The outbreak of COVID-19 has definitely brought a lot of complications into the lives of many people and Israel is no exception to that.
But some people have been stepping up to the plate to help others. Leket Israel is the Israeli National Food Bank and has been helpful in supporting people in need and to show his support Reuven Rivlin, the Israeli President, helped pack some boxes of vegetables for the organization and thanked the Arab and Jewish volunteers who gave their time to help others (By United with Israel Staff, 2020).
He said that “… mutual responsibility, as we always have as a country. These are the values from which we, the Jewish people, have flourished.” And “The coronavirus has hurt us all, but right now we see that the weaker members of our society have become even weaker. Those in need now need more. It is at difficult times like this that we measure social solidarity and mutual responsibility.” (By United with Israel Staff, 2020)
It is correct that a sense of responsibility for others is necessary for society to flourish. We are to care for everyone but the Bible puts a special emphasis on being purposeful about caring for the most vulnerable members of society. The Bible says “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4.
Sometimes we get so caught up in our own situation that we ignore the plight of others but we must remember that selfishness a much more serious virus that no one can afford to take lightly. Unlike COVID-19 which may only impact this life in certain ways. Selfishness can impact everything about life-including how careful we are about spreading physical illness-and the lives of those around us both physically and spiritually. So, selfishness is worse as it doesn’t only endanger this life but it endangers the next life as well for both ourselves and those around us by the influence our choices have on others.
Sometimes our greed or sense of self-importance will lead us to ignore or minimize the suffering of others in order to justify not caring more about those who suffer more. But when we are following the principles of the Bible we will not be indifferent about God’s call to seek to uplift those who are more needy and vulnerable than ourselves.
By United with Israel Staff, 2020 “Israeli President Rivlin Lends a Hand at Food Bank, Stresses Civic Duty During Corona Crisis” United with Israel received from https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-president-rivlin-lends-a-hand-at-food-bank-stresses-civic-duty-during-corona-crisis/
Spread Positivity. Image created by Alissa Azureen. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives - help stop the spread of COVID-19. https://unsplash.com/photos/o2hMsIyjbGE
