Six years ago, March 2020, was a Purim overshadowed by the arrival of the pandemic with its lockdowns and quarantines, its air of global apocalypse looming over everyday lives brought to a sudden screeching halt. 

I saw a lot of people collapsing into depression, panic, profound fear, as normal routine turned into a bizarre life of zoom work and school, staying close to home, closely following the news. People raged over school closures, over what to do with juggling working and having the kids home, and the general chaos of it all.

It was incredibly stressful to be sure, but I remember then saying to friends to try to roll with it, remember that life has a way of throwing curve balls and people are more resilient than they realise, we'll get through it. Look for the broader picture. How many of us are the children or grandchildren of people who's lives were similarly turned upside down by war, having to flee their homes, displacement. Some of them missed years of school. Some of them had to then pick up school in a country speaking a different language. But they turned out OK, made successful lives, were educated, raised families, worked, lived, laughed. 
And this is just as relevant 6 years later. This time schools are closed because of the war, the missiles and drones fired from Iran and Hizballah controlled areas of Lebanon. We aren't under quarantine but still staying close to home, kids have zooms and remote learning, parents who can are trying to work from home, others are out to work with kids at home. It's weirdly like the covid times but with missiles instead. I came across a photo from that insane March 2020, the younger kids dressed up as Marvel superheroes playing together, big smiles, big poses. "Imma, we're saving the world!!" Six years later my kids are still trying to save the world. It's interesting how much is inate personality and how much is the circumstances of their formative years. Now they have real superheroes to dress up as whom they dream of emulating when they grow up - Pikud Haoref search and rescue, Magen David Adom and Hatzola first responders and paramedics, police and firefighters helping to keep us safe, Iron Dome and Hetz anti-missile defence teams protecting our skies. I see the reverence in their eyes when they meet someone in a paramedic's uniform or the orange berets of Home Front search and rescue. Real people who's jobs or volunteering is truly about saving the world, saving life, keeping us safe. This is who my kids aspire to be when they are old enough. Not just because every kid at some stage wants to be a firefighter or a police officer, but because this is their reality, this is how they are growing up, with profound understanding that these are the people who's dedication allows us to live our lives despite the threats all around. Real people saving real people from very real threats.