In the past week I have had to deal with the coronavirus. Where did I get it from? No idea. And it can happen to you. I felt aches and a very minor cold, and as such I immediately got tested. Once I tested positive I immediately contacted the schools and shul that I attend regularly so that protocols could be put into place. I contacted the families with whom we had a Shabbos afternoon socially distant play date. As a result, the only ones affected were me and my immediate family, all of whom have been vigilant on social distancing protocols. My school and the schools of the other impacted children were exemplary.

My family and the other affected families were forthcoming with the truth about how these events transpired. However, making judgments and accusations that are not factual is dangerous and will result in others not stepping forward with honesty and transparency, for fear of ridicule. There are children involved and this is the time of healing, not an opportunity to lay blame on the innocent. This will happen again in our community, and I hope individuals will be brave and step forward, regardless.

I have been fighting a deadly virus and so have my wife and children. I, however, am pale white, not from the illness but from all the lashon hara this is causing. I ask everyone to be very respectful of others’ privacy to heal and not make everything an example.

I want to publicly thank the yeshivas directly involved. Their handling of the situation has been exemplary and we can all learn from their humility and tzniut for moving forward, as this will happen again.