There’s a podcast called “Rough Translation” that explores the many ways that we humans don’t understand one another. In this episode, the host explores the profound cultural differences that lead a husband and wife to utterly fail in their compassion for one another until they literally walk in one  another’s shoes. Both are American citizens—the wife is originally from Wuhan and as the virus ravages her town, her Italian-born husband is complacent—then the virus hits Italy and he discovers empathy.

How is your empathy? This is the perfect time to do an empathy check. Do we feel for others beyond our own circle who suffer? What would it take to extend our compassion to those who are not like you?  Jewish tradition says: “Love your neighbor as yourself”—there is no greater command for empathy. So many in our community and our world need us and need our care. The pandemic reminds us that we are all connected—that ultimately, when all is said and done, none of us can stand alone. No person is an island—a truth more evident now than ever before in our lifetimes.

— Rabbi Ron Stern