While the Health ministry struggles to find a way to deal with the increasing numbers of Israelis becoming infected with the Swine Flu, the mekubalim have found the solution.

Rav Benayahu Shmueli has put together a group of 50 rabbonim and mekubalim who will fly over the country saying psalms, incantation, and blow the shofar to ward off the infectious flu. Rav Shmueli said that the disease spread so rapidly because of the commonality of pritzus, and even among the haredi public because of the inclination to speak lashon ho'ra and gossip. That is why we are afflicted with a disease that spreads via the mouth.

Rav Shmueli also suggested that the recent increase in division among the secular and haredi in society - over recent incidents like the "starving mother", the avreich who drove over a Ethiopian, the accusations that haredim are the cause of the shooting in the gay bar in Tel Aviv, and others, is what causes the spread. If we can control and limit the machlokes, we will limit the spread of such diseases.

Rav Shmueli also suggested a way to prevent becoming infected - he said to be more careful with saying blessings before and after food, and to read the portion of the Ketores.

All his suggestions sound like good ideas....

Jpost reports that the ADL has accused the large circulation Arab papers for anti-semitism. they have taken advantage of the swine flu scare to publish cartoons of the swine flu with anti-semitic themes.

The ADL website shows a number of them. the two I think are the "best" of the bunch are these:



Amazing that the Arab press would use the image of a pig to depict the Jew/Israeli, considering how a few years ago we had global riots when a cartoonist used the image of a pig to depict Mohammed. We were told then how sensitive they are and how offensive it is.
Two-faced swine is what they are.