「コロナビールを飲みなさい」　ユダヤ教指導者ら新型ウイルス対策で珍助言

【エルサレムＡＦＰ＝時事】「祈りに力を与え、メシア（救世主）到来に備えるため、コロナビールを飲みなさい」――新型コロナウイルスの流行を受け、イスラエルのラビ（ユダヤ教の宗教指導者）たちがさまざまな珍助言をしている。（写真は資料写真）
　パレスチナのイマーム（イスラム教の宗教指導者）やキリスト教の指導者と同様、ユダヤ教のラビたちもイスラエル保健省が示す新型コロナウイルス対策の指針に従うよう信者たちの説得に努めている。だが中には、科学的根拠のない助言を発したり、新型コロナウイルスの起源について事実無根のゼノフォビア（外国人嫌悪）的言説を広めたりするラビもいる。
　ユダヤ超正統派のラビの一人、シムチャ・ハレビ・アシュラグ師は、ソーシャルメディアに投稿した動画の中で「祈り、アルコール飲料を飲むとき、祈る者たちはより強くなる」と述べ、メキシコ産のコロナビールを飲むよう信者たちに促した。
　自ら検疫下にある正統派のテレビ伝道師、ザミル・コーエン師は「このウイルスは、非ユダヤ教徒は何でも食するという事実の結果だ」と発言。新型コロナウイルスは中国で食用に売買されていた動物を起源としているとの考えが念頭にあるようだ。
　超正統派のロン・チャヤ師は、「メシア到来の前兆のすべてはここにあり、無関心であり続けることは悲劇を招くだろう」と述べ、信者たちにメシア到来に備えるように呼び掛けた。この様子を収めた動画はソーシャルメディアに投稿され、再生回数は５万回を超えた。
　正統派の著名なラビ、シュロモ・アビネリ師は信者に対し、病気になったと思う人が取るべき最善の行動は「医者にかかること」だと語った。
　大規模集会を制限するようにという保健省の勧告を広めるために、ラジオを通じた礼拝参加を例外的に許可したラビもいる。
　同国のラビの最高位であるチーフラビのデビッド・ラウ師は今週、ユダヤ教徒に向けて「保健省の指示に従うことは宗教上の義務だ」と明言した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/11-11:21）

Drink a Corona beer to fortify your prayers or get ready for the arrival of the messiah: rabbis in Israel have a offered an array of guidance on responding to coronavirus.
Some rabbis, as well Palestinian imams and Christian leaders, have sought to influence people to follow health ministry guidelines on containing the outbreak.
But several rabbis have dispensed advice with no scientific basis or peddled baseless xenophobic theories related to the origins of the virus.
A video posted on social media by Rabbi Simcha Halevi Ashlag, a leader of Ashlag ultra-Orthodox community, shows him encouraging followers to drink the Mexican beer Corona.
When we pray and drink an alcoholic drink, the prayers have more force, he said.
Rabbi Zamir Cohen, an Orthodox televangelist who is himself under quarantine, said the virus is the result of the fact that non-Jews eat anything, in an apparent reference to the belief that the virus originated in animals trafficked for food in China.
Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Ron Chaya encouraged followers to prepare for the arrival of the messiah.
All the warning signs of the coming of the messiah are there and to remain indifferent would be a tragedy, he said, in a video posted on social media viewed more than 50,000 times.
- 'Go to a doctor' -
The Jewish holiday of Purim, which takes place this week, normally includes public celebrations and, for many, services in synagogue.
Most public celebrations in Israel have been cancelled, with 39 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Seeking to promote health ministry advice on limiting large gatherings, some rabbis have given exceptional permission for followers to participate in religious services over the radio.
Prominent Orthodox Rabbi Shlomo Aviner told his followers that the best course of action for anyone who thinks they are sick is to go to a doctor.
Israel has ordered tens of thousands of people into home-quarantine, notably anyone who has travelled to European or Asian countries with the highest prevalence.
Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau was unequivocal this week in telling Jews that following the health ministry directives is a religious obligation.
- Transmission a 'sin' -
The city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, which includes the Church of Nativity built on the site Christians believe was the birthplace of Jesus, is under lockdown following 20 confirmed cases of the virus.
Palestinian authorities have declared a 30-day state of emergency and a ban on tourists visiting the church.
Meanwhile, Christians in the city have been ordered to pray in small groups of 15 and to only take communion in their hand, rather than orally.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has told priests to post mass on social media, so adherents do not have to go church.
The highest Muslim authority in Jerusalem, Grand Mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, said on radio that health is more important than religious practice, and that protecting oneself is one of the foundations of Islam.
Sheikh Majed Saqer, an official with the Palestinian religion affairs ministry, told AFP that anyone who is ill has been ordered to avoid public places.
If a Muslim transmits the virus, he is considered to have sinned, Saqer said.