This is an impossibly sad, frightening and terrifying time for countless millions, in fact billions of people around the entire planet. There will hopefully be hidden blessings and gifts that many of us will come to discern from this time. But the pain and the cost now and for the foreseeable future are very great. May all of our collective efforts lead to the best possible outcome and the fewest possible deaths. May we honor and support all of the health care workers and emergency relief workers who are on the front lines of this battle, and who are putting their own lives in real jeopardy as they serve the afflicted.
At this time, I want to acknowledge the fear and anxiety that so many of us are doing our best to manage – and often failing to manage. I want to acknowledge the economic costs and hardship that lie ahead for so many of us as a result of the global economic shutdown. I want to acknowledge the loneliness and isolation that are baked into the current crisis. I want to acknowledge the grief and loss many of us are experiencing as our plans for our lives are disrupted and dashed, as colleges and businesses close, as weddings and b’nai mitzvah celebrations are postponed, as we cannot visit and comfort our beloved elders who are in nursing homes…the list of losses is endless.
At this time, I want to say that my heart is with you. My heart is with you.
Even though we must be physically isolated, we do not need to be alone. I have been blown away by the number of people reaching out and offering themselves to one another. Community organizing has been moving rapidly on every level in our area. Our WJC Chesed Circle volunteers will be calling all of our members in the coming week to connect and to find out how the WJC can support you during this time. Maybe all of our reaching out right now is a not-so-hidden blessing and gift of this moment, in plain sight. May it continue.
I look forward to writing, emailing, phone-calling, video-chatting, and virtually praying, singing, and learning with you,