The Halacha is that if one can prevent ONE Chilul Shabbos [Di-oraisa] by spending ALL OF HIS MONEY [including his condo in Miami, entire stock portfolio and three cars - and his wife's jewelry] - he must do so!!
Yet, the Halacha is that if one Jew's life [according to the oft-quoted Meiri - even a civilized Gentile] is in danger and in order to lengthen his life for ONE MINUTE every single Jew has to be Mechalel Shabbos one thousand times - we must do so!!
WOW-EE!!! The value of a human life!!
Now, to save our lives and ensure that we don't get sick with a disease that has afflicted over a reported 27 million people and killed a reported close to a million people [these are reported cases - the real number is much much higher] we are told by medical professionals that we must wear masks and maintain a physical distance from other people. It costs NOTHING. It requires NO aveiros. YET, so many otherwise serious and sincere Jews neglect to do so. Chilul Shabbos we will sadly do ח"ו. Give up our money we will sadly do ח"ו. But just protect ourselves? We won't go THAT far!
A mystifying conundrum that I cannot wrap my puny brain around. Maybe people are privy to secret information that masks and social distancing are all "fake news". A liberal left wing plot to get us to cover our faces and stay away from each other??
What about all the DEAD JEWS, some of whom who contracted the virus at Purim celebrations, in shul, at weddings etc. etc.?
NO!!! They would have gotten sick no matter what. It is all from Hashem!!
INDEED!!! It IS all from Hashem. הכל בידי שמים. So all those people who believe that everything is from Hashem - STOP EATING!!! It is all from Hashem. If He wants you to eat, He will make it happen w/o your help. Don't get married. If Hashem wants you to have children you will have them with or w/o a wife. He doesn't need your help. Also, when you drive, don't look where you are going. If Hashem wants to protect you, He will and make sure that you don't drive into a fire hydrant or the like. And DON'T WORK. If Hashem wants you to have parnassa - He doesn't need your help. He can give you money w/o you working. And don't shower or brush your teeth. Hashem can do it for you if He wants.
AHHHHH - We are commanded to take care of ourselves. If we don't, then we will suffer the consequences. Not guarding one's health is a sin EVEN IF ONE DOESN'T GET SICK. [עי' ברמב"ן חולין דף ב שעוברים על משמרת אם מסיחים דעת אפילו אם לא נטמא בפועל ואסור להקריב].
I would appreciate if anyone could enlighten me...
