One of the most well-known Hebrew songs, Kol Ha’Olam Kulo has these simple lyrics:

The whole world
is a very narrow bridge
a very narrow bridge
a very narrow bridge

The whole world
is a very narrow bridge –
A very narrow bridge.

And the main thing to recall –
is not to be afraid –
not to be afraid at all.

And the main thing to recall –
is not to be afraid at all.

These lyrics are derived from a saying of Rebbe Nachman that can be more literally translated: “Know that when a person must cross a very very narrow bridge, what is essential is not to make your self afraid.”

The other day, this article appeared in the National Post saying “Polls keep showing that the public believes COVID-19 disease is way deadlier and more pervasive than it really is.”

Put another way, the surveys conducted about the pandemic these days reveal that people are making themselves afraid.

No matter how narrow or fearful our horizon, we are challenged not to make it worse by bringing fear and anxiety upon ourselves.

There will always be threats and risks in life and we must always try to face them with courage and responsibility.

Accordingly, we face them best when we refuse to make ourselves afraid of them.