The past month has been an extremely emotional rollercoaster for me personally. It has certainly made me reflect on what is truly important in life and just how fortunate I am to have the life I do.
By sharing some of these personal experiences, perhaps it may also encourage others to reassess their own lives and recognise what they should be grateful for.
My son and I were recently involved in a serious car accident. While we both walked away with little more than a scratch and a bruise, my car was not as fortunate – nor were the other two vehicles involved (the drivers and passengers were also fine). Without going into the details, the front of my car was destroyed, giving some indication of just how fast the other driver was travelling when he hit us side-on. Fortunately – and some may say miraculously – the hand of Hashem intervened. At the very last moment, the other driver swerved slightly, avoiding a direct impact into my door and instead taking out the front of the vehicle. Every time I rewatch the footage and relive that moment, I thank Hashem that my son and I were able to walk away unscathed.
In the aftermath, one of my biggest challenges was simply trying to find a replacement vehicle – and even that reminded me how fortunate I am to be able to do so.
Following the devastating storms in Cape Town, many homes suffered severe damage and thousands of people were affected in different ways. In my case, I have a small roof leak that will cost a few pennies to repair, and a protea tree was uprooted. We all face different problems, but mine are manageable and fixable – nothing compared to what many fellow Capetonians are currently experiencing. Many people simply do not have the means to repair their homes or replace what was lost. Again, I am reminded how grateful I should be that my challenges are relatively minor.
The same perspective applies when comparing what Jewish communities around the world are experiencing to our reality here in the Western Cape.
During Yom Yerushalayim, together with our Chairperson, Simone Sulcas, and my colleague Josh Friedman, we spent Shabbos with the Jewish community in Hermanus. On Friday evening, we addressed more than 50 community members, discussing the work of the Board, addressing concerns, sharing insights from conversations with Jewish communities abroad, and ultimately reinforcing an important message: that Jewish life in the Western Cape remains, for the most part, safe, secure, and thriving. (Read the Hermanus article elsewhere in this edition of the Chronicle.)
While many Jewish communities around the world are increasingly forced to hide their identities or fear openly expressing their Judaism, here in the Western Cape we continue to live proudly and unapologetically as Jews. That is not to say there are no challenges or uncomfortable spaces, and we must always remain vigilant. However, the reality is that we are not removing mezuzot from our homes, hiding our kippot, or retreating from public life.
We should be thankful for the work our communal organisations do – to those who protect our way of life, those who look after our aged, those who educate our young, and those who celebrate our Judaism with pride. We should never take for granted the fact that, as Jews and as South Africans, our rights are protected.
Things happen for a reason. I do not know why my son and I were involved in that accident, nor why Hashem chose to spare us from what could have been a devastating tragedy. What I do know is this: I am grateful to be alive. Grateful for my family and friends. Grateful for the life I have. And grateful that I have the privilege of living openly as a proud Jew and representing our incredible community as proudly South African Jews.
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