“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Beha’aloscha
Avos perek 2
17 Sivan 5781/May 28, 2021
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לרפואה שלימה נטע יצחק בן רחל
THE ALIEN WITHIN
Although the pandemic was a world-wide
challenge that caused incredible loss and suffering, not everyone fared badly. Most
prominently, within weeks of the beginning of the pandemic, “Zoom” became ubiquitous.
It seemed like everything was on Zoom - meetings, parties, family
get-togethers, shiurim, yoga, etc. Pfizer and Moderna have also done well in
recent months.
One of the more unexpected surges
during the pandemic has been for plastic surgery. Spending so much time on Zoom
and video conference calls has forced people to look at their own faces for
extended periods of time. Many people have become disenchanted with their
“lockdown face”.
The
truth is that the image of ourselves that we see on screens is not wholly accurate.
A BBC article entitled, “Why
plastic-surgery demand is booming amid lockdown” quotes Dr. Jill Owen, a psychologist from
The British Psychological Society, who notes that the version of ourselves we
see on our screens can be deceiving. The angle, lighting, and limitations of
the camera on many devices can lead to distortions of facial features.
Owen
notes that obsessing over our own image can lead to “perceptual distortion”, which
occurs when we “highlight a fault, then focus disproportionately on this until
it becomes magnified in our perception”.
That
perceptual distortion seems to have impacted multitudes of people. Cosmetic
doctors and plastic surgeons around the world have reported surges in bookings
for surgical and non-surgical treatments following lockdown. It’s being
referred to as the ‘Zoom Boom’.
According
to halacha, although there are occasions when it is permitted, plastic surgery
is not a simple matter. The fundamental issue is whether
one has permission to inflict damage upon his/her own body.[1]
The very concept is revolutionary.
Most people assume ‘it’s my body and I can do with it as I please’. The Torah
viewpoint, however, is that our bodies are not our personal property. Rather,
they are “on loan” to us to use properly to house our souls so that we can
accomplish and be productive in this world. We are charged to care for our
bodies and use them properly.
I was thinking about this
concept recently when I received the covid vaccine. Side effects are common
after receiving the vaccine, including injection-site pain, fatigue,
headache, muscle pain, joint pain, to go along with fever and chills.
Personally, the day after I received
the first Pfizer shot, I woke up not feeling well but was able to push myself to
go about my day. As the day wore on however, I felt increasingly worse.
By the time I arrived home in the late
afternoon, I had what felt like a full-blown flu, including fever, achiness, an
intense headache and chills. I woke up the following morning in a pool of sweat,
but my symptoms were almost completely gone. I was quite concerned about what
would happen after the second vaccine, but thankfully, aside for some fatigue, I
had almost no side effects.
It’s intriguing that everyone who receives
the vaccine seems to have a different experience. Some report not having any side
effects at all, while others report becoming very sick for a few days. Even of those
that suffer some strong side effects afterwards, some report side effects only after
the first, others only after the second, and some both times.
As I heard people speak of their experiences,
including reflection on my own experience, it was fascinating to realize that
we speak about our bodies reactions as if it’s a foreign being with a mind of
its own.
I was similarly reminded of this
phenomenon after the recent Meron tragedy and during the Hamas missile attacks in
Eretz Yisroel. I was listening to a lecture from trauma expert who noted that
everyone has different reactions to trauma. This can include anger, moodiness, irritability, becoming obsessive, crying,
denial, disbelief, disinterest in previous activities, emotional numbness, forgetfulness,
grief, guilt, isolation, nightmares, panic, and sleeping too much.
The lecturer
stressed that everyone reacts differently, and all reactions are
normal in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic situation or experience.
Once again, I noticed that we refer
of people’s reactions as if they are a foreign force over which one has limited
or no control.
We tend to define ourselves and
think of ourselves based on our physical bodies. Although we are aware that our
true-life force and identity is our soul, we live in a physical world and
therefore think of ourselves based on our ‘physical casing’. In our youth we get
used to our bodies and feel we understand them well. But as we age, we start to
feel that our bodies are somewhat foreign to us and at times can even feel
betrayed by our bodies (at least that’s what my friends tell me…)
What really defines us is our soul that
transcends the limitations of this world. That is our real essence and, therefore,
we would be wise to invest in it.
All that said, I want to thank
Pfizer for giving me a shot in the arm in reminding me who and what I really
am.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
[1] The gemara (Bava
Kama 91b) quotes a Taanaic dispute whether one is allowed to damage himself.
The Rambam (Chovel U’mazik 5:1) and Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 420:1) rule
that it is forbidden. The question is whether totally elective surgery done for
an understandable reason is included in the prohibition. See Igros Moshe,
Choshen Mishpat 5:66, Minchas Shlomo II:82, and Minchas Yitzchak VI;105.