Not surprisingly, I barely post. For one, writing takes a lot of input and energy and I don’t have an endless supply of either one. Secondly, there is not much interest in my subject matter.
Everybody is concerned about the fluctuating war and the impending, albeit elusive, geulah, the shrinking dollar and their own shrinking bank accounts, and the health of the Belzer Rebbe, Shlita. I have nothing to contribute to these things.
All the ghosts of “Yutzmich past” have retired to their crypts. Yet occasionally, some of them spring back to haunt us even now in the midst of all our anxiety. As such, a few long-retired issues that I have written about profusely, which I hoped were buried forever, have recently come back to life. These issues are:
- The Covid Vaccines
- The Kol Koreh about reporting suspected abusers
- The Malka Leifer episode
I believe I found a common denominator all three of these ancient topics. This is that they all involve some level of sinas chinam which doesn't want to go away. The recent resurgence of these topics is proving this point. As such, I feel a need to discuss all three of them.
in this post, I will cover the subject of Vaccines.
To briefly recoup, I have felt that any type of medication needs to be proven and time-tested to be safe, effective and necessary (meaning there are no better alternatives). This applies especially to vaccines because vaccines, as opposed to remedial medicines, are given to people who currently are not even sick.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
My personal research brought me to the conclusion that the MRNA vaccines that were promoted during the Covid hoax did not pass any of these three requirements. When I say “research”, I mean hearing out the opinions of a wide range of medical experts (i.e., doctors), both pro and con, and analyzing the available data that was made public at the time. All this coupled with common sense. It did not come from hearsay or bubbe ma’ases.
My position hasn’t budged.
It is important to note that there was also a strong representation of Rabbanim and poskim in our camp. I wrote about all of this at length in my original post on the subject from January of 2021.
One very outspoken posek who was not in my camp is HRHG Asher Zelig Weiss, Shlita.
I have a bit of a connection with HRHG Weiss being that I attend his weekly shiur in Har Nof. In general, I admire him greatly and I am blown away by his yiras Shamayim, the breadth and depth of his knowledge, his constant writing and publishing, and his involvement in tzarchei tzibur. This includes his availability to the public. I can’t imagine that he gets much sleep.
I consider him a Rebbe of mine on conventional Halacha and, of course, an inspiration of middos tovos.
That said, there are two topics on which I did my own research and heard out dissenting opinions and cannot agree with him. One is the topic of Techeiles which I wrote a full series about, and the other is the aforementioned vaccine controversy.
Rav Weiss has always been a strong proponent of the Covid vaccines. He was there straight out of the starting gate. You can see his drasha HERE.
He took care to stress that this is his personal opinion and he acknowledged “it's not very comfortable because I know that not everybody will like what I say. However, I always express myself in a respectful manner. I have no reason in the world that…I don't like to argue and to dispute and to be mezalzel in others.” Yet, he did not appear to come across very receptive of other viewpoints.
As I wrote in my original 2021 post, Rav Weiss strongly maintained that his consultation with “doctors” and professionals in the field convinced him that the benefits are high and the risks are low. As such, the benefits outweigh the risks. I challenged that assertion up front. You can see the details there.
Of course, Harav Weiss was not oblivious to the situation of controversy. He talks about the Halachic procedures of conflicting opinions and of following the majority or the most prestigious doctors. As part of the shiur, Rav Weiss goes on a tirade quoting numerous sources from Shas that we are enjoined to rely on doctors and professional medical opinions to come to Halachic conclusions.
However, there are several major flaws in his presentation:
1. From all these sources which refer to rofim (doctors), who is to say that we were not referring to Jewish doctors who understand the halachic ramifications of their medical opinions?
2. All of the quoted sources in Shas and poskim are referring to a doctor’s advice concerning a specific individual who is suffering from some ailment. The doctor(s) examined the patient and understand his or her unique circumstances and prescribe treatment accordingly. The sources do not refer to global medical opinions involving the collective public.
3. The term used to denote the medical professional is a rofeh, not a doctor.
What is the difference between a rofeh and a doctor?
A doctor is a person who has a doctorate in medicine. This means that he studied and mastered the science of medicine and knows it quite well. It does not mean that he ever treated anybody.
A rofeh is a healer, not a student of medicine. He is one who actually practices medicine and treats people and knows what treatments work and what doesn’t and how to vary them for each individual case.
In short, a “doctor” knows the science of medicine. A rofeh, or healer, actually practices it.
