A Final request
As the following story demonstrates, the hand of Divine Providence can work in extraordinary ways to ensure the continuity of Jewish practice from one generation to another.
As part of the CMC’s commitment to Jewish hospital patients throughout Chicagoland, Rabbi Wolf visits a certain suburban hospital (we’ll call it “SH” for easy reference) every Friday. One Friday morning he received an unexpected phone call from a chaplain at a different hospital that is part of the same information-sharing network of hospitals as SH. She explained that SH’s regular chaplain was absent that day, that an elderly Jewish patient, ES, was seriously ill at SH, and that ES’ family was anxious for someone to say a prayer in Hebrew on his behalf at bedside. Rabbi Wolf asked for the patient’s name, which he immediately recognized as someone he had known for about ten years. He called ES’ daughter at her father’s bedside and assured her that he would be there as soon as possible.
That afternoon Rabbi Wolf visited with ES and the family members who were with him. Unfortunately, the elderly gentleman’s health was in inexorable decline, but at least he was together with his loving children and grandchildren in support during his final moments in this world.
Rabbi Wolf’s presence and prayers were of great comfort to the family. They listened with much interest as the rabbi recounted how ES had called him out of the blue about ten years earlier. After a short introduction, ES had explained that he wanted to buy a pair of tefillin, as he desired to become more Torah observant. Over the many lessons it took for Rabbi Wolf to train ES, a man in his eighties, to correctly wrap the tefillin and say his prayers, a beautiful friendship developed between the two of them. ES visited Rabbi Wolf in his home, and the rabbi went to see ES in his home.
ES’ daughter’s eyes moistened as she listened to Rabbi Wolf’s reminiscence. “It’s really an amazing coincidence that you are the rabbi who will be with my father in his last days”, she said. “After all, none of us here are affiliated with any congregation. Personally, I might not have even thought to ask for a rabbi at this time. It’s just that over the last ten years praying has been such an important part of my father’s life. That’s why I had a strong feeling to request for someone to say a Hebrew prayer now on his behalf.”
“And what makes it even more interesting”, Rabbi Wolf responded, as he picked up the train of thought, “is that if you had contacted SH’s pastoral care office with that request on any other day, the regular chaplain on duty, who is Jewish, would have said a prayer in Hebrew with your father. But since the regular chaplain happens to be absent today, your request was therefore routed through the hospital’s network to another hospital’s pastoral care office, and eventually reached me. Clearly, we are very privileged to merit this open display of Divine Providence arranging events in such an auspicious manner.”
While everybody pondered the significance of these words, Rabbi Wolf turned quietly towards the patient, who was lying in bed, eyes glazed. Although it had been more than forty-eight hours since he had displayed any signs of communicative responsiveness, when Rabbi Wolf called his name his eyes flickered slightly yet perceptibly into focus. At once, the room went completely still. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as if they sensed that this exchange between the rabbi and the patient might be ES’ last meaningful communication while on earth.
“It would be too difficult for you to wrap the tefillin now”, Rabbi Wolf said, leaning gently towards ES, “but would you like me to help your family with the tefillin?” With what seemed to be a mixture of relief and happiness, ES nodded his head every so slightly, and his eyes seemed to give a twinkle. With Rabbi Wolf’s able assistance, ES’ two sons and four grandsons wrapped tefillin that afternoon in his presence. For five out of the six men it was the first time in their lives that they had performed the mitzvah, but the feeling they had in fulfilling their beloved father/grandfather’s final request and providing him this last moment of nachas was irreplaceable.
That very night, ES passed away. His funeral took place the following Monday, with Rabbi Wolf officiating. He spoke of ES’ sincere commitment to Jewish practice and his desire that his descendants follow in his footsteps. Everyone agreed that the events of that Friday, the day of ES’ passing, certainly reflected that Divine Providence was on his side.
Chicago Well-Being Taskforce
The Chicago Mayor’s office has established an initiative to help protect the wellbeing of its communities’ most vulnerable citizens. The Chicago Well-Being Taskforce organizes faith-based, non-profit service providers to advocate on behalf of seniors isolated from quality internal or external support systems, helping to provide them with services and follow-up.
It did not take long for the Well-Being Taskforce to hear of the CMC’s years of successful experience providing these exact same invaluable services to seniors in the Jewish community. They immediately contacted Rabbi Wolf and invited the CMC to join the Taskforce as a “Community Partner”. Since then Rabbi Wolf has had many occasions to work in conjunction with the Taskforce on behalf of isolated or vulnerable members of the Jewish community. Intimately familiar with the particular needs and sensitivities of Jewish individuals, the rabbi inspires a relationship of understanding and trust with such clients, enabling him to accomplish a great deal on their behalf.
