Posted on 08/25/21
| News Source: Times of Israel
Israel’s inoculation campaign has received a significant boost in the Charedi sector, with the Sar HaTorah declaring that unvaccinated teachers aren’t welcome in his community.
HaRav HaGaon Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, is the leader of a large section of the Ashkenazi Charedi community, and his relationship with authorities during the pandemic has been complicated. For example, at times he okayed the opening of schools in violation of national rules.
But he has now unequivocally thrown his weight behind the government’s vaccination push, telling coronavirus czar Salman Zarka late Tuesday that he wants principals to suspend teachers who aren’t vaccinated.
“A teacher or an educator who hasn’t been vaccinated won’t come to teach,” said Kanievsky, suggesting that vaccines fulfill the Jewish value of safeguarding life.
Notably, his stance goes further than the government’s position on vaccinations and teachers, which permits regular testing instead of vaccination. Under the government’s plan to reopen schools nationwide on September 1, teachers must present a “Green Pass” in order to enter schools; such a pass is granted to those who are vaccinated, recovered or who present a negative COVID test from the past 72 hours.