Several weeks ago we agonized over the totally devastating shooting that took place in a supermarket in Boulder, Colo., in which 10 innocent victims were shot down. The crime of the victims was perhaps going to buy a container of milk at the wrong time, shopping for a family’s weekly supply of items—all random acts that we take for granted. Ten people! It could have been any of us as we walked into any supermarket in our neighborhood.
Just two nights ago we learned of another atrocity. A former FedEx worker reappeared at the warehouse where he used to be employed and randomly killed eight people. Four inside the building and four in the parking lot leading into the building. Another act of violence caused by an individual who somehow was legally able to purchase two semi-automatic rifles. Most of us go to work each day generally being unaware of the mental health history of any of our fellow workers. In this case the deceased shooter’s mother had contacted the police last year distressed that she felt her son was planning to perform “suicide by cop.” Did FedEx even have this information at their disposal?
This past weekend police identified the victim of a hit-and-run in Boca Raton as a longtime federal judge in the Eastern District of New York, Sandra J Feuerstein. A 6-year-old boy was seriously injured in this event. They were hit by the driver’s car while walking on the sidewalk. When the 23-year-old driver crashed her car several miles from the scene of the accident she was apprehended and claimed to be Harry Potter.
More and more of these tragedies seem to be occurring each day. For the first time in my life I walked into a store and looked around to see where the “not evident” exits would be.
As I am writing this another active shooting is taking place in Austin, Texas. Something is really wrong with the world today, and particularly in this country, where buying firearms seems to be easier than getting the vaccine to those direly in need of it.
None of us have a clue when we wake up in the morning what will occur during the day ahead of us. We think that the rituals that we are accustomed to will just continue on each day with slight variations. Never can any of us ever imagine that we might face a shooter the next time we go into ShopRite. Nor do we think that while we are crossing the walk at the corner of Queen Anne and Ayers Court that a car will go straight through the pedestrian crosswalk without stopping.and knock us down.
The more that I think of all of these atrocities and unavoidable tragedies I realize once again the need to recognize and realize each day those who we are surrounded by on a regular basis and to attempt to make each day our very best. The importance of never going to bed angry at anyone should apply not only to our partners but to relatives and friends as well. What if we were never to see them again? I cannot imagine the amount of guilt that one would feel. The endless number of hours that people waste feeling jealous of another person. They have this; they are going there; look at their car or their wardrobes, etc. The waste of time spent on being insulted by little things. She didn’t invite me; they excluded our son from the Shabbat activity; my mother-in-law shows favor to my sister-in-law. The lists can go on and on, and then…poof…all of those feelings can be shattered by one little phone call. A tragedy has occurred, a sudden illness overcomes a family, or, God forbid, one of the above mentioned modern day occurrences that are more likely today than ever before.
Don’t be a victim. We must instill in ourselves the realization of how much we have to be grateful for each day and pass it on to our children no matter the situation. We are living for today and it is our responsibility to make the very best of each moment. As they say, do not allow yourself to “sweat the small stuff.”
P.S.: We know these atrocities I spoke of can happen to any of us but today (Tuesday, April 20) I felt that I came just a drop too close to the possibility. As I heard the news this morning that the Stop and Shop in West Hempstead was the scene of a random shooting and at least one was killed, my heart stopped. My brother and his family have lived in West Hempstead for many years. I immediately called him and cried when I heard his voice. He then told me that he and his wife had been in exactly that store one hour before the shooting.
Nina Glick lives in Bergenfield with her husband, Rabbi Mordechai Glick, after many years of service to the Montreal Jewish community. Nina coordinated all Yachad activities in Montreal and was a co/founder of Maison Shalom, a group home for special needs young adults. She can be reached at [email protected].
