Ron GoldPlaces of worship are not immune from swine flu panic. Good luck getting so much as a taste of the blood of Christ in some churches:
When worshippers clasp hands to “pass the peace” or share the communion cup and offering plates, religious leaders around the country want to be sure they don’t also pass on swine flu.
Catholic churches in many dioceses with confirmed cases of the flu will not offer communion wine, and parishioners have been urged to bow or nod instead of offering a handshake.
Imams have been told the Friday communal prayer can be canceled and done privately. One rabbi is making hand sanitizer available to stave off germs that could be passed when the Torah is touched as it is carried throughout the synagogue.
Fearing your imminent death from this week’s trendy flu is no way to go through life. At least one holy man feels the same way:
Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz of The Chai Center in the Boston suburb of Brookline said he didn’t want to overreact.
“Unfortunately, more people will probably die this weekend in car accidents of drunk drivers than of swine flu,” Schwartz said. “The job is to create calm, not to create fear.”
