By: Anat Woloski
In the last year we have witnessed different social crises and situations that make us question the meaning of our lives and the way we live. The 7 October terrorist attack in Israel shook our entire society as we know it, not only in Israel but in the rest of the world. Anti-Semitism grew exponentially detonating many questions, fears, and confusion in the face of such a distant response from the non-Jewish world.
According to Prof. Uriya Shavit, director of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary European Judaism and the Irwin Cotler Institute, ‘this year is not 1938, nor is it 1933. However, if current trends continue, the curtain will come down on the ability to live a Jewish life in the West – to wear a Star of David, attend synagogues and community centres, send children to Jewish schools, attend a Jewish club on campus or speak Hebrew.
In the face of this challenge, the crisis directly affects our mental and emotional health as we lose the feeling of ‘security’ and freedom to live as Jews. Understanding that there are things beyond our control is key to finding calm, questioning what choices we can make on a daily basis to find meaning as educators is the main challenge.
The first step is to choose to take care of our mental health, finding moments to connect with our self through meditation, exercise, eating better or talking to someone about our worries will help us find a reason to be better so we can start helping others.
The second step is to open our minds and think outside the box. In these times of crisis, leaders wake up and start working on ideas and initiatives that transmit light through innovations, with projects to make hasbara, with messages of unity and hope. Their power to choose how to react to the crisis has made them stand out, transforming reality for the better.
As educators, we can choose how we want to behave to continue educating and transmitting the values that characterize us, so I invite you to think:
– How can I continue to transmit values? What are the main challenges?
– How can I live my Judaism, how do I transmit and live the traditions?
– What is the relevance of Israel today and how can I connect with my roots?
– What actions can I take in my country to ensure the continuity of my community?
The third step is to trust in the power we have.
It seems to me that every small action we choose to take, from calling the chanichim to see how they are doing, to preparing and attending a peula, to running a digital campaign, to sharing content on our social media, to volunteering, has a huge impact. Improving someone’s day with a smile or a project that actively benefits our community is certainly what we need most today.
I firmly believe that we have great power in our hands, education and combating misinformation is our biggest challenge. Understanding that we cannot stop the crisis as such, as it is out of our control, forces us to think differently, but history is full of success stories where people like you and me have been able to change the course of history.
I invite you to dare to choose differently, taking care of your mental health and finding the strength to be a leader at this time when the history and future of the continuity of the Jewish community in your country and the world is being written.
Every small action adds up. Together, we are stronger.
