Tikkun Olam & Vaccinations

Yesterday we spent a wonderful couple of hours with one of Ruth's sisters We haven't seen in several years. Ruth has two biological sisters, two step-sisters (a third dear step died), and a half-sister. This step-sister has lived in Israel for decades but was able to return to Canada, along with her daughter, to see her elderly father, someone we know well.  She is an evangelical Christian, married to someone from the American South, and our theology diverges in some significant ways. That said, she is a warm, loving person whose Christian faith shapes her as a forgiving and generous-hearted soul.

I was relieved to discover that she is totally supportive of the Israeli COVID-19 vaccination initiative which leads the world in first doses, alongside Canada, and she has received both jabs. She can't fathom why there is so much resistance to vaccinations in the United States and shook her head over the way evangelicals have led the way in this wrongheadedness.

I expressed my feeling that observing protocols and getting vaccinations fulfill the Hebrew scripture commandment to honour our mothers and fathers, along with Jesus' directive to love our neighbours as ourselves. She added that living in a country with a significant Jewish population there is also the notion of "tikkun olam" or "mending/repairing the world." It could be argued that there isn't much in the way of "tikkun olam" when it comes to Israel's policies toward Palestinians but I really like that perspective when it comes to vaccinations.

Not only do we protect ourselves from the threat of a global virus when we get jabbed, we collectively protect others. This aspiration fits for both Jews and Christians, as well as other expressions of caring faith and good will. It should compel us to work toward making sure that those in developing countries also have the opportunity to be vaccinated. 

The US is seeing a significant rise in new COVID cases, particularly in low vaccination states, which are often high in white evangelical populations.  Even in Israel which had returned to an open society there is a new wave of infections, largely of the variants. We may experience the same, so our vigilance and resolve are important. We can pray that our actions will mend the world, whatever time that requires.