Is the vaccination ruling of Rabbi Asher Weiss clouded by financial conflict of interest?
Below is a link to a Matzav.com article reposted from Arutz Sheva in which Rabbi Asher Weiss is trotted out to proclaim that Vaccination is required and obligatory according to Jewish law.My response below which Matzav refused to post notes the financial conflict of interest of Rabbi Weiss. He is employed by Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center as a Medical Halacha Expert. He is the President of the Beis Medrash for Halacha and Healing an affiliate of the Technion American Medical School - TeAMS. In short, his livelihood is derived from the mainstream medical establishment. Were he to say anything negative about vaccination rest assured he would be out of a job just like Dr Daniel Neides was ousted from the Clevelnd Clinic for speaking against vaccination dogma.
My response:
Rabbi Weiss has a severe financial conflict of interest in this matter and as such his Halachic ruling that negatively impacts non vaccinators, parents of vaccine injured children, and parents who want to opt out has to be taken in the context of Nogeah Badavar. In the video you posted, he says he does not understand parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. He is welcome to watch the speeches from Robert Kennedy Jr. Dr James Lyons Weiler, Dr. Mary Holland, or the others at yesterday's Vaccine Rights Rally in Albany and gain some understanding. Perhaps he will be motivated to change his Halachik opinion to be more in line with that of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky. Unlike Rabbi Weiss, Rabbi Kaminetzky does not derive his livelihood from the medical industry and as such does not have a financial conflict of interest in this matter.
Matzav article
http://matzav.com/http-www-israelnationalnews-com-news-news-aspx-263137/
Rabbi Asher Weiss, one of the leading halachik authorities, participated in the biennial convention of the Conference of European Rabbis in Antwerp, Belgium this week.
In his remarks, Rabbi Weiss spoke clearly and decisively on the phenomenon of people choosing not to receive vaccinations or to vaccinate their children.
“It’s a halakhic obligation to vaccinate our children,” Rabbi Weiss said.
“This is not a recommendation. It’s a halakhic obligation. It is a chiyuv (obligation) to vaccinate our children, and those who do not vaccinate their children, that is a violation of a halakhik obligation,” the rabbi said, warning of the danger of spreading diseases such as the measles.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}
My response:
Rabbi Weiss has a severe financial conflict of interest in this matter and as such his Halachic ruling that negatively impacts non vaccinators, parents of vaccine injured children, and parents who want to opt out has to be taken in the context of Nogeah Badavar. In the video you posted, he says he does not understand parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. He is welcome to watch the speeches from Robert Kennedy Jr. Dr James Lyons Weiler, Dr. Mary Holland, or the others at yesterday's Vaccine Rights Rally in Albany and gain some understanding. Perhaps he will be motivated to change his Halachik opinion to be more in line with that of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky. Unlike Rabbi Weiss, Rabbi Kaminetzky does not derive his livelihood from the medical industry and as such does not have a financial conflict of interest in this matter.
Matzav article
http://matzav.com/http-www-israelnationalnews-com-news-news-aspx-263137/
Rabbi Asher Weiss, one of the leading halachik authorities, participated in the biennial convention of the Conference of European Rabbis in Antwerp, Belgium this week.
In his remarks, Rabbi Weiss spoke clearly and decisively on the phenomenon of people choosing not to receive vaccinations or to vaccinate their children.
“It’s a halakhic obligation to vaccinate our children,” Rabbi Weiss said.
“This is not a recommendation. It’s a halakhic obligation. It is a chiyuv (obligation) to vaccinate our children, and those who do not vaccinate their children, that is a violation of a halakhik obligation,” the rabbi said, warning of the danger of spreading diseases such as the measles.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}
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