He wanted to leave in order to attract attention

Rav Gershon Edelstein hasn’t left home much in recent months, delivering shiur and shmuessen by video and receiving visitors at home, from behind a glass shield. But last week, the aged Ponevezher rosh yeshivah insisted on leaving — to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Although doctors and health officials assured him that they would be happy to administer the injection in his home, Rav Gershon refused: He wanted to leave in order to attract attention, so that as many people as possible would find out that he took the vaccine, and follow suit.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 842)