As our communities came out of Covid, face a Climate Crisis - and is now in an existential war in the Middle East — which has resulted in division and demonstrations around the world - for all sides - it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.
People are reeling from losses - of loved ones, incomes, support, peace and freedom
Edith Eger who wrote her holocaust memoir “The Choice” in 2017, shared how we always have the choice of what we put into our minds - and hope - even though this is so very hard to do when we are in the grip of despair.
These were the final wise words from her mother who was murdered at Auschwitz.
Many people need financial and emotional support with burial services teams working around the clock. Families are separated from their loved ones in their final hours.
But disaster brings out the best in people - tremendous kindness, generosity and compassion in abundance .
Disaster brings out very best of humanity and that’s what fills me with gratitude and hope.
We cannot choose our environment and the dangers of Covid, Climate Change or War or external challenges that we may have
We can choose how we focus our thoughts, and through which lens we view our world.
So, when we struggle with despair or helplessness - and we will, time and again, we need to go back to the choice we have -
The Choice to hope and be optimistic about the future
Hope gives your heart courage and strength to do the right thing no matter how afraid and vulnerable you feel. (Psalms 27:14).
Hope is that this too shall pass, that when working together we can rise to what life is demanding of us, and that we have the power to see the good and feel the gratitude.
“Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except our belief in Heaven.” We are not in control…truthfully, we never were, but we do have one choice and that is to choose hope.
Our choice is to hope that G-d will help us, do everything we can to strengthen ourselves and remember that the outcome is in His hands.
Wishing us all a Shana Tova Umetukah - and have the courage and faith to choose to keep on hoping
A prayer for the New Year - Peace and blessings for all