Days of miracles and wonder

It’s that time of year – a time of miracles! I don’t know about you, but there’s something magical about December. It’s the month when we all down tools and take a break from our normal day-to-day life. Our lives go into peaceful, friendly, relaxed mode. We spend quality time with precious people, and we don’t rush those encounters because we have work to do or kids to get to school early the next day.

We see our children – that is if they aren’t at machaneh – and we have fun with them. We look people in the eye, reconnect with them on a deeper level, and take time to re-evaluate our lives. We slow down and rejuvenate ourselves.

And that’s magical!

In fact, there’s nothing more exquisite than taking real time to be with people who matter to us, no matter who they are and why they’re in our lives. It’s at this time of year that we all land up wondering why we live such fast-paced lives at break-neck speed. Its about now that we contemplate whether it’s worth it, while reading another enchanting book to while away the hours on the beach or on a bed with a view. Or even just hanging out at home, loving being in our own space with few if any responsibilities other than to enjoy the moment.

The idea of having a long languid lunch with people I love sounds like bliss, and becomes the norm at this time of year.

And that’s magical!

This time of year is also about Chanukah, the festival of miracles. It was at this time of year that the tiny drop of oil that wasn’t meant to last more than a day lasted eight days. It was a miracle, one that showed us that the impossible is possible if you will it. It showed us that anything is possible.

We’re a people who believe firmly in miracles, and mostly, we attribute them to G-d. We – as in our people – have witnessed many miracles through the ages.

We witnessed the parting of the Red Sea when the Egyptians were chasing us, trying to reclaim us as their slaves. We witnessed the shofar blasts that brought down the walls of Jericho, also back in Moses’ time. Remember when Moses’ brother, Aaron’s staff turned into a serpent? And when, thanks to Esther and Mordechai, we were miraculously saved from uncertain death at the hands of the dreaded Haman?

Miracles are magical, but aren’t they sometimes a case of manifesting our hopes and dreams or something happening that was going to happen anyway? Who can tell?

The point is that few things engender faith and hope more than miracles or wonderful things happening that appear unexpected or unlikely.

I love the fact that every time we light the chanukiah or menorah on Chanukah, we remember that miracles do happen. And, as we light those special flames, we teach our children to believe in miracles and magic. We teach them to believe that what’s apparently impossible may not be.

I want my children and all the people I know to believe this because it’s how we’ll ensure our survival and our ability to get past loadshedding, problems with the government, racism, the likes of the antisemitic Kanye West, and those who think like him. It will enable us to see the good in the world – and there’s so much of that – rather than all the doom and gloom.

This December, I’m doing something that I dreamed of doing all year, but it wasn’t really possible. I accepted that it couldn’t be, but knew that if certain circumstances were to arise, it would be possible. I spoke about it, I dreamed it, and then it somehow it all fell into place. So, now I’m able to fulfil what was essentially a dream. Go figure!

Is it a miracle? Did I manifest it? Or was it in the natural order of things and it just happened when I really wanted it to? I can’t tell you because I’m certainly no expert.

I can just say that it makes me believe in the impossible, and it makes me feel positive about our lives and the lives of those around us.

On the front page, we bring you the story of the Borowsky brothers who followed their dreams to bring Mandela the Musical to the international stage. These King David Victory Park alumni had a big dream that many thought was too big and would never be realised. But they made it happen. Kol hakavod to them!

Need I say, if they can do it, why can’t you make your dreams come true? What does it take?

Now is the perfect time to ruminate on what it is you want in your life. Now is the time to work out how you can make it possible, how you can take something that you think is hardly doable and make it work.

As we wind down to a peaceful end of 2022, a year that hasn’t been easy, I hope for a wonderful miracle in each of our lives. It doesn’t have to be a big bang miracle, but something to inspire us and make life more worthwhile.

May we move past the tough years we have had and into a time of gentleness and kindness. May the African National Congress make good decisions about its leadership at its conference. May a true and just leader arise, and take his or her place at the helm of this country. Some of you may be asking: what is she smoking? I don’t mind.

I wish only good things for every one of us, and for us as a community, country, and people. I wish 2023 could be a year of beautiful miracles, and that we could extend the celebration of Chanukah all year.

Shabbat Shalom and chag sameach!

Peta Krost

Editor

PS: This is the last edition of the SA Jewish Report for 2022. We will resume publishing on 12 January. 2023.