On one such occasion the Well-Being Taskforce referred Rabbi Wolf to visit an elderly lady living alone. Unfortunately, the lady’s near-complete deafness made it extremely difficult for her to manage her affairs, and she lived a very isolated lifestyle. Using a combination of sign language and written communication, Rabbi Wolf created a rapport with the lady, coached her through the process of getting a hearing aid, and helped her make contacts to form a continuing support structure.
In many instances Rabbi Wolf’s position and familiarity in the community has been of great value in seeing the Well-Being Taskforce’s involvement brought to a successful, albeit sometimes unexpected, conclusion. Two separate cases of reported elderly abuse in the Jewish community were brought to Rabbi Wolf’s attention by the Taskforce. Both of these cases had been reported by close relatives of the alleged victim. One report alleged elderly abuse perpetrated by the senior citizen’s caretaker, while the other alleged that the victim was being abused by her spouse.
Exercising sensitivity and discretion, Rabbi Wolf carefully and thoroughly investigated the reports in both of these two cases, and subsequently found that both allegations were definitely false. Sadly, they had been fabricated by family members with an axe to grind. Rabbi Wolf’s prudent and tactful intervention resulted in the two cases being quickly dropped instead of becoming potentially mired in a typically painful, drawn-out and invasive official investigation. It would be difficult to overstate the extent of emotional distress that these families were spared because of Rabbi Wolf’s involvement in defusing the phony allegations with a minimum of fuss and publicity.
Other occasions call for Rabbi Wolf’s intervention to ensure that clients benefit from the government’s full support system. In one such instance, a Jewish woman’s neighbors had called the Taskforce hotline, convinced that she was experiencing a dangerously spiraling mental decline. After hearing the life-threatening statements that the woman had made, the Taskforce administration agreed to allow Rabbi Wolf to handle the case only as long as he would be accompanied into the woman’s apartment by an armed, plain-clothed police officer.
Before entering the apartment, Rabbi Wolf and his undercover companion conferred as to how to approach their mission. “Don’t worry”, said Rabbi Wolf. “This is a Jewish lady and I’m a rabbi. Just leave the talking to me.”
The woman welcomed her guests and immediately began to speak her mind. Animatedly waving her hands for emphasis, she vividly described the uninvited visitors who were stealthily injecting her with poison every night while she slept. Rabbi Wolf reacted with sympathy and concern. With all the rabbinical authority he could muster he advised that she be admitted to a hospital to monitor the effect of these injections. And so it was that Rabbi Wolf and his companion immediately escorted the woman to the hospital, whereupon she undertook a battery of tests and was placed in appropriate psychiatric care. Today, thank G-d, she enjoys the benefits of a strong medical and social support system and her situation remains fairly stable.
A Moving Bar Mitzvah
One frosty Monday in the middle of a particularly harsh Chicago winter, Rabbi Wolf received a call from a local hospital, requesting that he visit an elderly Jewish gentleman. The man was in his nineties and struggling with very poor health. Now the hospital doctors were saying it was just a matter of time.
When Rabbi Wolf arrived at the hospital the patient was not responding. The rabbi stood at bedside saying the shema and various chapters of Psalms. He then spoke with the patient’s son, who had come from out of town and had been eagerly waiting to speak with him. A granddaughter was there as well. The son mentioned to Rabbi Wolf that in the past couple of days his ailing father had requested to have a bar mitzvah. When the son asked what he meant by that, his father replied that he wanted to put on tefillin.
Now, bear in mind that this was a man who throughout his life had refused to go to a synagogue, and he certainly never put on tefillin. But at this final juncture of his life, facing the imminent prospect of passing on, his yiddishe neshama, his Jewish soul sparkled enough to stimulate his interest in putting on tefillin and becoming a bar mitzvah.
Seeing that it was already dark and since tefillin can only be worn during daylight, Rabbi Wolf suggested that he return the following day. By the time morning arrived the elderly patient was flitting in and out of temporary responsiveness. At the request of the son Rabbi Wolf returned to the hospital to preside over a very emotional, if rather unusual bar mitzvah celebration.
That morning was February 13, 2007, a day that will be long remembered by Chicago residents for the remarkable blizzard that slowed traffic to a halt and kept people imprisoned indoors the entire day. But as difficult as Rabbi Wolf’s drive to the hospital was, it could not compare to the pain and discomfort that the patient suffered as he struggled to accomplish his mission of becoming a bar mitzvah. Although lifting his arm and head to put on the tefillin was an extremely slow and arduous task, he endured the severe distress with determination.
