Q&A: Religious people do not get sick less
Religious people do not get sick less
Question
The Rabbi brought the example in the title as proof that there is no divine involvement. That’s surprising! On the contrary, specifically on this issue the data show otherwise—
the data show that there is a linear relationship between socio-economic level and life expectancy in cities in Israel. There are exactly 3 clear exceptions to this: Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and Beit Shemesh, where people live much longer relative to their socio-economic status. (See Wikipedia on life expectancy in Israel.)
And there are also a number of studies showing that Haredim are healthier.
Answer
I don’t remember bringing that up. There are, of course, good explanations for it that have nothing to do with divine involvement. But I don’t remember presenting it as proof that there is no involvement.
Discussion on Answer
Shlomo, according to your approach, it comes out that Religious Zionists are less righteous in the eyes of the Holy One, blessed be He.
That Guy — that’s obvious! If someone cuts corners, the Holy One, blessed be He, cuts corners with him.
And what about the disasters that strike the Haredi sector far more than their share of the population? Many times precisely because of Sabbath observance.
And in general, in most of the calamities that came upon the Jewish people, the Haredim suffered much more. From the Holocaust, communism, and the pogroms, they were saved far less relative to their share of the population.
Of course, one can find an explanation in the style of “all Israel are responsible for one another” or “the Holy One, blessed be He, is exacting with the righteous,” but then you’re shooting yourself in the foot with the argument that they get sick less.
There are also illnesses that are more common among Haredim, especially among women. And in general, the highest life expectancy in the world is דווקא among relatively devout Christians, such as in Sardinia and on some Greek islands, or in atheist/idol-worshipping Okinawa.