In today’s world, where most doctors specialize, it says that they can only be considered a Halachic rofeh, healer, in their field of expertise. As such, one who went through basic medical school and received an M.D. and then went on to specialize in ophthalmology may be called a doctor, but he is only a rofeh for ophthalmology. Same for a dermatologist, urologist and all the others.
Certainly, they all learned the basics of cardiology in medical school, but if one does not practice in this field and treat people with heart ailments, he may still be called a doctor, but he cannot be called a healer. He does not get the Halachic status of a “rofeh” outside his field.
What’s more, in the days of old, a rofeh/doctor was primarily a pharmacologist. His expertise was to determine which herbs and potions work for what type of problem and to know exactly how to prepare it and administer it. Once again, the Talmudic “doctor” was one who knows how to diagnose and treat the problem at hand and for a specific patient.
Aside from the fact that immunology and contagious diseases is a specialized field with a limited amount of practitioners who are qualified to give any opinion, all of this can only apply to a known ailment and known remedies. None of this can possibly be applicable to the “new” Covid-19 and the untested new-fangled vaccinations that the pharmaceutical companies were pushing.
Lastly, any medical professional’s advice can only be valid if the professional is totally objective and impartial in his opinion and not subject to any shochad (financial gain) or duress or coercion. This disqualifies anyone funded by a pharmaceutical company and anybody threated to lose their platform or license.
In light of all the above, there were not many professionals on the “pro-vax” side, if any at all, that met the above qualifications. On the flip-side, those who were actively treating patients with zinc, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and the like, and who had no personal stake in these medicines, and can vouch for their success, do indeed qualify. To be sure, none of these true healers were bribed or coerced to speak up in favor of hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin. I can assure you of that.
Despite his claim to have been thoroughly versed by the most qualified professionals, he seemed to be oblivious to all the flaws and to much of the opposing viewpoints. What’s more, he looks to be a bit hostile.
Let’s look at what he said from about the 54:00 mark. Then I will comment. I will print his remarks in blue and emphasize key phrases. My comments will be in dark red.
54:18 - So, all these absurd theories that the vaccine might cause infertility and it might have long-term effects, one cannot say with certainty there will be no long-term effects because how would we know? But that is true with every new medicine that every new medicine or medical procedure might have long-term effects.
54:40 - But we always try to strike the right balance between what is needed now and what might theoretically happen in the future. As I explained before, it's very unreasonable that the Covid vaccine will have long-term effects…
55:35 – [but] this is a safe vaccine in as far as we could know and that is the opinion of rov minyan and binyan of chachmei haumos. I wrote a letter many months ago before Covid regarding the other vaccines to one of the gedolim and I argued even if the anti-vaxxers would have some merit but if this is the opinion of the establishment of rov minyan and rov binyan, we could rely on שומר פתאים השם. What is a person supposed to do if not follow the mumchim (experts)?
56:27 - There were always doctors that had different opinions but if that is the opinion of the establishment, שומר פתאים השם.
Let’s analyze:
So, all these absurd theories that the vaccine might cause infertility
Comment: Are they absurd when stated by people like Dr. Robert Malone who is credited at developing the mRNA vaccine? What’s more, the people who are allegedly dying are typically aged 50 plus. The ones who need to be concerned about infertility are aged below 50. If the below 50 population isn’t dying, what justifies the risk?
one cannot say with certainty there will be no long-term effects because how would we know?
Comment: But, didn’t he tell us seven minutes ago (47:25) that the long-term risk from this vaccine is totally without any reasonable חשש?
that every new medicine or medical procedure might have long-term effects.
Comment: Most new medicines go through rigorous testing that takes years. New medical procedures are almost never carried out without a situation where known procedures did not work and with full uninhibited informed consent. New medicines or medical procedures are never mandated – until now.
might theoretically happen in the future
Comment: At that time, the “future” wasn’t here yet, but when it does indeed happen in the “future”, it is in no way theoretical.
rov minyan and binyan of chachmei haumos.
Comment: Aside from the fact that we cannot listen to any chachmei haumos who are biased, I wonder how many chachmei haumos from the opposing camp he even heard out. How did he arrive at his consensus of “rov”?
Also, if rov minyan and binyan of medical professionals can only say that this vaccine is safe “as far as we could know” how is this saying that it is safe?
I wrote a letter many months ago before Covid regarding the other vaccines to one of the gedolim and I argued even if the anti-vaxxers would have some merit
Comment: This blew me away. Firstly, it seems like he has been at odds with “anti-vaxxers” for quite some time. From this conversation, it seems that he was having a dispute with another “gadol” which he does not identify. Who was this gadol? He does not tell us what was the position of the other gadol, but it clearly looks like he was trying to convince him of his viewpoint. What does the other gadol counter with? Did he succeed to convince the other gadol?