After the patient managed to put on the tefillin and recite the first part of Shema with Rabbi Wolf, the rabbi led the little group in singing siman tov u-mazal tov, as the frail and ailing gentleman’s glowing smile of appreciation filled the sterile hospital room. It would be difficult to adequately describe the emotion of this touching scene and the moved reaction of the nurses and doctor who stood by, watching.
As the day wore on the patient’s condition deteriorated further. At one point during the afternoon the man recovered his faculties long enough to tell his son, “I am now a bar mitzvah”. Those were his final words; he passed away shortly thereafter.
The hospital staff members who were aware of these events agreed that they had never experienced anything quite like it before. Even Rabbi Wolf, who has visited many thousands of hospital patients over three decades, has difficulty recalling an experience that was as emotional as the moving fulfillment of a Jewish man’s last wish to have a bar mitzvah.
Turning Off Life Support:
The Jewish Perspective
A large component of the CMC’s work with Jewish hospital patients is in helping to deal with the reality of end-of-life issues. These issues are often very difficult and complex, and family members are frequently quite unprepared to deal with them. They may suddenly face the responsibility of making complicated decisions regarding the commencement, continuation or termination of life support for a dying patient. Further adding to the confusion, medical opinion on the patient may be inconclusive. Worse yet, even if presented as conclusive it is certainly still fallible. What is the Jewish perspective and what are some practical guidelines for the appropriate course of action to take under these exceedingly trying circumstances?
It must be noted that because no two cases are alike, details and applications to specific situations require consultation with a competent rabbinic authority. Nevertheless, there are general principles of halachah (Jewish law) with regard to life support and end-of-life issues.
The foundational principle of halacha in this matter is the absolute and irrevocable sanctity and equal value of all human life. Nobody has the right to decide to proactively shorten his own or anyone else’s life, regardless of painful circumstances, loss of “normal” functionality or other factors. The fact that a person is alive means that G-d desires his presence in this world. To the question: "But for what purpose?" the answer is that G-d's sense of purpose is far deeper than ours, and if we cannot see the crucial value of the unconscious or incognizant person, G-d can and does.
At the same time however, there is also an obligation to alleviate human suffering as far as possible. Sometimes this may hold true even if the alleviation of suffering is not the course that would be consistent with the greatest possible prolongation of life. How do we balance the principles of preserving life and alleviating suffering in situations where the two priorities point in opposite directions?
The guiding rule in these situations lies in the profound difference between intervention and non-intervention. If it is determined that putting a patient onto a life support machine would only prolong suffering and death, then halachic authorities may endorse non-intervention, and they may rule that there is no obligation to put the patient on the machine. On the other hand, active intervention may only be used to prolong life, but not to shorten it. This means that if a patient is already on life support machines, a person may not proactively turn off or detach those machines.
“For they are our life…”
It is axiomatic to Judaism that the halacha must be followed even if we are unable to immediately discern any profit thereby. Sometimes this can be extremely challenging, particularly when the weight of expert opinion points to a different course of action. Nevertheless, we are obligated to trust in G-d’s authority and follow Torah law, even if we don’t always merit to understand the reason for a particular halacha in a particular situation.
The rabbis of the CMC visit Jewish patients in a number of Chicagoland hospitals on a weekly basis. In addition, they are always on-call in cases of emergency. Such was one occasion one late Thursday evening several years ago. Rabbi Aron Wolf received a call from the chaplain’s office of a local hospital. “The family of a Jewish patient are asking for a rabbi to come and say some prayers,” he was told. “The patient had a stroke and the doctors are saying she doesn’t have much time left.”
Rabbi Wolf quickly made his way to the hospital and found the patient to be unresponsive, the last vestiges of her life apparently lingering by sole virtue of the unremitting work of a life support machine, with its persistent blinking, beeping and pumping. Her family, many of whom were not Jewish, looked on as she lay in her bed at death’s door, having gathered together to be with her during her last moments on earth. The atmosphere in the room was muted and somber; the family was resigned to the prospect of the patient’s inevitable passing.
After reciting some appropriate prayers, Rabbi Wolf spoke with the head of the family and heard the doctor’s prognosis. The doctor had said that the patient was in a vegetative state and without any hope of recovery whatsoever. In view of this opinion and of the doctor’s resultant recommendation, the family was now preparing to remove life support from the patient, allowing her to expire.
