{"id":54288,"date":"2020-03-19T20:31:02","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T02:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=54288"},"modified":"2020-03-19T20:31:02","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T02:31:02","slug":"off-the-pulpit-ancient-wisdom-for-a-modern-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-ancient-wisdom-for-a-modern-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: Ancient Wisdom For A Modern Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

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Imagine the scene. Did no one say \u2014 \u201cWait, maybe he was delayed! Maybe he took a nap, or found the climbing difficult, or stopped for coffee!\u201d (We have not found archeological remains of Starbucks, but one never knows.) The instant response could only have been due to one thing \u2014 panic. And panic makes people do foolish things and fall back unthinkingly on old ways.<\/p>\n

In our current situation, vigilance is good, but panic is bad. Clearing out the shelves is panic. If the Israelites had understood the information correctly (it takes time to go up and down a mountain), been more faithful and wiser, they would not have built the calf and ruined that generation\u2019s chance of entering the promised land.<\/p>\n

Panicking, we do not see and care for one another. The deepest test of our day is not medical but moral. Continue to be faithful and check on those who are alone. Stuff is not salvation. Be kind and be safe.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi David Wolpe is the senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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