Coronavirus, dinosaurs and prayer

The Covid-19 coronavirus has so far caused tens of thousands of cases, and over a thousand deaths. The SARS virus (SARS-CoV) epidemic in 2002-2003 caused thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.

It is known that these viruses migrate to humans from wildlife. At the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, the source of the latest virus epidemic originating in China, wild animals, including beavers, porcupines and snakes were sold.

The Chinese government is known to exercise a strong hand in suppressing activities of which it does not approve. Perhaps the Chinese ambassador would like to explain why his government, which has known of this problem since at least 2002, has not acted similarly to suppress the sale of wild animals in China, an activity that has caused so much infection and death, in China and the world.

On another topic, in “The hidden treasures between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv” (February 16), Beit Zayit is mentioned, but not the fact that it is the only place in Israel where dinosaur footprints have been found.

In the early days of the village, a child went missing. In the search for the missing child (found unharmed, underneath a bush, lying on the dinosaur footprints) a member of the search party, Motka Sofer, a local resident and well known tour guide, recognized the dinosaur footprints. Visitors can gain admittance to the site by asking for the key from the village office nearby.

There is a Motka Sofer Street in the Kiryat Hayovel district of Jerusalem.

GERALD MYERS Beit Zayit

One couldn’t help but notice the stark difference between the “religious” and “secular’ approaches to fighting the Corona virus in side-by-side articles on February 17.

On one hand, hundreds or worshipers flocked to the Kotel to pray for God’s help to cure the sufferers. On the other hand, an Israeli firm working on cell-based therapy reached out to global authorities to collaborate on an immediate solution and introduce their drug worldwide on an experimental basis.

Both articles were highlighted by the excellent editorial in the same issue bemoaning the lack of core curriculum in the Orthodox-run schools and the coming economic dangers to Israel if the situation is not rectified.

But it isn’t enough to teach English, math and science to the Orthodox kids. The cultural framework of the Orthodox has to change drastically – especially the reliance on God to solve their problems and the stubborn belief that their way is the only way to tikkun olam.

YIGAL HOROWITZ Beersheba

Regarding teaching secular subjects in ultra-Orthodox schools, when this was mandated in Monsey, New York, one boys’ yeshiva reached out to an Orthodox friend of mine, who was a newly retired NY State Certified teacher, to set up such a program in their school. Even teaching English to the mostly Yiddish-speaking students was a challenge for her at first, but she managed to earn the confidence of both the students and administration and was able to create a viable and ultimately successful program.

It was a learning experience for all concerned, but was successful and hopefully will be picked up here in Israel as well.

MARION REISS Beit Shemesh

I would suggest an alternative to the article “Hundreds pray at Kotel for end to coronavirus” (February 17). Hundreds – or better still, thousands – should pray at the Temple Mount for the return of the Jewish holiest site to Jewish hands, where the call “The Temple Mount is in our hands” would be true.

God is looking for us to keep his Laws and Commandments and probably doesn’t take kindly to seeing the abuse of Jews at the Temple Mount nor seeing it under the control of the Wakf. This act on its own would bring about full sovereignty throughout the

Jewish land as ordained by God, who brought us back in order for us to build and settle the land for the Jewish people.

PHYLLIS STERN Netanya