Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
Recently, after a few incidents of anti-Semitic attacks, I came to a local shul (synagogue) during the day, only to find it locked. This was obviously done as an extra security precaution in light of those recent events. Were they doing the right thing, or should they be trusting that Hashem (God) will watch over us? How much hishtadlus (practical effort) should one do to keep safe?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
Conflicting Beliefs?
The most important part of making this decision is to remember that Hashem alone decides if someone will live or die. Every year on Rosh Hashanah, He decrees who will live another year and who will not, and no security measures taken to protect oneself during the year can change that decree. However, at the same time, the Torah teaches us that we are not allowed to do things that are dangerous or risky. As the Mesillat Yesharim explains, behaving recklessly is itself a reason for a person to be punished. This obligates us to follow the Torah’s guidelines for not attempting dangerous actions or taking unreasonable risks.
Let’s take an example of someone who wants to cross a four-lane avenue, with a continual flow of traffic. When there is a lull in traffic, most people will consider it safe to cross. However, an element of danger still remains, and there are stories of people being hit by a car while crossing the street; therefore, the overly cautious will still be wary of crossing. Which school of thought is correct?
A Balancing Act
The Talmud (Shabbos 129b) provides the general rule for such situations: if everyone is assuming a certain degree of risk then you can too. As long as there is no substantial danger involved, you are allowed to go about your business and have faith that Hashem will protect you. Since it is considered an accepted practice to cross the street when there are no cars coming, even though an element of danger remains you can also cross.
This doesn’t mean that following this formula guarantees nothing will ever happen. Accidents do at times occur, but we can’t stop living because of them. Hashem wants us to live, and life must go on. If people would try to avoid every risk, the world would stop in its tracks. We have to realize that even if occasionally people may get hurt in any situation, generally people will not. It’s up to Hashem to decree who will live.
The Case of a Synagogue
Applying this to your situation, we see that despite the recent attacks, the shuls continue to be filled with people, and most people are not concerned, which means that going to shul is considered normal and reasonable. Therefore, a person is allowed to continue business as usual, and a shul can trust in Hashem, with no need to institute excessive safety measures.
The Balance as Parents
This is also a good general rule to live by. As parents, we have to let our children grow up and take some risks. For instance, we have to let them learn to drive, even though that means they will be driving while still fairly inexperienced. However, if the roads are icy and the risk of driving is increased, one should not allow an inexperienced driver on the road. Young children must be allowed to climb and jump in the playground even though they occasionally fall, and older children should play sports despite the dangers involved. These things are all within the realm of what is considered normal for people to do, and being overly cautious in these areas is not what the Torah wants.
In short: As long as there is no substantial danger and everyone is attending the shuls, there is no need to implement extreme security measures. You can continue with business as usual, and put your faith in Hashem to protect you.
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