When a physician working for biopharmaceutical company Moderna pushed a shot into the arm of Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld this past July as part of the company\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine trial, the Orthodox Jewish leader offered up a blessing of gratitude.<\/p>\n
Then he posted a video of the moment on TikTok.<\/p>\n
\u201cI say a blessing to God for this moment \u2014 for taking a shot that can help save people\u2019s lives,\u201d Herzfeld says in the video<\/a>, which has been viewed nearly 390,000 times on the viral video website.<\/p>\n Speaking to Religion News Service this week, the leader of Washington\u2019s Ohev Sholom synagogue said participating in the trial in such a public way made him proud of his faith. He also hoped the moment, which was captured in a widely distributed photograph<\/a> by the Washington Post, modeled a science-forward vision of Judaism and showcased how religious belief and science are not incongruous.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the most important sermon I\u2019ve ever given \u2014 by far,\u201d said Herzfeld.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n A growing number of faith leaders and religious groups are promoting the use of #vaccines<\/a> or offering up their facilities to assist with the daunting task of distributing the drugs to hundreds of millions of Americans. https:\/\/t.co\/cioHHemUPZ<\/a><\/p>\n — Religion News Service (@RNS) December 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n