Rabbi Yakov Saacks, The Chai Center, Dix Hills, NY
As a communal Rabbi I get to partake in the ups and downs of many
individuals’ and their family’s respective lives. From cradle to end of
life, I try to infuse an additional dose of spirituality and meaning, love,
hope and friendship. I recently went to visit a dear congregant and friend
who has been in a New York City hospital for the past few weeks. The
hospitalization was not due to Covid and the patient was not located on a
Covid floor.
It was extremely difficult to gain entry into the hospital. I had to set up
special authorization from the higher ups in order to pay him a visit. This
permission took over a week to get and off I went.
I entered the main lobby of the hospital complete with my chaplain badge
and copy of the authorization email. The security guard did not even look
at the paperwork but instead told me that I am not getting in. I protested
and was told by the other security guard to step aside and move on. I was
then cautioned to stop asking to get in. The words were “Sir, you are not
getting in – go back home.”
To make a long story short, I called the person who gave the authorization
and after a 20-minute wait was allowed through the barricade. Once I got
upstairs, a nurse told me to leave the floor as I did not have a visitor’s
pass. I basically ignored him as I had enough abuse for the day. I knew
they did not give me a pass because passes are limited and if I were in
their system, my visit would prevent another relative from visiting.
I must say that I had an easier time visiting prison inmates in Greene,
Hudson and Coxsackie correctional facilities.
I was extremely troubled at this sordid episode for a few reasons.
NOT NORMAL
This distasteful episode got me thinking about what Covid has done to
society; how it has eroded human contact, friendships, family get togethers
and even chaplain visits to the sick. You see, as humans we crave human
contact. We were created as social beings who are meant to fraternize
together. In fact, when a child is being antisocial at school, we
immediately run to the best child interventionist we can find who
specializes in antisocial behavior in children.
NOT RATIONAL
There is another reason why I was so disturbed, and this is my main point.
The complete lack of decency displayed by the security people to their
fellow human beings was blamed on the dangers of the Covid virus. I think
at some level this is true, particularly in a hospital. However, in many
cases, and I believe in my story, it was a convenient excuse to belittle
people in the name of Covid.
I realized this because there was no follow through. Once I got through the
iron curtain, I was not given a questionnaire that I had to sign affirming
that I do not have Covid, I do not live with someone who is quarantined and
I have not traveled in the past 14 days. At The Chai Center, we were given
instructions that everyone who enters needs to sign their affirmation. My
temperature was not taken either. Nothing! No one cared whether I was sick
as a dog and a super spreader. I was not asked if I was vaccinated. Zip,
nada, gornisht.
This is what Covid has done. It allows people to blame the virus for their
poor and irrational behavior. The hospital “Marines” did not really care
about Covid at all. They were abusive in its name only.
BAD REACTION
The way I see it, Covid is much worse than other disasters we have had in
recent memory, whether natural or manmade. I am not even talking about the
incredible number of deaths; I am referring in addition to the
aforementioned, to the lives ruined. Grandparents cannot visit with their
children, virtual schooling, lines for basic food shopping and people stuck
at home too nervous to venture out. None of the above is natural. In fact,
it is insane.
GOOD REACTION
In contrast, we have had other disasters like 9/11, typhoons, tsunamis,
forest fires and earthquakes. With these catastrophes we all came together
to hug, cry, memorialize, help, support, aid in any way we could. Not only
did it not tear us apart, it brought communities together. I realize that
Covid is a contagion and therefore different rules of engagement apply. It
should not, however, turn us into cold-hearted humans. Meanness in the name
of Covid is just plain mean and there is no excuse.
We have to do better.
