Imagine if a giant flood covered the world tomorrow, and all that was left was a mere few of us. If you were one of the few who made it onto the boat, how would you rebuild our world? What values would you choose to pass on to our children and what changes to humanity would you implement as we hit the reset button for our world?
This week’s torah portion is Noach, and while I usually think of the concept of resetting our world as a mere hypothetical, I can’t help but think that if given the choice today, many of us might have a hard time turning down that option.
As someone who strives to always see the light and positivity in the world, I’ll admit that this past week was hard. It was hard for all of us. In times of pain and hurt, we often tend to look for answers for why these things are happening to us. As much as I wanted to have the answers, I simply couldn’t find them.
At the end of the flood in Noach, a bright rainbow arrives symbolizing the end of all the destruction. We all know that the rainbow is coming because we know the story, but Noach and his family had no idea. Perhaps that rainbow came for them at a time when they were at their lowest of lows, trusting in God but having no clue what was in store for them. That feeling is something I can absolutely resonate with right now. When will our rainbow arrive and bring back our positivity and brightness? Perhaps it is at these darkest of times when we must truly challenge ourselves to see the rainbow.
This past Friday evening, I had the honor of leading services with Rabbi Heaps. It was exactly where I needed to be after this week of turmoil. Everyone there truly embraced our sacred space and our Temple Jeremiah community as a space of reflection and emotional support. Following our Tefillah, filled with tears, we all embraced one another, emphasizing how much that sense of community had meant to us.
At J-Quest this past Sunday, we spoke to all our students about what is going on in Israel. The grades that stood out the most for me were our K-2nd Grades. We focused on feelings, asking the students what they do when someone is mad or sad. Many of the students mentioned that they knew their parents had been upset this past week. They shared about sending smiles and hugs and wanting to do nice things, all to help others feel better. In this difficult time where our minds can so easily focus on such darkness and negativity, we should not forget the wise words and mentality of our children. No matter how hard things may be, we can always still do good and be good to each other.
We also opened a space on Sunday for parents and grandparents to talk with Rabbi Heaps, myself and professionals from JCFS. We knew that if just five people showed up, it would have been worth offering the space for those who needed it. As the discussion began, our circle grew larger and larger, surpassing 40 in attendance. Ten minutes into the conversation, it was clear that this was a community that everyone was seeking. While it was not easy to talk about, just being together in that gathering was truly a rainbow in the darkness for everyone there.
In closing, I know that many of you are having a hard time right now. Our emotions come in waves and the rainbows in our lives may seem truly hard to come by. Some of us need time alone to process and others want to embrace community. No matter where you fall, know that we are here for you whenever and however you need us. Do not underestimate the power of community, but also try to take care of yourselves with what you need. Noach did not know if or when the rainbow would come, but it eventually did. We are not anywhere near seeing the world’s rainbow in its entirety, but that also means that we must take the time, during the darkness, to catch small glimpses of the rainbow whenever possible.
Shabbat Shalom.