Largest rabbinical college in the nation takes a stand on religious freedom

In a bold effort to fight current New Jersey legislation, several prominent rabbinic leaders who direct Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest rabbinical college in the United States, have written a letter voicing their concerns regarding government policies that infringe upon religious freedom. All rabbis agree on the Torah principle that one must “guard their life exceedingly,” yet debate abounds surrounding the topic of vaccinations. From within this heated debate on vaccines, Beth Medrash Govoha has bravely stepped forward and taken a side in an attempt to halt New Jersey bill S-2173, which aims at removing religious vaccine exemptions.

Just this past year, 26,000 students were kicked out of New York schools following the passing of one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the country, removing the religious exemption, and making it near impossible to receive a medical exemption. New York has now joined the ranks of California and Maine in their loss of religious freedom. While many rabbis concur that “guarding one’s life exceedingly” includes receiving vaccines to protect from specific illnesses, there is a growing body of rabbis concerned with the skyrocketing numbers of childhood disabilities and cancers, who are researching the potential risks surrounding vaccines. This informed group of rabbis interpret the Torah principle of “guarding one’s life exceedingly” as forgoing further vaccination to avoid risks to a child who may have already been injured by vaccines or have a…