As we try to resume a semblance of our day-to-day life, we are finding things that were never particularly exciting becoming the main features of our day. An example is the day that Nina jumped with joy at the arrival of a new mop. Such excitement. It is amazing what a purchase on Amazon for $9.99 can do to brighten one’s day.
Two days later we were reminded of what we still have to brighten our days, even in the midst of this crisis that we are all living through. We are not speaking of the chesed that we constantly see or the dedication of our children and grandchildren. Instead we were smiling with hope and optimism at the sight of so many young chayalim commemorating Yom Hazikaron at their tekes on their base in Tekoa in the Gush. We had the great zechut to watch the video of Moshe Davis, a young man from Edison, New Jersey, reciting the Kel Malei for the fallen soldiers of Israel. Moshe is a graduate of RPRY as well as TABC. From there he was off to Kerem B’Yavneh and aliyah. He is now in the hesder program. Upon seeing these soldiers gathered together in such a magnificent setting, it was impossible to feel anything but gratitude and positivity that these are the future leaders of our nation.
We looked at this as being a lesson in emunah and bitachon. We are living through times that none of us has ever experienced before. Many are suffering terrible financial losses and there is not one person in our communities who does not know of at least one family that has suffered the loss of family members. At the same time, we have to recall the nissim that are taking place each day. The fact that we have the State of Israel is a miracle. After all these years surrounded by nothing but hostility, and looking at the seats in the United Nations that would do anything to extinguish this bright country shining over the entire Middle East, Israel is still here and always will be.
Every day we are all using some sort of technology that we can attribute to the science and research that goes on constantly in Israel. We think that by now we might have driven into the ocean had it not been for Waze to guide us. It would not surprise us at all if Israel was the country whose scientists find the vaccine for COVID-19. Yet our enemies would do anything to have us disappear from the face of the earth.
Yes, we are living through what for many of us have been the worst days of our lives. Yet we should remember to look at the good fortune that we have, in that the State of Israel has assured each of us a safe haven for as long as we live. For this, we need to rejoice. We need to force ourselves to dance, party and be happy, celebrating the establishment of Medinat Yisrael.
Unfortunately, living on New Bridge Road, we cannot have each of our neighbors stand in front of their homes at a certain time dressed in blue and white, holding flags and singing Hatikvah together. We must try to put aside our feelings of fear and uncertainty and celebrate the miracle of the State of Israel.
There were times when Israelis could not go out of their homes for other reasons. Terrorists were threatening buses, stores and so many other things. It did not stop Israelis from maintaining their everyday lives to the best of their ability. They were proud to maintain their lifestyle as much as they could. So, too, should we realize that we will get through this time of our lives with more resolve than ever, and more pride in what we were able to accomplish by weathering the storm. As descendants of so many who lived through and perished during the Holocaust, we know that Hashem has given us the power and the strength to keep on going, and we shall.
Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick are living in Bergenfield after many years of service to the Montreal Jewish community. Rabbi Glick was the rav of Congregation Ahavat Yisroel as well as a practicing clinical psychologist in private practice. He also taught at Champlain Regional College. The Glicks were frequent speakers at the OU marriage retreats. Nina coordinated all Yachad activities in Montreal and was a co/founder of Maison Shalom, a group home for young adults with special needs. They can be reached at [email protected].
