Aug 6, 2020
It is a Torah obligation to wear a mask in public and to abide by social distancing rules and avoid creating a situation which endangers another person’s life. One is obligated to take more care not to hurt others than not to get hurt.
Anyone who holds his/her soul dear must stay away from gatherings which do not adhere to social distancing rules.
Anyone with symptoms like difficulty breathing, diarrhea loss of taste or smell, or fever is required to take a corona test.
It is a grave sin to take matters into one’s hands and endanger others.
One who ignores the Ministry of Health’s guidelines transgresses the Halacha (Torah Law) and may become guilty of murder and must bear his/her sin.
One is thus required to ensure that the people around him/her are adhering to the guidelines.
– Rav Yitzchak Yosef – Rishon Letzion – Chief Sephardic Rabbi
– Professor Roni Gamzu – Director “Magen Yisrael”
Read the article on Hamodia (English) and on Kikar HaShabbat News (Hebrew).
See also:
Mishna Berura Requiring Masks
Prayer composed by Rav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita