The philosophy of rejecting immunizations has landed New York City and Rockland County in emergency response mode after a measles outbreak. Many of the cases originated in heavily Orthodox Jewish communities.
However, Derech Hatorah Elementary School principal Lea Goldstein does not see it as a religious issue.
Derech Hatorah in Greece is one of four schools in the Rochester area serving Orthodox Jewish families, giving Goldstein a unique perspective on one of New York's great public health questions of the week.
Unlike her colleagues who run similar schools downstate and deal with families seeking religious exemptions, Goldstein has taken a direct and simple response.
"People say, 'Oh, it's religious, but it's not,'" she said.
Nearly 120 children attend the school on Maiden Lane and all of them are vaccinated.
Goldstein says a family who wanted to send their child to school without the vaccine was denied them after school officials consulted with the Monroe County Health Department.
"We told that family, ‘You know, we're sorry. We need to exclude your children from school until your children have immunizations because we have pregnant women, babies, a lot of siblings,’" Goldstein said. "It's dangerous. It's unsafe. We're just not prepared to endanger everybody else because the family has a philosophy."
New York City's mayor has demanded all students have measles shots before they're admitted to schools. Families face $1,000 fines if they don't comply.
Goldstein also wants the public to know it is not part of Orthodox Jewish faith to reject health treatments like immunizations.
"We're told clearly in our Torah, we are told to guard our body and our soul, and do whatever is possible to maintain your health," said Goldstein. "The bottom line is it's not a religious issue."