Rabbi Wolf sat at length with the family and discussed the situation from the perspective of Jewish law. They talked about the infinite value of the gift of human life, which derives from G-d as the ultimate source and only provider of this gift. Rabbi Wolf drew the family’s attention to the inherent fallibility of human knowledge and judgment. He encouraged the family not to intervene by removing the life support machine, but to at least give the patient a little more time. Have faith in G-d and leave the decision to Him, he advised. Although they were reluctant at first, the family agreed to leave the patient on her life support machine, and to reconsider the circumstances a few days later, on the following Monday.
The next day, Friday, saw Rabbi Wolf return to the same hospital to make his regular weekly visits to the Jewish patients. He passed by the room of the patient he had met the night before, hoping but not fully expecting to see a little improvement in her condition. Imagine his complete astonishment and joy upon beholding the surreal spectacle of the formerly unresponsive patient sitting up in her bed, casually enjoying her lunch!
Rabbi Wolf spoke with the patient, sharing her profound gratitude and relief. Together they expressed prayerful thanks to G-d for restoring to her the gift of life. And what was the response from the medical establishment to this miraculous turn of events? “Yes”, a nurse wryly conceded to Rabbi Wolf, “She had quite a turnaround last night, didn’t she?”
The miraculous turnaround that the patient experienced gave the family a new awareness and appreciation for G-d, the giver of life and the issuer of the mitzvos, Jewish law. It is a precious gift indeed to experience such a material example of the literal fulfillment of the daily refrain recited in our evening prayers: “For they (the Torah and mitzvos) are our life and the length of our days…”
Living Positively
Everyone knows that positive thinking can lift a person’s spirits and help him overcome the suffering of physical setbacks and the disappointment of unfulfilled ambition. But as the following account illustrates, having a positive approach may sometimes even literally save a person’s life.
Several years ago the CMC received a phone call from SK, who was concerned that her lonely and elderly father, BK, was falling into a state of depression. The rabbis of the CMC began visiting BK regularly and became close to him. As a result of these visits BK’s spirits were uplifted. He very much enjoyed reconnecting with his Jewish heritage, and benefited greatly from the emergency lifeline system, transportation services, and social support provided by the CMC.
A couple of weeks after BK’s ninetieth birthday SK urgently called the CMC. With a shaken voice she described how her father had been suddenly taken to the hospital with an eye infection. Unfortunately, following an emergency eye surgery BK’s vision was irrevocably damaged and he was left legally blind. SK asked the CMC to visit her father and warned to “be ready” for what the shock and distress of his loss of vision may have done to his mood.
Upon Rabbi Wolf’s arrival, BK murmured a greeting and indicated for him to sit down. “I have something that I need to tell you”, he began with difficulty, apparently digging deep to find the right words with which to express himself. His eyes glistened with emotion for several moments as a range of intense feelings seemed to play across his wizened features. Then he leaned forward intently and continued: “I am just so grateful to G-d for giving me the wonderful good fortune of having my eyesight for ninety blessed years.”
During the following years BK continued to apply this remarkably positive outlook to his new circumstances in life, even in the face of increasing health issues. In one nostalgic moment he reminisced over the short time he had spent in Hebrew school as a child, and expressed regret that he “had started a course of religious studies but had never finished”. However, it was not long before BK’s sense of regret gave way to his determinedly positive mind-set: “But I guess that’s really the way it’s supposed to be for all of us in our studies, isn’t it, Rabbi? I mean, we never finish learning, because there’s always so much more that we have to learn…”
In recent months BK has been living at a nursing facility that is equipped to care for his many needs. But even so, his health condition fluctuates. One day his daughter notified the CMC that he had not eaten for two days. Rabbi Wolf went to the nursing home and was informed by the staff that BK was refusing food and could not be forced to eat. Every time they brought him food he would simply close his mouth as tight as could be. The nursing home staff assumed that BK had chosen to relinquish his hold on life, so they had given up on him and were just awaiting the inevitable…
But Rabbi Wolf knew of BK’s unrelenting determination to retain a positive approach; regardless of the circumstances, it was not in his character to just give up. Upon speaking to BK he found him to be uninterested in food and mentally confused, but clearly not choosing to willingly abandon life itself. He suggested that BK be admitted to the hospital to try to turn things around. Sure enough, it was ascertained in the hospital that one of BK’s new medications had a side effect of drastically reducing appetite! Once BK’s medications were adjusted he started eating normally again.
Unfortunately, several months later BK suffered a debilitating stroke and he passed away peacefully in his room after a few days. May the soul of Berel ben Leah rest in peace, and may he be a “good intercessor” in heaven for all of us.
