Israel Should Offer to Vaccinate Every Jew in the World

Israel has reason to celebrate the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, which are quickly protecting millions of people — nowhere more efficiently than in Israel. As of December 27, Israel has already vaccinated 379,000 people, at the rate of perhaps 100,000 a day. If the government begins administering doses 24 hours a day (which it has considered), the nine million population of Israel could be immunized within weeks.

Yes, Israel should rejoice that it has been able to vaccinate so many people. But it should get some more doses — and offer them to every Jew in the world willing and able to come get it. (Providing the vaccine in people’s home countries could be very complicated legally and medically.)

During the three weeks between the first inoculation and the second, Diaspora Jews could tour, spend money and interact with Israelis and fellow Jewish travelers. Once the government lifts the current lockdown, organizations of all stripes could form countrywide tours, especially for people who have never been to Israel. Local Jewish communities could partner with Israel to raise money to bring Jews with fewer resources to Israel to get lifesaving inoculations.

Of course, in order to be inoculated in Israel (which by then will have herd immunity), Diaspora Jews would still have to travel at a dangerous time. But Israel could try to minimize risk by arranging El Al flights from cities like Seattle and Mexico City, which have no nonstop charter flights. A massive airlift that evokes the rescue in Uganda and bringing Ethiopian Jews home? What a chill-inducing landmark in Jewish history.

For far too long, conversation between Israel and Diaspora Jewry has revolved around the secondary status of non-Orthodox movements regarding conversion and the Kotel — and the political system that enables that status to continue. But by inoculating millions of Jews, Israel can rise above those conversations and demonstrate that it cherishes its brethren around the world.

by inoculating millions of Jews, Israel can demonstrate that it cherishes its brethren around the world.

A mass Diaspora vaccination campaign could be a landmark pivot in Jewish communal solidarity, long remembered as a time when Jews from all communities and backgrounds joined together in common purpose. And it would live up to the highest ideals of our faith.

Of course, there are many Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza who are also at risk, as are others in the developing world. All of them need and deserve vaccination.

But in life-saving triage, Jewish law is unambiguous: Jews get priority. One example of the many texts that emphasize that point is in the Talmudic tractate Bava Metzia 71a, which explicitly says that if the choice is between helping a Jew and a non-Jew, the Jew gets preference (עמי ונכרי – עמי קודם). This sentiment is also echoed by the oft-cited Talmudic dictum (Shevuot 39a), “All Israel is responsible for one another.” The meaning is “Jews,” but the word, fittingly, is Israel.

With the priorities of ancient Jewish texts in mind, Israel can send a very modern WhatsApp text to every Jew in the world: Israel has vaccines. Come get one.

David Benkof is an online teacher and freelance writer living in Jerusalem.