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An Israeli government initiative to help vaccinate Holocaust survivors worldwide against COVID-19 is drawing praise for its intentions but also skepticism.

The initiative, announced by Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich on January 12, seeks to vaccinate the estimated 200,000 Holocaust survivors who live outside of Israel. The vast majority of survivors are in their 80s and 90s—the age group most at risk for COVID-19 complications and death. 

On January 14, Patrick O’Neill reported to the Federal Cor­rectional Institution near Elkton, Ohio, to serve a 14-month sentence for breaking into a nuclear submarine base as part of a symbolic nuclear disarmament action he took with six other Catholic pacifists more than two years ago.

On his way to prison, O’Neill took up a new cause: protecting inmates from COVID-19.

Los Angeles activists held car caravans in late December to block evangelical recording artist Sean Feucht from holding outreach events in two homeless communities in LA, including the large one in the 54-block area known as Skid Row.

Stephen “Cue” Jn’Marie, who founded the Row Church, also known as the Church Without Walls, in Skid Row, and Pete White, founder of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, were among the organizers taking part in the blockade.

In 2020, we celebrated holidays at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We worked at home, attended school at home, even attended worship services at home.

Many Christians also turned to hymns for comfort at home, according to Hymnary.org. Users of the online database doubled as the coronavirus closed many church buildings this spring.

The ancient wisdom text urges us to find joy in the limits of the present moment.