Is my cup half full or half empty?

Written by Josh Jantjies, a Yahel Social Change Fellow in Rishon LeZion

I'm from Cape Town, South Africa. I've lived in a coastal town 5 minutes from the ocean all my life, and I've always been grateful for it. I've always been aware of how privileged I am, in so many ways, but largely because I grew up in a Jewish community that tried its best to accept me for who I am, and expose me to cultures and peoples I otherwise would never have crossed paths with. 

As I've grown older, something has become increasingly clear to me, that community is everything. It is the bedrock of a functioning society and an essential part of identity. 

Without the help of people who shared nothing with me except a common faith, 

my life would look drastically different. I am the person I am today because of the help of the Jewish community among many others. And therein lies my initial driving force to give back in some way, however I can. 

I was a member and eventual leader of a youth movement called Netzer South Africa, and one of our pillars is Tikkun Olam, healing the world. My parents have always instilled a level of appreciation and gratitude in me, and encouraged me to look out for the next person whenever possible. 

I have since worked at soup kitchens and volunteered in many different places back home. So I have no real reason for questioning what I can give, but I suppose it's part of the human condition. 

I'm not sure I have a reason for volunteering here in Israel specifically, I think it was just a growing desire to do something beyond myself. But ever since landing here it felt right, almost reaffirming. 

This group of fellows I'm proud to call my team has been a pleasant surprise, to keep things brief. I could talk for hours about how interesting and wonderful each and every one of them are, and how I feel part of something larger than life. This is a special group of people, and in less than a month I have been made to feel part of a family, as crazy as it sounds. I've learnt so much from them; humility, selflessness,

being an example, kindness, and namely how even though we come from oftentimes vastly different backgrounds and cultures, we have been stitched together under a common cause in the hopes of crafting something beautiful, and I genuinely could not dream of a better makeup of people to navigate this journey with.

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Moving into my apartment in Ramat Eliyahu specifically has come with a growing sense of belonging, like I've actually got something to give. Its unlike any neighborhood I've stayed in, despite numerous similarities between here and back home in Cape Town, where we are not strangers to poverty and the symptoms that come with it.

They look out for each other, and every few blocks there is a center

geared towards strengthening that bond and making sure no child is left behind. I'm mostly excited about seeing how I fit into this puzzle and grow within this community. 

I find it interesting how things are revealed gradually, like the initial fears of how I'd provide value or be able to help at all decreased substantially after talking to my placements, and have since been replaced by the understanding that simply showing up with an open mind, a positive attitude and desire to engage with the small world I've been blessed enough to navigate is all that's needed. As much as I intend to give, I will be receiving from the people around me. There is so much to learn, so much to experience.  

I think whether my cup is half full or half empty is irrelevant, there is more than enough to go around and I may require more cups.

I look forward to every second of it. 

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