09 Jan GOING ON VACATION DURING CHALLENGING TIMES: NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND COMMUNAL RESPONSIBILITIES

During the winter
break season,
many families
choose to go
on vacations to
rejuvenate after
a year of stress.
While it is undoubtedly a joyous time
that should be enjoyed, the question
arises: is it permitted to go on vacation
at a time when our brothers and sisters
in Israel are at war, many are still in
captivity, and all Jews face serious
threats from anti-Semitic propaganda
and attacks?
The Gemara states (א,יא תענית(:” When
the Jewish people are immersed in
distress, and an individual separates
himself from the community, refusing
to share in their suffering, the two
angels accompanying him place their
hands on his head, treating him as if
he were an offering, and declare: ‘This
man who has distanced himself from
the community, let him not witness the
consolation of the community.’”

The Gemara continues: “When the
community is engulfed in suffering,
an individual may not say, ‘I will go to
my home, eat and drink, and may peace
be upon my soul.’ If one does so, the
pasuk (22:13 ישעיה(:’ And behold joy
and gladness, slaying beef and killing
sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine;
let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we
shall die.’ applies to him. The prophecy
continues with the consequence in the
next pasuk: ‘Surely this iniquity shall
not be atoned by you until you die’
“.(ישעיה 22:14)
Then the Beraita emphasizes that
instead, a person should share in the
distress of the community, exemplified
by Moshe Rabenu during the war with
Amalek, as described )in 17:12 שמות):
“But Moshe’s hands were heavy; and
they took a stone, and put it under
him, and he sat upon it.” The Beraita
explains that Moshe, despite having
a pillow or cushion, chose to sit on a
rock, expressing his solidarity with the
suffering Jewish people. The Baraita
concludes: “Anyone who is distressed

together with the
community will merit
seeing the consolation
of the community.”
In Pirkei Avot (פרק
:learn we ,)ב משנה ד
Hillel said, “Do not
separate yourself
from the community,”
emphasizing the
importance of joining
the community in times
פירוש רבי) suffering of
.(עובדיה מברטנורא
(סימן תקעד ס״ה) Aruch Shulchan The
also underscores this principle, stating
the same. However, commentaries on
משנה ברורה ס״ק יג,) Aruch Shulchan the
this interpret to appear) כף החיים ס״ק טז
differently, suggesting that a person
must join the community specifically
in activities that benefit the community,
such as prayer, fasting, or charitable
giving, while otherwise, there may not
be an obligation to do so.
However, because refraining from

joyous activities during this time is not
a prohibition but rather a recommended
conduct, if an individual feels a
significant need to temporarily leave the
stress of the city for a few days for the
sake of mental health, it is permissible.
Summary: While it’s not forbidden to
go on vacation, it is advisable to refrain
from joyous activities during this time
and instead empathize with the pain of
Klal Israel. However, if an individual
is genuinely stressed and in need of
distressing, going on a vacation for
that purpose is fine as this is not a strict
prohibition.