Your Life May Depend Upon It
RM had struggled for some time with limited mobility due to a lame foot. When his wife passed away he was left living by himself, and the resultant loneliness in his life presented him with many new challenges. In view of these new circumstances, Rabbi Aron Wolf of the CMC spoke to RM about being prepared for the possibility of a future emergency. He introduced RM to the idea of wearing a portable Lifeline emergency bracelet.
Although RM balked at first at the proposition of wearing an emergency bracelet, he was impressed by Rabbi Wolf’s genuine concern for his welfare, and eventually realized that overcoming his pride and adjusting to the reality of his circumstances was the smart approach. He gratefully accepted Rabbi Wolf’s assistance in setting up the system, and tutorials in its proper usage.
Several months later, RM was sitting at his kitchen table one evening. He had finished his dinner and was about to wind up his affairs for the day. To his dismay however, he found that he was physically unable to rise from his chair. Rooted to his place and perspiring heavily, his body began to sway and shake involuntarily.
RM’s situation was desperate. He was stuck in his place, suffering tremendous pain and absolutely incapable of reaching a telephone to call for help. But before his anxiety and alarm could turn to full-blown panic RM remembered the Lifeline bracelet on his wrist and, with trembling fingers, pushed the button. The life-saving device put him into instant contact with the Lifeline switchboard workers, who gave him immediate instructions and speedily dispatched paramedics to his home.
The paramedics gave RM emergency medical attention and brought him to the hospital, where he spent days recovering from the ordeal. His doctor in the hospital informed him that he had suffered a heart aneurism, and would not have lived more than another hour or two had he not been brought to the hospital as quickly as he was.
Thank G-d, it is now six years later, and RM remains alive and well, eternally grateful for the Lifeline emergency system that without any doubt saved his life. He now urges as many people as possible to take advantage of this vital service, especially the elderly and the infirm – your life may depend upon it!
If you know of any senior citizen living alone who can benefit from this “medical alert system”, please refer them to the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign and have them call our toll free number (866) MY-RABBI. We will make every effort to help them obtain this vital life-saving device for a minimal fee, or if necessary, even at no charge to them.
Mezuzah Check
The laws governing what makes a mezuzah kosher are numerous and complex, and it often happens that the ravages of time can cause the lettering of a kosher mezuzah scroll to become blemished and thus invalid. Jewish law prescribes the intervals at which mezuzahs should be checked to ensure their continued kosher status.
However, in addition to these regular examinations there is a highly commendable and often strikingly successful tradition for individuals to have their mezuzahs checked as a defensive measure against adverse circumstances, particularly the misfortune of ill health. The following episodes illustrate two rather different incidences of such an experience.
Long Distance Protection
One day Rabbi Aron Wolf received a phone call from a Chicagoan gentleman wishing to have his mezuzahs checked. During the conversation he revealed that he was prompted to take this action as a result of various ailments and difficulties that had beset members of his extended family. His mother in-law, in particular, had been struck by a serious illness, and although she lived far away in Florida he nevertheless felt that checking his own mezuzahs at such a time was an appropriate course of action for him to take.
Sure enough, the gentleman’s hunch proved to be right on the mark, and in a startlingly precise manner at that. All of his mezuzahs were indeed kosher, with the exception of one. The sole invalid mezuzah was the very mezuzah that had been affixed to the door of the guest room, the very room in which his mother in-law stayed whenever she came to visit her family in Chicago!
From China To Chicago To Pinpoint An Infection
Rabbi Wolf recently received a phone call originating from a highly unusual location – China! The young man described how his grandfather, Dr. BK, had been taken to the intensive care unit of a hospital near Chicago. The patient was suffering with debilitating symptoms of an infection that had spread throughout his body, but the hospital staff had been unable to locate the exact source of the infection in order to treat it effectively. Meanwhile, Dr. BK’s constitution was being severely worn down as even breathing became increasingly difficult.
At a loss for what he could do to help his grandfather all the way from China, Dr BK’s grandson suddenly had a brainwave. After some quick searching he found the number for the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign, picked up the phone and asked Rabbi Wolf to check the mezuzahs at his grandparents’ home.
Rabbi Wolf hurried over at the first opportunity and found that indeed, the home’s current mezuzahs were invalid. He thereupon immediately affixed new, kosher mezuzahs to the house. Soon thereafter Dr BK’s hospital doctors pinpointed the source of his infection and began a suitable course of treatment. A short while later his recovery began to pick up speed and move steadily towards full recuperation.
