Seeing heroes emerging

To make us all feel happier, we need to feel safe, secure, and well. And these three tiers in our lives have been battered and bruised over the past few years. However, I feel happier right now because I am seeing these needs being met again. You may be thinking that I have finally lost my marbles, but let me explain…

Our sense of wellness has been challenged severely by COVID-19, but we are well out of the third wave, and so many of us have been vaccinated. Now, we have the opportunity to get our youngsters vaccinated too. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.

I totally understand why some parents are a little hesitant to rush into vaccinating their children, but I believe that vaccination is our ticket out of this torrid coronavirus-ridden time we are living in. It’s our ticket to freedom, travel, and having a semblance of our former life. I cannot imagine anyone of us is not longing for that. I sure am!

As my teenage boys said to me when I asked if they wanted to have the vaccine, “It’s a no brainer, mom, we have to have it!” And apparently, I can’t override their choice legally – not that I plan to.

However, I do get that some parents are nervous about putting chemicals into their children’s bodies unnecessarily. Can I say, I have seen too much illness – even in young people – in the past year and a half to believe this is unnecessary. It’s essential to protect your children, your other loved ones, the community, the country, and the world. It’s that simple!

So, any good parent should hesitate, but don’t pause for long because, as my boys said, “It’s a no brainer, mom!”

The second tier I want to look at is safety. After hearing about the horrific murder of the much loved jeweller, Mark Kopelowitz, last week, I felt physically sick. I couldn’t help imagining this father of four lightly saying goodbye to his family in the morning on his way to work, never thinking that it would be for the last time. They may or may not have kissed him goodbye because – as we all do – they assumed that he would be home at the end of the day, as normal. But that wasn’t to be.

That’s enough to shatter our sense of safety. However, there’s another side to this horrific story and that’s the fact that within hours, a crack team of investigators made up of our own CAP, the police, and others had culprits behind bars with evidence to take them to court.

Now, that’s a huge accomplishment. You see, part of our feeling of insecurity is tied into the fact that we don’t feel protected by the police anymore. However, this crack team is doing the most amazing work, particularly in our areas, and it’s fighting crime in a way that it hasn’t been fought for decades. They are bringing back our sense of security.

One of the worst issues regarding crime is criminals getting away with it. In so doing, they have no fear of doing it again and again, encouraging mayhem and an attitude that they are all powerful. This crack team is showing them that crime will no longer pay. They are changing the face of crime-fighting in our areas. Hopefully, their example will be followed around the country.

Isn’t it amazing how it can be done with the right commitment, people, and technology?

Following on that, I would like to take you to another story we covered in Sandton this week.

An armed robbery right next to a Jewish school that could have ended in tragedy. But it didn’t because of the quick thinking and action of teachers at the school and the Community Security Organisation. Their actions were so swift and calm, the nursery school children didn’t even realise that they were all in their safe rooms because a real crime was happening. They were blissfully thinking it was another drill that they experience regularly.

So, those children will remain emotionally unscathed by this senseless attempted robbery.

Again, these people inspire safety and security in me.

Living in South Africa, we have no choice but to accept the threat of crime. It exists, no matter how much we hate it. We just hope and pray we remain unscathed.

It is, however, essential to be vigilant and protect ourselves all the time. I know that sounds easier said than done – it is. And every one of us is going to let our guard down at some point. We’re only human.

We just need to keep our guard up as much as possible and, should something happen, we must do whatever it takes to safeguard ourselves, our children, and those around us.

More and more, I’m seeing people doing just that. We may not personally be able to stop crime, but we can do our best to avoid it or use what we have learned to teach others.

Nicky Sher had a horrific experience when hijackers took her on a joyride, leaving her fearing for her life. (See page 3.) Incredibly, this brave woman has come out with her story in order to help others who may find themselves in a similar situation. She wants to warn and help them.

So, when I say that I believe these needs are being met, I really do. I see heroes emerging. I see a community gathering to put an end to the darkness in the only way we know how.

I feel inspired and happy!

Shabbat shalom!