We’ll never know.
Also, this is before Covid. Before thousands of people were dying of anything. There was no crushing need. Why does shomer pesayim Hashem apply and overrule שב ואל תעשה עדיף?
What is a person supposed to do if not follow the mumchim?
Comment: First we need to hear out the “mumchim”. All of them.
but if that is the opinion of the establishment
Comment: By “the establishment” he is referring to the likes of Anthony Fauci, Albert Bourla, and bill Gates, none of whom took the vaccine themselves.
Within a year of this exchange, I was able to update with much more disparaging news. You can see it all in this post and this one.
At the same time, Harav Weiss was admitting telling us we need to take the booster shots since the “effective”, life-saving vaccines don’t work past six months! Still, not a word about taking conventional medications or even to take vitamin C and D.
In any case, all this was 4 to 5 years ago. Since then, the pandemic petered out and much has been uncovered to give some merit to the “anti-vaxxers”. One would assume that we all acquired some wisdom over the years and that there would be no need for Harav Weiss to proliferate the sinas chinam that he bitterly complained about in his initial shiur (57:08).
Nevertheless, last month we find that Morenu Harav Asher Weiss, Shlita, participated in the Chemed Medical Conference. This clip is dated April 21, 2026. you can see it HERE.
29:23 - Q. Without getting into specifics, a lot of politics have crept into the way medicine is practiced. Vaccinations are to be administered. Does this affect the neemanus harofim?
29:35 - A. I think in previous years we spoke already about trusting science and trusting doctors. To my dismay, since COVID broke out, we have needed to deal with all different kinds of strange opinions and philosophies who cast doubt in medicine, conventional medicine, antivaxxers...
31:15 - So, we had to deal with these antivaxxers and antivaccinations and I came to the conclusion you can't even have a dialogue with these people. They are so bent on what they believe. But neemanus in rofim is clear in Halacha, [618] in Shu”A (Orach Chaim) dealing with Yom kipper who needs to eat. Clear Halachos. treatment. You consult doctors and you rely on what doctors say...
32:46 - ...and I think it is so important as yes we need to trust medicine mainstream science and if you won't trust doctors then you are in a very unsafe and very hazardous place.
I cannot really blame him for discussing this subject now. He didn’t bring it up. It was the MC at the conference. But, since it was brought up, and he did respond to it, I need to voice my objections.
It pains me that after all this time, HRHG Rav Asher Weiss, Shlita is still so trusting of the corrupt medical establishment and so antagonistic to sincere people who are raising an alarm. It doesn’t seem to be as respectful a manner as he claimed in his earlier shiur or that he tries not to be mezalzel in others.
we had to deal with these antivaxxers and anti-vaccinations
Comment: He gives the impression that “anti-vaxxers”, as he calls them, are just a bunch of misinformed Neanderthal luddites or a brainwashed cult who have no other agenda but to make trouble.
I came to the conclusion you can't even have a dialogue with these people. They are so bent on what they believe.
Comment: With all due respect, במחילת כבוד, I am aware of a number of people who tried to “deal with” Harav Asher Weiss, Shlita. They came to the conclusion that you cannot have a dialogue with him. He is so bent on what he believes.
[618] in Shu”A (Orach Chaim) dealing with Yom kipper who needs to eat
Comment: He seems to have forgotten Yoreh Deah 155:1 which says that any non-Jewish doctor who has a financial interest cannot be trusted, as well as Choshen Mishpat 37:1 that disqualifies testimony from even any Jew who has anything to gain (or avoid losing).
if you won't trust doctors then you are in a very unsafe and very hazardous place.
Comment: The “anti-vaxxers” are the ones who heard out Dr. Zev Zelenko, Z”L (Chareidi), Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Ryan Cole, Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Harvey Risch (Shomer Shabbos), Dr. Simone Gold (proudly Jewish), Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Retzef Levi (Israeli), and others. We saw the VAERS reports and the blood clots exposed by Alabama embalmer Richard Hirschman (no relation and seemingly not Jewish) and funeral director John O’Looney. There is no indication that Harav Weiss crossed paths with any of these personalities.
We believe that if one blindly trusts “doctors” who have no yiras shamayim, and who are biased, sold out and compromised, you are in a very unsafe and hazardous place.
We live in an imperfect world and what goes around, comes around.
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