14 March 21 • 2019 jn continued from page 12 jews d in the parents they can vaccinate their infants as early as 6 months but any baby receiving an early first dose must get the shots again at 12 months and at age 4. Concerned parents can give their child the second dose 28 days after the first shot. She doesn’ t recommend early doses unless a child has been exposed or potentially exposed. Immuno-compromised individuals also are unable to receive the vaccina- tion, according to Lauter. TAKING CAUTION “Being cautious is important, ” said Faber, who suggests unvaccinated chil- dren avoid public areas. “Otherwise, there is no reason to avoid going out. ” Still, the case has some individuals concerned. Ben Jacobovitz of Oak Park worries about his 8-month-old son being exposed if others in the commu- nity contract the disease. At press time, no secondary cases have been report- ed, the health department stated. “ All the festivities surrounding Purim (Thursday) such as the Megillah reading, seudahs (special Purim meals) and delivering of mishloach manot, seemed like a perfect place for this to spread, ” Jacobovitz said. “I hate having to worry about something I shouldn’ t have to worry about, but I am concerned the vaccination rate in our community may be less than optimal. ” He was deciding whether to vacci- nate his son before his first birthday; he plans to keep him home on Purim. Erin Stiebel was also erring on the side of caution last week when she sent her mother to One Stop — without her children — to buy treats for their mishloach manot. Others in the community are less concerned. A Yeshiva Gedolah rabbi, preferring anonymity, said school officials are not worried the infected individual visited the yeshivah because “we have a very strong vaccination pol- icy and everyone here — teachers and students — are vaccinated. ” A spokesperson from One Stop Kosher Market, also anonymous, said that since the grocery store was iden- tified as one of the places of potential exposure, there has not been a decrease in business. “People are asking questions, but we really don’ t know anything more than what everyone was told. We don’ t know who it was. We don’ t know what time he was here. We really don’ t have any more information. ” Unfortunately, cases of measles are not unknown to the Jewish commu- nity. In the fall, members of a local Orthodox family contracted the dis- ease. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, last year there were 17 measles outbreaks in the United States. Three of those outbreaks occurred in New York and New Jersey and contributed to the majority of the cases. “Cases in those states occurred pri- marily among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. These outbreaks were associated with trav- elers who brought measles back from Israel, where a large outbreak is occur- ring, ” the CDC website reported. This year, from Jan. 1, 2019, through March 7, 2019, there were 228 con- firmed cases of measles in 12 states. Between March 2018 and January 2019, more than 3,400 people living in Israel were infected with the dis- ease, according to the State of Israel Ministry of Health website. In November, Erin Stiebel, also an educator at Partners Detroit, canceled a Partners’ Israel trip designed exclu- sively for young Jewish couples and their babies under age 1. Six families were scheduled to par- ticipate in the 10-day trip when the number of reported measles cases became highly concerning. After mon- itoring the situation closely and con- sulting with various medical experts, they decided to cancel the trip a few days before their departure date. “The risk was just too high for what we felt was a luxury trip to Israel, ” Stiebel said. Whenever there is word that the Orthodox community is impacted by a case of the measles, there are those who feel it puts the community in an unnecessarily negative light. “This community is very health aware and as likely as any other popu- lation to vaccinate. From this particu- lar story, I think we can see a beautiful part of our community and how we open our doors to complete strangers and help with donations, ” said Rabbi Simcha Tolwin, executive director of Aish HaTorah Detroit. ■ Ben Jacobovitz Ta k á c s Qua r t e t An t hon y Mc Gill, c la r in e t Joined by New Y or k Philha r monic pr inc ipa l c la r inet is t Ant hon y Mc Gill, t he Ta k á c s Qua r t et “ r e v ea l[s ] t he fa milia r a s unfa milia r , ma k ing t he mos t t r a dit iona l of wor k s feel r a dic a l onc e mor e .” (Ne w Y o r k T ime s ) Ex c lus iv e Pr es ent ing Spons or : Il ene H. For s yt h Cha mber Ar t s Endowment Fund Media Pa r t ner s : WRCJ 90. 9 FM a nd WGTE 91 . 3 FM PROGRAM Ha y dn St r ing Qua r t et in G Ma jor , Op. 76, No. 1 Shos t a k ov ic h St r ing Qua r t et No. 4 in D Ma jor , Op. 83 Br a hms Cla r inet Quint et in b minor , Op. 115 7 34 . 7 6 4 . 2 5 38 — — — U M S. O R G Sunda y , Apr il 7 // 4 pm Ra c k ha m Audit or ium Seder led by Rabbi Steven Rubenstein. Special activities for the kids. 1st Night Seder Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. Experience the freedom of Passover and enjoy a delicious meal without the cooking and cleanup. Dietary laws observed. Register online at www.cbahm.org or by calling 248-851-6880. Registration is required by April 10. $50 per adult, $30 per child ages 4-12, children 3 and under are free. Register before April 1 and save $5 per person. Congregation Beth Ahm Big enough to enrich you. Small enough to know you. www.cbahm.org co-sponsored by: Small Shul Big Seder