Three years in the past, on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Yr, we stood alone in a sanctuary main companies by means of a video digital camera. This yr, whereas we’re once more in a position to collect, the lasting results of COVID are usually not behind us. Left in its wake are neighborhood members battling elevated and harmful ranges of loneliness, an ailment that’s devastating by itself, and likewise immediately linked to strokes, coronary heart illness, dementia and suicide.
Sadly, this isn’t distinctive to the Jewish neighborhood. It’s affecting individuals far and large. However the Jewish New Yr, which begins Friday, can present beneficial classes and encouragement to all of us.
Britain, Sweden and Japan have appointed ministers of loneliness. And U.S. Surgeon Basic Dr. Vivek Murthy warns of a rising drawback right here within the U.S. He cites staggering statistics: Loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and extra deadly than consuming half a dozen alcoholic drinks. A world as soon as locked to forestall bodily illness has resulted in far too many Individuals selecting to socially shrink.
Pupil absenteeism is rising at an alarming charge. Even with colleges open, youngsters riddled with nervousness are staying residence with dad and mom supporting these decisions. What’s someday of lacking faculty? Sadly, someday shortly turns into a number of days as isolation is reinforcing.
Adults are partaking in related habits. Lower than half of Individuals belong to a home of worship. As rabbis, we see this occurring round us, and rather more so publish COVID. Zoom is snug. Committing to a neighborhood and fascinating in as soon as acquainted patterns of prayer, ritual and celebrations now feels international and scary. It’s simpler to simply not present up.
Whereas our social and non secular connections decline, there’s a rampant improve in hate crimes, with a 22% improve in essentially the most populated cities. The Anti-Defamation League stories that antisemitic incidents are up a staggering 36%. On-line hate and harassment are skilled by over 50% of the American inhabitants, with Black and Muslim Individuals experiencing essentially the most noticeable improve. Universities, colleges and communal organizations have spent hours discussing the uptick in bomb threats to our establishments. It shouldn’t be shocking to see a correlation between social retreat and rising prejudice; retreating results in worry of the opposite.
However as the good Jewish thinker Maimonides noticed, “constructive habits traits are usually not acquired by doing (a one time) nice constructive act however moderately by means of the repetition of many constructive acts.” That is akin to the teachings taught by cognitive behavioral therapists. Put your self in uncomfortable conditions. Desensitize your self. Do that sufficient and every time will get simpler. Retreating, avoiding and operating solely beget extra retreating, avoiding and operating. It’s a vicious cycle that additional cements loneliness, nervousness and melancholy.
The season of the Jewish Excessive Holy Days, although, presents encouragement. First, we’re commanded to be collectively. We don’t pray alone. Actually, a lot of our holiest prayers are phrased within the plural. After we confess on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, we don’t say, “I’ve sinned”; we are saying, “We’ve got sinned,” “We’ve got gone astray,” and “We’ve got led others astray.” It’s a communal confession stated in a communal voice.
We additionally learn the story of Jonah. Jonah runs away from God, hiding within the stomach of a fish, pondering that if he cowers on the backside of the ocean, nobody will discover him. And but, it’s precisely when Jonah in the end returns and reengages that his desolation and despair start to fracture.
Spiritually and virtually, religion and neighborhood establishments should help the person on this tough return, and that begins with psychological well being. We have to put money into psychological well being companies and make them accessible, out there and normalized. In 2020, we opened the Sinai Temple Psychological Well being Middle and have spent the final three years shedding fossilized layers of stigma. The middle’s work is simply starting.
Equally vital, we should assist individuals reconnect inside their bigger communities. Offering structured avenues for people to securely reengage and shed worry of themselves and worry of one another is essential. Along with Pastor John-Paul Foster of Devoted Central Bible Church, Father Ed Benioff of Church of The Good Shepherd, and Omar Qudrat of the Muslim Coalition for America, now we have labored to create moments of unity. Our communities are fostering environments of connectedness.
The Jewish Excessive Holy Days are marked by the sound of the shofar, an alarm that asks us to get up. This yr, regardless of the place you might be in your spiritual journey, reengage with this world and know that you’re not alone.
Rabbis Nicole Guzik and Erez Sherman function co-senior rabbis at Sinai Temple, the most important Conservative synagogue in Los Angeles.
