing a mask in front of his mouth. Although we have a few swine flu cases, wearing a mask seems far too exaggerated.
After years of living in Jerusalem, I decided to betray the city by moving to Tel Aviv.:-) In the meantime I returned to the Holy City. It is actually very good to be back in Jerusalem !!!
Nevertheless, I am still writing about Jerusalem but also include many other places in Israel.
Until some years ago, I was a Yeshiva (Michlalah) student. First with the national religious and later with the Litvishe. Also got in contact with Chassidut and this subject and lifestyle has never left me.