It’s hard to believe that five months have already passed since the start of the awful Coronavirus pandemic. The unique way in which the passing of time is experienced under Covid, is just one more chapter that can be written into a book called: “The New Normal”.
As we approach the High Holidays, there is still no end in sight. Esty and I send our prayers to all those who lost loved ones and to anyone suffering from the virus. May G-d bring healing and comfort to you and your family.
Regardless of how you will be experiencing the High Holidays this year, here are 3 ideas that you can keep in your mind and heart as you prepare to usher in the Jewish New Year:
1. Now that many details of life have come to an abrupt halt, you are free to focus on what matters most. Your priorities, morals, goals and relationships. This whole Corona thing is actually a great ‘rebooting cleanse’ for your soul, which is the essence of the Jewish New Year. Think about it: Clearly, you are not in control. You are in G-d’s hands. So instead of panic and despair try to tap into your own deep reservoirs of faith and prayer. Yes, houses of worship may be closed this year, but you can turn your own home into a mini-sanctuary for prayer and connection.
2. The craziest thing about the Coronavirus is that you can be spreading it without even knowing it. This is a great reminder of the tremendously positive impact you can be having on the people around you, in your community. Even a small gesture of kindness, a good morning, a smile, a wave, a phone call or a text, can potentially be wildly contagious, without you even realizing it. This New Year, be a carrier of kindness.
3. This virus is having such a life altering effect on literally billions of people around the world. But here’s the thing: it began with just one person. If we flip this idea over to the positive, it really is no longer just a slogan or a soundbite, but a truth of epic proportions: “Indeed, even just one person taking one positive action can change the entire world for good.”
Also, that one person can potentially be you.
L’Shana Tova!
Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky