Rays of Hope

by Jerry Waxman

Did you know that there really is a place where people are happy?

The holiday of Succoth ended last weekend. Saturday was Simchat Torah.  I did not stay in Sderot last weekend.

It wasn’t the town that I wanted to get away from, but the little things surrounding my life here. Sometimes, you get caught up in the obstacles to happiness, and you forget that there is such a thing. But there is.

It had been months since I’d boarded a bus. When I got on the bus last Friday afternoon, and found a seat, and the bus began to move, then all of a sudden it was like weights were lifted off of me.

The sun’s rays drifted through the window,and I felt a latent happiness bubble up from weeks of deep suppression, celebrating its freedom and liberty by having me call friends spontaneously to wish them a happy holiday.

When I got to my destination, I knew it was the right place for a good mood. The house I stayed at was clean – noticeably different from mine. It had kids running around. When I arrived, we played in the succah; danced in there.

The whole neighborhood had an atmosphere of happiness. The people are more than content with where they are. And why not? They all have decent houses, large families, lots to do. They all were preparing for Shabbat and the holidays.

At some time in the afternoon, someone in the neighborhood played a little music loudly. I thought it was just a sound truck or somebody driving by with a radio blaring. But that isn’t what it was.

The music was a signal to the neighborhood that Shabbat was coming. Not long after, there was another bit of noise. It turns out that it was a signal to get ready to light candles.

Lest you labor under the misguided perception that people HAD to light candles, or people HAD to do this or that, let me assure you, the people in this town are happy.

Not everyone lights candles, or does a proper kiddush or celebrates the holidays. Still they are happy with their community, the vast majority of whom DO observe the traditions. Nobody pressures anybody else to be different. They work more at getting along, helping each other when the need arises, having their children play with each other.

I’m talking about a real place. I refrain from telling you where this Gan Eden is for fear you might think it is the only such place in the world. It isn’t.

There really are communities in Israel, where neighbors get along. Not just get along; they support each other. There’s no crime. The kids don’t even think of stealing or doing damaging things. Nobody does. Happiness is a matter of being satsfied with what you have and who you are, and not having anything to complain about.

There really is no reason such a community could not be where you live. I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me you live in something similar. You deserve it.

As you know, happiness doesn’t come from being in a place with happy people and clean houses. But those things help. And it helps when people in general are decidedly in favor of getting along. With the way things have been happening in the last few days, maybe people are ready to get along.

I’ve been watching the goings on in America through news sources on the internet. It may just be a misperception, or it may just be hopeful thinking. But ever since Simchat Torah, there seem to be less loud and ridiculous debates. The people in the U.S. seem to be pulling together on the main issues.

There seems to be a ray of hope in Israel, too. Of course my perception is limited, but there does seem to be a trend of getting along. As we prepare for Shabbat Bereishit, the absolute first book of the Torah, there is reason for hope.  Good beginnings lead to better people.

“Project “770″

Making life a little better all the way around.