Story of "Mrs. A"
" Medical Alert System Comes To The Rescue "
Mrs A. was an elderly lady who lived alone in her home in Skokie, IL. Sprightly and energetic for her advanced years, she ran her affairs and managed her house with relative aplomb.
Nevertheless, her children kept a close eye on her. Without fail they called her at an appointed time every day of the week (except for Shabbos, during which electronic communication is prohibited, except under immediately life-threatening circumstances), just to make sure that she was okay. And, acting upon the advice and recommendation of Rabbi Aron Wolf from the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign, they implored Mrs A. to wear a Lifeline bracelet in order to be protected in case of an emergency of absolute urgency.
Mrs. A’s natural reaction was to resist her children’s appeal. After all, she was just fine taking care of herself, and anyway, didn’t her children call her on the phone every day? If anything happened to her, G-d forbid, wouldn’t it be safe to assume that her non-response to the daily phone call would alert them to her position, and help would be obtained in plenty of time?
Despite their mother’s protestations, Mrs. A’s children, with invaluable assistance from Rabbi Wolf, prevailed upon her and persuaded her to wear a Lifeline bracelet. And so it was that Rabbi Wolf spent one fine Sunday morning installing the system in Mrs. A’s home and instructing her in how to use it. She still didn’t feel completely convinced of its necessity, but agreed to wear the bracelet, if only to set her children’s minds at ease.
Less than a week later, Mrs. A sustained a fall while alone in her home early on Saturday morning. The impact of the fall broke her hip and she lay in agony immobile on the floor, dazed and helpless. Since her children would not be calling her that day (as it was Shabbos), no one would have learned of her plight until the next daily phone call more than twenty-four hours later on Sunday morning.
But by Divine Providence Mrs. A was forearmed, and pressed the button on her Lifeline bracelet while lying prone on the floor. Literally within seconds, the operator's voice from the Lifeline monitoring service broadcast to inquire after Mrs. A's well-being. After assessing the situation the operator assured Mrs A. that help would be arriving shortly. The emergency personnel immediately arrived and she was transported to the nearest emergency room. The doctors discovered that she had indeed fractured her hip and would benefit from immediate surgery. One of her children on the emergency list was contacted and came to her bedside in the hospital, but by the time the rest of the family learned of her misadventures she was already a significant way into recovery! There is no doubt that this emergency alert system prevented unnecessarily prolonged agony and suffering and helped Mrs. A. receive medical assistance in a matter of minutes instead of hours!
If you know of any senior citizen living alone who may benefit from this “medical alert system” then please refer them to the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign. We will make every effort in helping them to obtain this vital life-saving device for a minimal fee, or if necessary, even at no charge to them.
Story of "L.C."
"Chicago Mitzvah Campaign Saves A Life"
In April 2009 Rabbi Aron Wolf of the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign received an urgent call from a case manager at the Chicago Department of Aging. This particular case manager periodically contacts Rabbi Wolf with names of Jewish clients regarding whom she feels that the CMC may be able to contribute to their well-being. Presently she was focused on an 84-year-old Jewish client, “LC”, whose forlorn and unmanageable circumstances were becoming a cause for great concern.
The case manager explained that LC lived alone and seemed to be barely eating. The appalling living conditions in her apartment betrayed her inability to cope, and her financial affairs were not being adequately administered. Furthermore, in the face of this significant and steady deterioration to her health and overall well-being, LC stopped communicating. She simply had not responded to the many overtures - whether in writing, by phone, or in person - that were made to her by her case manager at the department or by any of the other organizations that had tried to reach out to her. Being familiar with the CMC’s experience at helping elderly Jewish folks who find themselves struggling with such difficult circumstances, the case manager called upon Rabbi Wolf to help deal with LC’s progressively desperate situation.
Rabbi Wolf immediately arranged to visit LC in her apartment. Upon his arrival he found LC sitting in her living room in pitch darkness. After exchanging cordial greetings Rabbi Wolf turned a light on, whereupon he observed that LC’s disposition was agitated and her mind disconcerted. As the visit continued her disorientation and befuddlement became increasingly evident in the rapid rate and confused content of her speech; moreover, she practiced a bizarre routine of hurriedly encircling the apartment at thirty-second intervals as she talked.
From the total lack of food in the apartment Rabbi Wolf concluded that LC had indeed not been eating properly, and was probably severely malnourished. Clearly, she was in a poor state of physical and mental health. What would be the key to turn her situation around? Acting on a hunch, the Rabbi asked LC about her medications, but failed to receive a lucid response. He glanced at the medication containers and noticed that she had duplicate bottles of high blood pressure medication.
