Tsunami thoughts

On Sept. 11, we lost about 3,000 innocent people in about one hour. A tragedy that haunts us still, that we still refer to and react to in all kinds of ways.

When tragedy strikes on a massive scale, we need someone to blame. It makes it easier for us to figure out how to respond. Even with a tragedy on the scale of the Holocaust, we had someone to get mad at. Indeed, we've spent the better part of Jewish energy the last 60 years or so on being mad at those responsible for the Holocaust.

And then there is the tsunami. A few minutes. More than 150,000 lives. Where do we go to seek justice, forgiveness, revenge, retribution?

Tough question. There are no terrorists to point fingers at, as with Sept. 11, no sadistic butchers, as with the Holocaust.

Which is what makes the tsunami all the more an opportunity for us to look within ourselves as people, to respond to unfathomable heartache with unlimited kindness.

There are two lessons that I am taking away from the tsunami.

One is to deepen my faith. I believe every word of the Torah is literally true. But let's face it, it's not easy to explain some of what's in there. It does help when we can see something right in front of our eyes that deepens the faith in our hearts. In this case, some might wonder about the Torah story of Noah and the flood. Could a flood really have wiped out all of humanity in one fell swoop? After the tsunami, I don't find that so hard to believe.

The other lesson I am taking very much to heart is how much we have to be grateful for, those of us lucky enough to be Americans at this time, to be Jews at this time.

We take so much for granted. Take for granted the things the vast majority of the world cannot even imagine, let alone obtain. How many billions of people in this world have no idea where their next meal is coming from, know only they are going to have to put in a whole lot of effort to get it? And then put in the same effort all over again if they wish to eat again.

How many have doctors when they are sick, medications when they don't feel good, books when they want to learn about things they can't touch, entertainment when they need diversion?

So many in the world struggle just to exist, a concept far more foreign to me and to most of those reading this than any city in Sri Lanka.

We are so lucky. What I take from this tsunami is to be more aware of that, to be more grateful for that, every day.

But what I will take most from this tsunami is to care more about everyone with whom I share this planet. And to work hard, to try hard to make sure that that caring doesn't fade away as soon as this tsunami story gives way to others, as it inevitably will.

Thank God, the tsunami has not affected me in any way personally. I haven't lost anything or anyone. Which is why I plan to make a real effort to make sure that the tsunami affects me personally for a very, very long time.

Joseph Aaron is editor and publisher of the Chicago Jewish News.

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