What does community mean to you?
It’s a commonly-used word, often spoken in the context of religion and ethnicity, such as “Chinese,” “South Asian,” “Black” and last, but not least, “Jewish.”
It’s the latter of those communities that led me to think about what that title actually means, other than the path of least resistance to describing a certain section of the population.
This week, after being tasked to reach out to Richmond’s small, but vibrant, Jewish congregations in the wake of the tragic events in Pittsburgh last Saturday, I discovered what I believe to be the best definition yet of community (see page 16).
While speaking with the various leaders of some of the local synagogues they, of course, told of a “heightened state of awareness” and felt as if they were looking over their shoulders a little more in and around their places of worship.
But what was clear and present from the outset from the rabbis I interviewed was their unbridled gratitude towards hundreds of people around them in Richmond, who had made phone calls of support and sent emails of condolence.
In their time of need and fear, it was obvious they were taking genuine comfort from those who had extended the arm of community across religious, ethnic and societal divides.
Whether the support was coming from the RCMP cruisers outside their synagogue or communication from residents, MPs, MLAs, city councillors and leaders of other faiths, they embraced every gesture with open hearts and minds.
There are moments of clarity in life — albeit all too scarce — when it becomes apparent that, once we strip away our religious beliefs, ethnicity, wealth (or lack thereof), we are all just people, most of us simply wanting the best for those we love.
The majority of Richmond’s multi-faith community can see past those deep-seated divides and throughout the year meet on each other’s “ground.”
As is often the case, however, with the rest of human nature, it takes an incident of trauma or extreme adversity before the best characteristics in our species rise to the surface.
Think, in particular, of the number of families you know — and it could even be yourself — where warring siblings can go decades without exchanging a single word…until someone they mutually care for passes away.
It is sad that events with a fatal outcome are often required before many people realize what truly matters.
But, It is also heartening to hear it only takes a little scratch of the surface in Richmond to reveal the best traits in our community.