Rabbi Wolf immediately suspected that LC’s deteriorating condition might be due in large part to her taking double doses of this medication. He thought of admitting her to a hospital psych ward and sought advice from SR, an old contact in a nearby hospital, on how to proceed. Under the circumstances it was certainly no easy task, but the Rabbi invoked his rabbinical authority to convince LC to voluntarily admit herself into professional medical care at the hospital.
That same night Rabbi Wolf drove LC to the hospital and helped her transition through the admission process and the initial testing procedures. The subsequent medical reports from the blood tests taken that night showed that the level of electrolytes in her blood was in a terrible state; in fact, the doctor remarked that had she not been admitted at that time into medical care at the hospital she very well may not have survived the night.
LC spent 10 days in the psych ward of the hospital, straightening out her medication and recuperating from her ordeal. Although she managed to recover much of her health and equilibrium, it was generally agreed upon that she could no longer live alone and would need to take up residence in a nursing home. Once again, Rabbi Wolf stepped forward. He helped identify a suitable nursing home and also shouldered the responsibility of facilitating her admission and transition into her new environment. He even arranged for moving her belongings and cleaning out her old apartment!
Now two months later, LC is happy and secure in her new setting, and has been enjoying the social scene with her fellow residents at the nursing home. A music enthusiast and accomplished piano player, she enjoys enthralling her newfound friends by playing “golden oldies” for them on the piano.
Having experienced the trauma of teetering at the edge of the abyss, LC is now filled with wonder at G-d’s graces, and marvels at her new lease on life. She feels tremendous gratitude to Rabbi Wolf for being fully there for her when her very survival was hanging by a thread, and for dedicatedly devoting his energy and the resources of the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign to rehabilitating her life anew.
Story of "Alex Lev"
" A Miracle Barmitzvah "
A barmitzvah is a solemn and momentous turning point in the life of every Jewish teen, and it is a proud and poignant experience for his parents. But for the Lev family it was much more than that; it was a miracle.
Baruch and Olga Lev immigrated to the US from Russia, where Jewish observance had been persecuted by government authorities. In coming to America they happily anticipated the freedom to raise their son Alex with a strong Jewish education and religious training in the tenets and practices of Judaism. They dreamed of the barmitzvah celebration they would hold for him, and the wonderful yiddishe nachas they would have in seeing him formally assume the responsibilities of Jewish adulthood.
But in September 2008 tragedy struck: a devastating accident left twelve year-old Alex Lev a paraplegic, destroying his prospects of leading a normal teenage life. During the months following the accident, while he was shifted from one hospital to another undergoing various treatments, his family worked on developing coping strategies and keeping everyone’s spirits up.
As the date of his barmitzvah approached in June 2009 Alex was still hospitalized, and was capable of only very limited communication. The blessings marking the traditional barmitzvah rite of passage would be very difficult for him, and the challenges involved in organizing a suitable prayer service and accompanying celebration with Alex still in hospital would have seemed insurmountable to many.
But local rabbis from various social services organizations refused to allow the Lev family’s dream to be obliterated. Chai Lifeline, Chai Center Lubavitch Chabad of Wilmette, and the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign were determined to provide Alex with every opportunity to celebrate his barmitzvah in style. Baruch and Olga were amazed at what these dedicated and resourceful organizations were able to accomplish.
Rabbi Shlomo Crandall of Chai Lifeline, Rabbi Aron Wolf of the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign and Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein of Chabad in Wilmette teamed up to throw a Bar Mitzvah celebration that will be long remembered by Baruch, Olga, Alex and their guests. The mezanine floor of the Chicago Rehabilitation Center was converted into a makeshift synagogue for the prayer service. Baruch and Alex were both called to the Torah that was brought in especially for the occasion, and recited the blessings. Despite Alex’s physical difficulties, Rabbi Aron Wolf assisted him to put on and pray with his new pair of tefillin that were happily donated by the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign.
The formal prayer service was followed by a joyous celebration, with a professional musician and photographer adding to the festivities and the delicious refreshments provided by local caterers. These volunteers all teamed up together with the above-mentioned organizations in providing all the services necessary to facilitate this amazing event. A group of Cheder Lubavitch students enhanced the merriment with their high spirits and lively singing and dancing. Speakers at the celebration included hospital nurses and therapists as well as Baruch, who spoke to the gathering about the meaning of a barmitzvah, and thanked everyone for giving of themselves to help make the affair such an uplifting and memorable occasion for Alex.
