Ask ChatGPT to summarize it.
I asked it to, here's what it gave me, no idea if it's accurate I just copy pasted the article in and asked it to summarize, and I then asked it to TL:DR:
ChatGPT TL:DR:
TL;DR: The article discusses how the Haredi community, specifically religious Jews, were unfairly scapegoated and targeted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public officials and media outlets portrayed them as law flouters and engaged in prejudice and bigotry. The author argues that a more tolerant and understanding approach could have provided valuable data on pandemic management. Different Haredi communities adopted various guidelines, but their nuanced responses were overlooked. By embracing diversity and learning from different communities, better policies could be developed for future crises.
Summary from ChatGPT:
The article titled "How Religious Jews Became Official Scapegoats of COVID Policy" by Moshe Krakowski, published on May 29, 2023, discusses the false narratives and prejudice surrounding the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jewish) community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author highlights the changing rhetoric of public officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who now distance themselves from their earlier support for harsh restrictions. Krakowski argues that policies such as lockdowns and school closures, which were advocated by these officials, did little to curb the spread of the virus but caused significant harm, including a deteriorating mental health crisis among adolescents.
The article points out how religious Jews, particularly the Haredi community, were unfairly targeted and vilified in public discourse. They were depicted as ignorant, clannish, and engaging in mob behavior. Public officials, such as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, made public condemnations specifically aimed at the Jewish community, while not applying the same scrutiny to other groups. Journalists and media outlets often failed to understand the decision-making processes within the Haredi community and instead resorted to labeling them as law flouters.
The author argues that there is a lack of clear and systematic data regarding how Haredim responded to COVID-19 and how the virus impacted their communities. Different Haredi communities adopted various guidelines and practices, some of which were developed in consultation with healthcare professionals. However, this nuanced approach was often overlooked or dismissed, and the Haredi community was stigmatized.
Krakowski suggests that a more tolerant and understanding approach towards different communities could have provided valuable data on effective pandemic management. Instead, the constant association of Haredim with disease fueled prejudice and bigotry, leading to anti-Haredi sentiments in the media and society at large.
The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of allowing different communities to find their own way in managing crises like a pandemic, as it provides an opportunity to learn from their experiences and determine effective strategies. By avoiding hasty generalizations and embracing tolerance, valuable data could have been gathered during the pandemic for better policy-making in the future.