In Defense of a ‘Letter to the Editor’ in Hamodia

The following “letter to the editor” in Hamodia was quoted on a certain blog as seeming evidence of false bitachon:

I didn’t see the original “Safety Alert” article mentioned here. But I see nothing wrong with this letter.

The gist here is that there are many angles to observe events (scientific, mathematical, historical, economic, etc.), but the single perspective of value to the general reader is that which applies to the layman’s own life and sphere of control, namely bitachon and other religious lessons. In contrast, a lengthy discussion of arcane matters of special expertise (proximal causes) in the context of a publication sold for mass consumption suggests there is no underlying, theological cause here but blind chance, God forbid. “Too much information.”

This narrative is false (“might have been appropriate”) even in the case of a “non-Jewish entity”, which receives only indirect, “natural” Divine providence (Chazon Ish: מה שאנו קורין “טבע” המכוון בזה רצון היותר תמידי של הקב”ה).

(True, those charged with safety were asleep at the wheel, etc., for institutional reasons, so the details are relevant to all, but I doubt the paper suggested rational de-socializing everything in Meron (and for Corona), anyway.)

The Problem With Defining One Thing by Another…

Problem with the internet is, it incites new lusts.

Sure, I’m cynical, but who doesn’t love juicy politics? But, political articles on the dreaded internet go ahead and inform me politics resembles “nothing so much as a reality television show”.

Now, that makes me want to watch reality TV (??) to understand what politics is all about, רחמנא ליצלן.

My filter doesn’t work well!

Conclusion: The internet is dangerous; so stay away.