MELBOURNE, Australia — The Current coronavirus lockdown is causing both major and minor inconveniences to our lifestyle. But drawing on our childhood experiences during the Holocaust let us put this in a proper perspective.
We are restricted in our movements, but not confined behind barbed wire. We can go for walks, shop for food without hindrance. We are ordered to wear masks – for our protection — not ordered to wear a Judenstern making us a target for harrasment or worse.
A knock on our door will be a delivery or friendly neighbour, not an armed man in uniform to intimidate, arrest us or worse. We cannot see our family and friends, but know they are not being deported and murdered.
We have food easily available and are not starving. If we get sick we have a world class health service – even if there is no medicine for the virus yet – but modern drugs for most disease.
On balance we need to count our blessings. Perhaps the advertising slogan of the 1960’s which we all remember A cup of tea, a Bex and a good liedown is a message we need to heed in the current situation.
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Garry Fabian is a Holocaust survivor now living in Melbourne, Australia. He has served as B’nai B’rith governor for the Australian province of Victoria. His memoir, Looking Back Over My Shoulder, was published by San Diego Jewish World with special permission from the author.
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