Figures released Jan. 11 by the Ultra-Orthodox Bureau of the Ministry of Health indicated that within just one week, there has been an impressive 44 percent increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox children vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The increase is surprising, especially given the lack of enthusiasm for the vaccination of children among most sectors of the population. There was a rise of just 21 percent last week in the number of children vaccinated in the Arab sector. Yet this surpassed the rise in the general population too, which amounted to only an 18 percent increase. Considering the confusion in the Health Ministry, and with Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton making no effort to hide her opposition to the vaccination policy, many parents have avoided vaccinating their children.

But the reason for the sharp rise in the ultra-Orthodox sector is clear. Statements by rabbis and Hasidic rebbes have a profound impact on their followers. In this case, the effort was speared headed by the nonagenarian leader of the non-Hasidic Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox sector, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky.

“Our community was waiting to hear from our sages, and these rabbis are very much involved,” explained Efraim Rosenstein, who is responsible for the ultra-Orthodox sector at the Leumit Health Insurance provider. “In the last week, Rabbi Kanievsky summoned the leader of the institutions to his home and said to them, ‘Include in the schools’ schedule.’ Our community needs nothing more after an explicit order like that.”