Frontlines

Although restrictions have been lifted in many parts of the country, there are those holdouts who refuse to leave their homes till a vaccine for COVID-19 (whose correct name is SARS-CoV-2) is discovered. There is no doubt that an effective and safe vaccine will put an end to this devastating pandemic, which has already caused the deaths of over 100,000 Americans.

In this highly charged, polarized, COVID-19-plagued planet, I have tried to minimize my criticism of recent political developments. Coronavirus is enough to deal with. As a physician, I am on the frontlines and have seen the ugly face and features of the virus up close. I have seen the despair, the suffering, the loss, and the utter torment of so many.

The victory by the Orthodox and right-wing pro-Israel groups in the recent 38^th World Zionist Congress election says volumes about the state of the Jewish people in the United States. The divide between the Orthodox and the other denominations has grown. The contrast is even starker when looking at the support of President Trump. Over 80% of the Orthodox voted for him in 2016 and I believe that number will go up in the 2020 election.

The war on COVID-19 continues in full force. It has been a devastating and painful process. This is a world war, but unlike the others, we all have a common enemy this time. In the US, the New York Metro Area has been hit the hardest. As of April 25, there have been 12,067 deaths from the virus in New York City alone. The total number of deaths in the United States stands at 54,964.

The New York Times has hardly been fair or honest in its reporting on Israel or the Jewish People. A very disturbing and troubling op-ed was published this past week in The Times by Daniel Pipes, entitled “Annexation Would Hurt Israel.”

The Coronavirus Pandemic is horrible, terrible, and heartrending. I have, like so many others, lost dear friends and colleagues. The prediction of 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the United States from COVID-19, despite mitigation and “flattening the curve,” is dreadful and disconcerting. Yes, this part is doom and gloom. As a physician, I feel the pain, suffering, and devastation harder than most. I have family members fighting the virus in the trenches and frontlines as doctors and nurses. They deserve our praise and good wishes. Nothing has prepared us for this moment.