Dear Anti Vaxxers,
I have been thinking about this letter for a very long time, and I feel it is time to put my thoughts on paper. If I am able to change just one anti-vaxxer’s mind, it will have been more than worth the time and effort it took to compose this letter.
All you anti-vaxxers were fortunate enough to grow up and enjoy a normal childhood, which included school, a social life, and play dates. Your children, however, are not welcome in school; by keeping them unvaccinated, you are effectively robbing them of their childhood. They don’t get up to go to school. Their days have no plan or direction. They don’t interact with children. They have nothing.
How can you as a parent live with yourself knowing you are robbing your children of their childhood, which will in turn into robbing them of a life? When, and if, your children survive what you have imposed on them, shidduchim will start. You will need to write a resume but won’t be able to list schools on it or classmates as references. Who will pick up this resume?
We all know how difficult shidduchim are. Why would you want to give your children such a resume? They will resent you and, chas v’shalom, harbor bad thoughts about you. They will never understand your behavior as love because it is not.
I am not sure your fears about vaccines are warranted, but let’s assume they are. For a .01 percent chance of some type of side effect from a vaccine, you are willing to sacrifice you children’s well-being?
Some of you claim to be acting out of religious conviction. But whom are you kidding? Our whole mesorah is based on emunah and bitachon. Are you saying that if you don’t vaccinate your children, G-d won’t be able to harm them if they are supposed to be harmed? Think rationally. We are all born with a plan that Hashem designed for us. Emunah and bitachon means you believe in G-d’s plan.
Not vaccinating is not about religion. I am afraid to say, but I believe it’s the exact opposite. It’s kefirah. It’s being stubborn and foolish at your children’s expense.
My grandchildren go to school with you grandchildren. I always encourage my grandchildren to call yours. “Why?” you ask. I want them to throw your grandchildren a bone of friendship. They sit alone at home all day not socializing with kids their own age. Day in and day out.
The excitement when they receive a call is heartbreaking. They just want to be like everyone else. “Tell me what happened in school today and tell me…” The questions are non-stop. They never want to get off the phone.
Have pity on your children. Stop robbing them of the childhood that everyone deserves. You had it; let them, too. Don’t be so cruel. Love your children. Give them their lives back while you still can. Open your hearts and minds. Show that you are truly religious – that you are a maamin and realize G-d runs the world. Show true love to your children. Stop this vicious cycle of the blind leading the blind.
I beg you: Get your kids vaccinated before the school year begins. Let them rejoin society. Have pity. Let them be normal once again.
Hashem should give you the strength and courage to do what is truly in your children’s best interest. Give them back their childhood before its too late, You will never regret it.