Rabbi freedman
March 20, 2020
Let's Respond Like Israelis to the Pandemic
One of the differences between Americans and Israelis is that Americans tend to say, "let me know if I can do anything for you," while Israelis just do it. This is a time to respond like our Israeli cousins would. We all know people who we suspect feel particularly challenged by the current circumstances under which all of us live. Know someone who lives alone? Assume they could use a call. Know someone with children at home? Set up a virtual playgroup or utilize sites that allow children in various locations to join in an activity online. Know a first responder or healthcare worker? Send them a note of appreciation and recognition that they have no choice to work safely from home. Know someone who works in a restaurant, a small business or other service industry hit by the economic downturn? Send them a note of encouragement and patronize their business online or buy a gift card for future use.
Let's be proactive in our approach to each other. The worst that can happen is that those who might need some additional love feel too much of it. Not a bad problem to have. Shabbat shalom.