As winter approaches, temperatures will begin to drop. After an extremely hot summer, that change will be welcomed by many – though, if you ask my wife, she’d happily keep the heat a little longer.
Beyond the weather, we find ourselves hoping for another kind of cooling – one in the global climate of war, conflict and hatred.
We pray for an end to the war in Iran, and for a future in which the Iranian people can live in peace and prosperity. With the fall of oppressive regimes, we also hope to see the end of Hezbollah and Hamas’ reigns of terror, allowing the people of Lebanon, Gaza and
Israel to live side by side in peace and dignity.
Closer to home, there are signs – perhaps – of shifting winds. New leadership is emerging; the old corrupt guard appears to be stepping aside; long-neglected potholes are suddenly being repaired; and those who believed they were above the law are beginning to face accountability. Protests have quietened, and some previously vocal bad actors have gone silent. Are we witnessing a turning point? A cooling of the temperature?
Only time will tell.
With local elections on the horizon, there is renewed hope that service delivery across the country will improve. South Africans – myself included – deserve leadership that prioritises the well-being of all citizens, not personal gain. And our community, like all others, deserves to live in peace, prosperity, and harmony.
Earlier this month, we commemorated Yom Hashoah, remembering the six million Jewish lives lost at the hands of the Nazis. Among the many powerful reflections shared, one young leader spoke about the idea of “windows”.
During the Holocaust, he said, those windows were closing – rapidly and decisively – until Jews could no longer escape the horrors that awaited them.
But he challenged us to think differently today.
How do we keep the windows of Jewish life open? Every time we attend a Yom Hashoah ceremony. Every time a young person finds their voice. Every time we stand up to hatred. Every time we remember our past and celebrate our traditions.
In a world where the temperature of antisemitism seems to be rising in some places and cooling in others, the question
is not what others will do – but what we will do.
As long as the window remains open, as long as we have the freedom to live as proud Jews, we must seize that opportunity. It is up to us to preserve our traditions, to honour our history, and to build our future.
We cannot wait for others to define who we are. We must step forward – together – as a united community. And as long as we continue to celebrate, remember, and live with pride and resilience, nothing will stand in our way. Not even those who spread hatred, lies, and division.
Whether the temperature rises or falls is ultimately beside the point. We will continue to open the windows wide and seize the moment. And if it does get too cold – well, we’ll just put on a warm jacket.
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