Appreciating Every Moment with Your loved Ones

My heart and my mind have been focused on the tragedy in Surfside.  The human tragedy, the loss of life, and then it hits close to home with many of our own Jewish brothers and sisters trapped and lost in this collapse.  And then one step closer as an uncle and aunt of a close family relative are victims of this horrific disaster.

I’ve been reading a book called Getting Real a focus on truth skills to live more authentically. In the spirit of getting real with my feelings I want to share the following.

Some of our community find it uncomfortable that we are singling out our Jewish loss when there is a loss of life of others.

While I agree that there is a human tragedy here, and I grieve for the loss of life, it is also acceptable to recognize that it hurts deeper when my own brothers and sisters are hurting.  I need not have any shame around that.  I’m proud that I feel so connected to my brothers and sisters whom I’ve never met and I recognize the truths of Am Yisrael in doing so.

I am also reminded again that there are no inherent distinctions between my brothers and sisters.  It is no less a tragedy that some are of other ethnic backgrounds or that many may not be of any observance or of minimal observance, we are still one family – Am Yisrael.

Finally, in extending our thoughts to our family relative as he waits for news of his loved ones, he said; “one lesson I’m taking is that you never know when your last day might be, so appreciate every moment, enjoy every moment with you family and have fun (we’re on a family trip)”.

I’m taken by his presence of mind and openness of heart to share that perspective and to be willing to give this guidance despite what must be a profound pain of loss.

We are in the period of weeks known as the Three Weeks in which we commemorate the destruction of the Temples – the Bait Hamikdash, on account of (at least one of the reasons) senseless hatred among the Jewish People.

To correct this, we focus on unity and connection.  The connection itself is the healing and it leads to the change that we hope for. 

Let’s all pray for all the victims by strengthening our connection to each other with hopes for good news and a time of peace and healing for all.

Have a Good Shabbos!

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