By Eric W. Schoen
Yom Kippur is upon us. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate. Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.
Friends, this has been a tough year. The mystery that is COVID-19 is far from solved. Each day we get new information from our health officials as to what we should and should not be doing, and what is causing the spread of this terrible disease. Quite often the news one day contradicts the news from the previous day. It’s unsettling but there is little we can do about it.
During Rosh Hashanah services, Rabbi Jeff Brown of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El made an important point I want to share with you. Maybe we have to stop being so hard on ourselves.
Yes, the situation at hand is far from our control. We know what the experts say to do. I am not sharing with you some magical advice that will solve all of today’s problems. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Wear a mask or other face covering when you are within 6 feet of others. Or are the authorities about to change the distance, increasing it? Use alcohol based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not readily available. Don’t touch your face with your hands.
The number of infected and number of those dying have gone down but overall are still too high. Did the President keep information from us we should have known. Was it smart for our state to send patients testing positive for Coronavirus from hospitals to nursing homes and extended care facilities infecting others. Yes there will be plenty of investigations, but if you think anyone involved in these decisions is going to jail, I have that bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Our minds are in a state of flux. Should we say hello? Push the button on the elevator with our fingers or our sleeves? Find a sanitizer to cleanse the shopping cart at the grocery store? Visit with our elderly loved ones or if we are elderly invite our younger loved ones to visit with us.
All of these decisions weigh on our mind. It’s upsetting. Are we making the right decision or not. Yes friends, it’s time to stop being so hard on ourselves.
We are in the midst of a pandemic but we have to live our lives. And we have to interact with our loved ones whether it be by phone of FaceTime or in person. Make that call to someone we haven’t seen in ages. Send a note to cheer someone up who we know needs cheering.
Prayer never hurts. Say a prayer for those who need one. Get back into the habit of prayer many of us had as children taking a few minutes to reflect on the day and pray for all we love and our country before we go to sleep.
Social distance when among strangers and if need be family and friends. If other are not following the rule bring it to their attention. If you see someone in a store without a mask bring it to the attention of the store manager or if need be to corporate headquarters. It’s for your health as well as theirs.
If you see someone in distress, a car accident or a vehicle simply blocking a lane on our roadways, call 911 and if in a remote area stay with the person until help has arrived. Most of us can tell the level of help someone needs and if there is any danger in providing it.
Never disobey the instructions of the authorities. No need to speed as so many are currently doing because the roads are less crowded. A red light means stop, a yellow means slow down, and blinking lights mean slow down and proceed with caution.
Get outside and get a breath of fresh air. Didn’t we just hear that those who have not left the house are more susceptible to catching COVID-19? Exercise at home or at the gym, wiping down every piece of equipment you use as you would expect others to do for you.
Most of us are blessed with good health insurance policies. If you are ill take advantage of them. That’s what they are there for?.
So many homeless on the street. Don’t give them money. Go into a grocery store and pick up something for them to eat. Or call 911 or social services to get them some relief.
We all need to find a way to relax. Find an app that will relax you. Turn on classical music, or practice deep breathing exercises. Go to an Animal Shelter and ask if you can help walking the dogs. Better yet, adopt a dog or cat. We have wonderful Animal shelters in Yonkers and New Rochelle.
Respect people’s political views as they should respect yours. No matter who wins the elections you still have to pay taxes and not matter what anyone tells you they are still going to go up. Speaking of political views, are you registered to vote? Don’t complain if you don’t exercise your right to vote. They have made it so easy for you with mail in registration, absentee ballots (due to COVID-19), and early voting. Try to vote by mail so that the poor poll workers who work long hours in quite often not the best conditions don’t have to worry about being in an environment where they can pick up germs and god forbid COVID-19.
Never put work over family or friends. Never be judgmental. You never know what someone else is going through. Never disobey your parents. So many of us wish our parents were still with us.
On a lighter note, don’t take more sweetener than you will need for your coffee or tea at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Condiments are there for you to use for what you are purchasing, not to feed the army at home. No more handfuls of Sweet’N Low sneaked out of the store in your pocket, purse or jacket.
With the difficult financial situation newspapers are facing in this country, in the New Year don’t complain if you see a little mistake or typo in my article or in the newspaper. Big stuff let us know. The little stuff, well it means you are at the top of your game!
May you be inscribed for a blessing in the Book of Life. For all our readers, Jew and non-Jew, I wish you a happy, healthy New Year!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
