Why don't cities take down the Eruv during the flu season, so that no one gets sick?
By taking down the Eruv, one may not carry a cold on Shabbos, which helps stop the spread of disease.
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How do the patients get to the doctor on Shabbos? – DonielF Mar 03 '20 at 23:50
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22Because then the chazzan can't carry a tune either. – rosends Mar 03 '20 at 23:59
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That might be Pikuach Nefesh @DonielF. – Moshe Mar 04 '20 at 00:00
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It is not true one can not carry on Shabbos. What is true is that one may not carry on shabbos. Thus, if we remove the Eruv, we are afraid people will carry inadvertently. Thus, not only will it not help the situation, but more chillul shabbos will be caused.
chessprogrammer
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1This answer is gezel, because it steals my comment answer. מוטב שיהיו שוגגים ואל יהיו מזידים – Mordechai Mar 04 '20 at 05:21
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But many communities once a year dismantle the Eruv so that people don't get used to relying on the Eruv. – Moshe Mar 04 '20 at 05:26
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3@Moshe I've heard that before, but never seen a source/heard of an actual case. Do you know of one? – magicker72 Mar 04 '20 at 06:00
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Because when you first get the flu it takes a few days for symptoms to appear, so people will be transgressing inadvertently by carrying the flu if they have it but don't know it yet.
larry909
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Even without an eruv, carrying a cold (or anything) is only a rabbinic prohibition, since constructing an eruv relies on the opinion that we don't have a real reshus harabim.
Going near people when you have a cold violates various Biblical prohibitions of causing damage to them. We assume that anyone who knowingly violates that won't worry about rabbinic prohibitions either, so removing the eruv won't accomplish anything.
Heshy
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3In the second sentence I'm 100% serious. Without getting into the lomdus of what exactly is violated and whether there's a chiyuv to pay, going near other people when you're sick is wrong. – Heshy Mar 04 '20 at 15:14
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Until this month I would say that everyone is mochel. But this month proves me wrong. – Mordechai Mar 04 '20 at 16:59
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2@Mordechai if someone asks me for mechila I'm not going to deny it, but I am very upset when people go to shul sick. A little cold that is a minor annoyance for one person can last several weeks for other people (I'm one of those), and for older people can seriously affect their lives ch"v. And not only do people go to shul with colds, but they go to a crowded minyan and sit right in the middle of the room, sneezing and coughing! If you're not going to daven biychidus, at least have the decency to go to the most empty minyan and sit off in the corner. – Heshy Mar 04 '20 at 17:07
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That only works in the movies.
Dr. Shmuel
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1This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. - From Review – sabbahillel Mar 04 '20 at 04:13
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5I didn't get it without the explanation, but there's room to make it good. Can you edit to make the joke clearer? – Daniel Mar 04 '20 at 04:58
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