NEWS
Thoughts about the Coronavirus — a Mosquito Preceded You
by Rabbi Gershon Twersky
The Coronavirus is spreading in China and elsewhere and it has already killed hundreds. The whole world is in fear and lockdown, hoping to stop the spread of the plague. The effects are spreading from people to financial markets and to factories throughout the world.
This situation, where an anonymous virus just pops up out of nowhere and presents an unanswered threat to all of humanity, shows modern man in his correct proportions. Sometimes the impressive achievements of modern technology seem to have made man all powerful and fully in control, from the depths of the oceans to the skies above. There seems to be no limit. When suddenly a microscopic creature that we cannot even see can stand the entire world on its head and attack at will.
Chazal ask why Odom Horishon was created last in the Six Days of Creation. "If he merits they will say you preceded the Angels. If not they will say the mosquito was ahead of you." But how did he precede the Angels?
HaRav Boruch Povarsky shlita says that Chazal say, Ruach Elokim merachefes al pnei hamayim — this is the spirit of Odom Horishon. So the spirit and soul of man was created on the first day, before the Angels who were created on the second day. But Odom's body was created on the sixth day, after all the other creatures. So therefore, if a man lives a life of spirituality, then he harks back to the creation of the first day, preceding the Angels. But if his body dominates, then his roots are late in the sixth day, after all the insects: A mosquito preceded him.
Chazal say that Roman emperor Titus was so drunk with confidence that he challenged heaven to come and fight him. A Bas Kol said, Rosho the son of a rosho. I have an inconsequential creature that I can send to defeat you. A mosquito entered his head and ate away for seven years until he died. The Torah Temimah says that the mosquito was called upon to verify that other medrash, since it preceded the creation of such an odom.
The Chofetz Chaim once said that if a king of flesh and blood wants to imprison someone, he has to build a mighty fortress and surround it with walls and watchmen, day and night.
But when the King of Kings wishes to confine someone, R"l, he just sends a microscopic germ that causes the person to lie immobile.
The dread coronavirus reminds of the Tituses of the modern world that for all their achievements, there is an inconsequential creature named coronavirus that does the bidding of the Creator of the World.
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