OFF LIMITS: Israeli Doctors Declare No Mezzuza Kissing as Swine Flu Hits Country Hard

Israel is in the midst of Swine Flu — er, make it “Mexican Flu” — panic as the country continues to tally new deaths everyday from H1N1.

Indeed, in recent weeks seven Israelis have been killed by the virus — with the number of infected rising daily.

Now rabbinical and medical authorities Israel-wide are coming together to prevent further infections — and have declared that kissing mezzuzot (those parchment-filled door prayers kissed by the faithful) is a no-go.

Indeed, a panel of seven doctors made it clear that kisses can leave high levels of H1N1 residue on exposed surfaces — levels potent enough to cause H1N1 infections.

While fears of stoking the wrath of Israel’s powerful Orthodox community kept most of the doctors from specifically singling out mezzuzot, Dr. Ilan Youngster of Assaf Harofeh Hospital near Tel Aviv advised folks to stop kissing the ubiquitous door-front symbols in order to reduce their H1N1 risk.

Luckily, Israel’s all-knowing Rabbinic authorities quickly weighed in with advice for their kiss-nervous followers.

Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar noted if doctors say no mezzuzah-kissing, then no-mezzuzah kissing.

But in order to “ensure the custom is not forgotten”, he added — air-kissing is required instead,

Tres chic!