14 March 21 • 2019
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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

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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

