Chief Rabbi promotes vaccines

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has said it is a “religious imperative” to take the vaccine against coronavirus, in a video message calling for people to act responsibly.

While it was right to pray to God for help, “at the same time we should recognise Hashem is calling upon us to be His partners,” he said.

“He wants us to have hishtadlut, our efforts to behave with responsibility, at this critically important time to ensure that we don’t take any risk with regard to our health and that we responsibly safeguard and protect the lives of others.”

Rabbi Mirvis said we were blessed to be living in a country whose government recognised that places of worship provided an “essential service to the nation.” Unlike last year’s lockdown, religious buildings have been allowed to stay open for communal prayer this time.