Those Who Study Torah Sustain the Entire World
In Chapter 1, verse 31: “And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” — there is a
Following the Rabbi’s answer, I would like to ask: Since the Rabbi ruled that anyone sick with the flu is considered a person who causes harm, and even when it is uncertain whether he will cause harm, he may not come near people out of concern that he may infect them, and therefore the Rabbi prohibited a woman from going to work even though she would thereby lose her livelihood.
I would therefore like to ask: Is every person who has the flu forbidden to go to the synagogue to pray, lest he infect and harm the public? Likewise, is he forbidden to attend a wedding or family celebration, lest he harm the public? Is he also forbidden to go grocery shopping, walk on the street among people, or ride in an elevator with others, lest he infect and harm them? (Likewise, would a sick person be forbidden to come near his wife and children lest he infect and harm them, unless they forgive him wholeheartedly?)
Is this indeed the case—that every person with the flu must enter isolation????..
And if this is indeed the law, does it also apply to someone who is not yet truly ill but merely has a slight cold, which may be the beginning of the flu, and is already capable of infecting people? Or someone who feels a slight sore throat and may have a bacterium, and is already beginning to infect others and may be causing harm—must he too stay away from people, because even a doubtful case of a person causing harm is prohibited??
More generally, who says that a person sick with the flu is considered a person who causes harm? Perhaps this is only indirect causation, like placing viruses before people and they become infected, since we are not discussing someone breathing directly on others. Perhaps in such a case, when there is a need and pressing circumstances, one may be among people; who can say that they will certainly be harmed? Especially since this is only a possibility—it is not inevitable that a sick person will infect someone. Who says that in such a case he must distance himself from everyone? Perhaps here we say that the potential victim must distance himself.
Or perhaps it is sufficient for a person to be careful and do his utmost not to infect others (to cover his mouth when coughing and maintain a reasonable distance from others), but he is not required to remain at home and forfeit his prayers and livelihood?
If so, if the sick woman tries to be as careful as she can, perhaps she may go to work and need not worry about losing her money.
Let us put the matter in order, for indeed your question is insightful and requires study.
It is clear that one may not harm another even indirectly, whether this causes him financial loss or bodily harm. In any event, it is forbidden to harm one’s fellow even through indirect causation.
There is no distinction between attending a family celebration and going to the synagogue or other places connected with a mitzvah; there is no permission to cause harm in the context of a mitzvah. Even though the person causing harm does not perform an active act upon the victim, this is no less than any other indirect causation, which is forbidden and for which one is liable in the Heavenly court. This applies even if remaining at home would cause him financial loss.
Therefore, he must refrain from being in any place where there is a gathering of many people and where he will be walking or sitting among them for an extended period of time. However, if he keeps the required distance, wears a mask, and the like, or is near them only for a very brief moment, it is reasonable that in such circumstances the risk of harm is considered an uncommon minority occurrence, and is included in the principle that “the Lord protects the simple,” where harm is not common.
All this applies when it is clear to him that he has a contagious illness, such as influenza, measles, or the like. But if it is uncertain whether the illness is contagious, it may be permitted, for even regarding a Torah prohibition we are lenient on the basis of a double doubt. Here too, there is doubt whether the illness is contagious, and even if it is contagious, who can say that this person will become infected?
PLEASE NOTE*
Attention: You should not learn from one case to another, each case must be analyzed individually. Generally speaking, it's always best to have contact with a Rabbi in person, not just virtual contact. Note that where there is a local Rabbi("Mara Deatra"), one should ask him. The answers are under the responsibility of the rabbi who responded, and not under the responsibility of the website and/or the Head of the Institution.
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