Growing up with a father who was a survivor eventually affected my own understanding as to the concept “The future is our history.” This was taken from the title of a book I heard about last year. What this means is that life goes in cycles.

While we have never before been forced to think of the unthinkable, with Mother Nature protesting the abuse of its earth, we now have this as a constant threat. In addition, we have the threat of nuclear bombs or other forms of terror that countries have figured out.

Who would have thought it would be all at one time that mankind would be facing one calamity after another? This of course includes an increase of hatred of Jews.

Therefore, it is my great concern that mankind lives based on the concept “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This means that across the country it is crucial that all communities plan, decide and act to ensure their safety.

What does this mean? It means having an excellent security system in place in each synagogue and/or Jewish community center, as well as a “fall-out” that will have canned foods, medication, etc., should there be an urgent need to escape to a safer place than our homes.

May each of us be forced to embark in our own way, as a positive force, so that perhaps we can leave this world a little better than when we arrived.

“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”