A very touching piece from Rabbi Shai Held, writing in Tablet:
"Faced with a situation that makes us stare
the depth and extent of out vulnerability in the face, most of us want
to flee. Here, then, is Judaism’s message: You want to serve God? Run
towards the very people and places you most want to run away from. You
want to be religious? Learn to be present for other people when they are
in pain. All the rest is commentary."
"This is what first responders do."
"Without calling attention to
themselves or congratulating themselves, they run towards human
suffering instead of running away from it. To walk in God’s ways is to
walk in their ways, too—towards people in pain and not away from them."