In his indispensable book, “The Sabbath,” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel compared the other days of the week with the magnificence of Shabbat. He wrote, “How should we weigh the difference between the Sabbath and the other days of the week? When a day like Wednesday arrives, the hours are blank, and unless we lend significance to them, they remain without character. The hours of the seventh day are significant in themselves; their significance and beauty do not depend on any work, profit, or progress we may achieve. They have the beauty of grandeur.”
Now, in these days of Covid, when there are virtually (no pun intended) no boundaries between working and not working, parenting and not parenting, and activity and rest, and each day feels like every other day, each of us must ask, how will I make this unique and sacred day count?
Since the days of social distancing began, I have had the pleasure of leading our virtual daily minyan service. People from all over the country (and on occasion a guest from Canada) have been joining us for prayer, community, comfort and support. If you would like to join us, we gather at 5:45, Saturday through Thursday. Some join us to say the Kaddish and remember a loved one, while others check in to stay grounded and connected. Since the 2nd day of Passover, we’ve also been counting the omer, marking not only the days of our journey from slavery to freedom, but also to remind us that each day has a distinct character of its own, the holiness of daily life.
As we face the challenges ahead, let us be sure to realize the potential of these days. Between answering your emails, be sure to reach out to a friend with whom you’ve lost touch. Between zoom meetings, be sure to spend a few minutes outside to feel the sun’s warmth on the back of your neck. And if you should happen to find yourself with a few minutes to spare, be sure to phone a loved one, especially if they’re on their own. May these days of plagues soon be over, but until then, may we give them meaning and beauty through our daily acts of love and kindness.
