Do you remember waking up on September 12, 2001? It was a very different world than what we woke up on the day before.
The 10th was just a normal day. And on the 11th the world changed before our eyes. We watched in horror as the towers fell. We were glued to our T.V. sets for hours, looking at the same images over and over again. I can’t seem to get the picture out of my mind of the Pakistani children dancing with joy when they heard about the destruction at the other side of the world. What cruelty in our darkest hour.
And then it was September 12th. We asked: “How can we, as adults help our children cope with their 1st (and God-willing only) encounter with terrorism?” Those images will always be there, but how can we make them feel safe, in this pretty unsafe world?
September 12th was a challenge. And it still is.
What is the legacy that we want to leave our children?
Today there seems to be a pile-on of blame against President Obama for attacks on U.S. diplomatic posts in Libya and Egypt,” even as many other leaders counseled caution and support for the democratic underpinnings of the Arab Spring.”
The strength of our country is its leaders, its communities, and its people. Is this the example we want to set?
Seems as though the challenge is always facing us. Our goal should be try to build a community where love, order and creativity are welcome. Rabbi Isaac Luria was correct when he said, “unless the vessels are open and flowing, exchanging their powers with one another, they will shatter.”
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