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In Jewish law, religious freedom in a global pandemic is the freedom from any other relevant obligation if a life would be risked in its fulfillment. In fact, protecting the lives of the living becomes the obligation. What the Supreme Court is protecting is not religious freedom.
The source for this principle is Leviticus 18:5: וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י ה׳׃
You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live: I am the LORD.
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You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live: I am the LORD.
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The rabbinic interpretation of the verse, found in the Talmud is “that you shall live by them,” and not die by them.
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The Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Yoma 85b) states that one must even desecrate the holy Sabbath of it means that one will be able to sanctify many more as a result. https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma_85b.3 3/5
For a good introduction to this concept of when the law is superceded to preserve life—referred to as Pikuach Nefesh, laws for when a life is at risk—see this introductory article from @jewlearn https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/saving-a-life-pikuach-nefesh
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Or this article from Contemporary Halakhic Problems, by Rabbi J. David Bleich https://www.sefaria.org/Contemporary_Halakhic_Problems,_Vol_I,_Part_I,_CHAPTER_VI_Medical_Questions_and_Shabbat.1 5/5
