Daily inspiration: We must fight apathy, indifference to care for each other

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on October 16, 2011 at 6:12 AM


By Marci Erlebacher
Contributing writer

Marci Erlebacher Headshot -.JPGMarci Erlebacher

Eli Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate, has often spoken about indifference as the most serious and dangerous enemy of not only Jews, but society as a whole. Wiesel once said, "Indifference is the sign of sickness, a sickness of the soul more contagious than any other."

As a Jewish Communal leader I struggle with ways to generate a sense of belonging and support for our Jewish institutions. I am continually trying to understand the apathy and attitude of indifference. Our parents' generation and their parents before them supported their religious institutions because it was the right thing to do.

From the Babylonian Talmud we learn "All Jews are responsible one for another." I would take this one step further and add that all Jews are responsible for their Jewish community and its institutions and then society as a whole. The Jewish Community Center's mission statement clearly states how we must care for our Jewish community, but, it also states how we should reach out to the general community and serve it as well. It is our responsibility to serve humanity and fight indifference.

But this is not unique to Judaism. Many religions are struggling with ways to elicit support. This type of support is not easy to find. It is generated from the soul and grows in us as human beings either through the strength of family, religious affiliations or individual commitment to be a part of society.

It is our job to instill in the next generation the need and ability to fight indifference, care for each other and generate a sense of belonging for whatever cultural and religious institutions we believe in and are a part of. If we do this our society as we know it will thrive.
