What kind of economy do we really need?

The more the world is immersed in the problem of a pandemic that has engulfed virtually every country, the more voices are heard calling for a rescue of the economy. Some call for saving everything, others want to start with vital enterprises, and then – as it goes.

There’s a great fear that it won’t work. It will not, because we have long ago killed the very concept of “economy,” leaving only the outer shell of it. The original meaning of the word meant the art of farming for the purpose of providing human beings with the necessities of life.

But as a result of its development, the economy has reincarnated in the branch of human activity associated with profit. And it couldn’t have been otherwise. After all, a person is only capable of running a household for free. And not just gratuitously, but carefully, calculatingly, judiciously. Trying to meet the needs of every member of the family.

And so, in the midst of the pandemic, our human relationships, reminiscent of those in the family, suddenly began to emerge. I don’t know about other countries, but here in Israel there are a huge number of volunteers who deliver food to the elderly.

The army threw itself into delivering hot food to people in quarantine. The government suddenly paid a cash benefit to all needy families. And the Israelis began to stand in line obediently and patiently, without pushing or scolding anyone. And even – oh miracle – letting medical professionals through without waiting in line.

That’s how it is in a big friendly family, with absolutely no thought of personal gain. Maybe that’s what nature encouraged us to do by scaring us with a new virus. So that we could see the difference between how we treated each other and how we should treat each other.

And if that’s the case, it’s not the old economy we need to save, but to build new ties between us. And they will tell us what kind of economy we really need.