Once permission is given to the destroyer, it does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked TB Pesakhim 110

Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 110 warns us to avoid even numbers because they expose the person to danger from demons or sorcery. For example, “Abaye, when he would drink one cup, his mother would immediately place two cups in his two hands so that he would not inadvertently drink only one more cup and thereby expose himself to the danger of drinking in pairs.” (Sefaria.org translation) The Gemara has a lot of advice how to ward off demons and frustrate the plans of witches. I’ll let the true believers go to this daf to learn these strategies.

“… The Babylonian Talmud is replete with demonology, obviously under the influence of the belief in demons which was widespread in Babylonia… The Babylonian Jews lived in a world which was filled with demons and spirits, malevolent and sometimes benevolent, who inhabited the air, the trees, water, roofs of houses, and privies. They are invisible; ‘If the eye could see them no one could endure them. They surround one on all sides. They are more numerous than humans, each person has a thousand on his left and 10,000 on his right’ and they are responsible for various inconveniences.” (Encyclopedia Judaica, Volume 5, column 1527)

“Kishuf (sorcery-gg) is nowhere exactly defined, but a distinction is drawn between actual witchcraft, committed by some overt and consummate act which resulted in mischief, and then punishable, and the mere pretense at witchcraft which, however unlawful and prohibited, is not punishable     (Sanh 7: 11 and 67b)… It is witchcraft that makes for the devastation of the world (Sotah 9:13).” (Encyclopedia Judaica, volume 15, column 163)

The rabbis also understood that bad things happen to good people through no fault of their own and applied it to the Passover story. “Rav Yosef taught a baraita: What is the meaning of that which is written with regard to the plague of the firstborn: “And none of you shall go out of the opening of his house until the morning” (Exodus 12:22)? If the plague was not decreed upon the Jewish people, why were they not permitted to leave their homes? Once permission is granted to the destroyer to kill, it does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. And not only that, but it begins with the righteous first, as it is stated in the verse: “And will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked” (Ezekiel 21:8), where mention of the righteous precedes the wicked.” (TB Bava Kamma 67a, Sefaria.org translation)

The coronavirus pandemic is a modern plague. Once the Covid 19 virus has entered our society, it does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, men and women, the young and the old. Over 500,000 United States citizens’ lives have been lost. We have the responsibility to act like our ancestors and follow the CDC’s quarantine guidelines so that we can defeat the virus and emerge free. Even if you have been vaccinated, you should remain vigilant and avoid medium to large indoor venues, large groups of people, and wear your masks whenever you are outside or with people outside your pod who are unvaccinated. How much more so should the unvaccinated population be careful! Taking unnecessary risks will only create a fourth wave and so many more unavoidable deaths.

Be careful so you won’t let the destroyer visit you at your Seder this year.