Indeed, the uplifting emotions and the memories of Alex Lev’s “miracle barmitzvah” are sure to live on for a very long time for all those who were present.
The Lev family has a wonderful appreciation for the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign and Chai Lifeline for their ongoing support during the nine months since Alex’s accident. As it does for numerous families in hospitals throughout Chicago, the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign continues to provide special Shabbat meals in the hospital every week for Baruch and Olga, who spend countless days and nights with Alex in the hospital.
Chai Lifeline, which has provided emotional, social and financial support to the Lev family since Alex’s accident, continues to offer its special assistance to the family, and for this Boruch and Olga are extremely grateful.
Story of "A.L."
"מה' מצעדי גבר כוננו"...
"From Hashem are man’s footsteps are established"
Mr. “A.L.” lives in the Jewish community of Chicago. During the summer of 2007 he traveled 350 miles to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for a three day business trip. Arriving shortly after 1:00pm, AL decided to “daven” (pray) the afternoon service before starting his appointments. His siddur (prayer book) had been packed together with his tefillin. He opened his suitcase and found the siddur, but noticed that his tefillin were absent. Frantically, he began searching everywhere throughout the car’s interior, the trunk, and his suitcase, but all to no avail.
AL was sure he had brought the tefillin with him, for he absolutely never leaves home without them. In fact, he had not missed a day of putting on tefillin in thirty-six years, so his present predicament had him feeling quite beside himself. Here he was, in a small mid-western city with no orthodox synagogue or rabbi (it was a three hundred mile round trip to the closest rabbi), and he needed a pair of tefillin for the next two days.
Why was this happening? How could it be? The thought of missing a day of fulfilling this most important mitzvah was simply inconceivable to him. Unsure of his next step and certainly unwilling to concede defeat, AL decided to let the matter rest for a short time while he attended his business meetings.
At around 6:00pm AL turned his attention back to the dilemma of how to procure a pair of tefillin in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He decided on a course of action that would require a lot of old-fashioned yiddishe chutzpah and an equal amount of mazal to succeed. Flipping through the pages of a telephone book, he picked out the most Jewish-sounding names and called them one-by-one.
“Excuse me Mrs. Cohen, do you know of someone who would let me use his tefillin? I left mine in Chicago.” Mrs. Cohen was not Jewish. Mrs. Goldberg didn’t know what tefillin was. Mr. Levine wasn’t home. The responses were varied in their tone and content, but all came to the same bottom line – “no”.
Undeterred, AL persevered in his mission. Finally, after more than a dozen calls, his determination and persistence paid off. On the other end of the line was a man who confirmed that he had a pair of tefillin. Unfortunately, he suggested that AL might find them unsuitable for use, due to their age and dilapidated condition. Following AL’s further inquiry, the man explained that his tefillin were of poor quality, and repeatedly alluded to the fact that while he would have liked to buy a new pair of good quality tefillin, the cost was beyond his budget, especially in view of the fact that he was currently unemployed.
Upon hearing of the man’s position, AL immediately detected an opportunity to help facilitate the great mitzvah of tefillin. He informed the man that he had a friend who was a reliable expert on such matters, and might be the best source for procuring quality tefillin at an affordable price. AL even offered to pay for half the cost of the tefillin. Touched by AL’s enthusiasm and concern for his spiritual welfare, the man agreed to his generous offer.
Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Aron Wolf of the “Chicago Mitzvah Campaign” received phone calls from both AL and his newfound friend from Eau Claire. Appreciating the man’s genuine desire for tefillin as well as the tremendous Divine Providence in the developing situation, Rabbi Wolf enthusiastically committed to send the tefillin forthwith, by FedEx overnight service, so that the man could immediately begin fulfilling this precious mitzvah on a daily basis. Although overcome with gratitude, the man nevertheless protested that perhaps Rabbi Wolf might prefer to receive payment before sending the tefillin. Rabbi Wolf, however, insisted that the urgency to fulfill the mitzvah brooked no delay, and averred his trust that the man would satisfy his financial obligation.
No sooner had the deal been completed and Rabbi Wolf said goodbye to the grateful man from Eau Claire than Rabbi Wolf’s telephone rang again. The incredulous sound of AL’s voice boomed through the phone wires. “You’ll never believe it, Rabbi Wolf”, he exclaimed, "I just found my tefillin!"
As it turned out, AL had indeed packed his tefillin for the trip to Eau Claire, but he had inexplicably placed them in a most unlikely corner of his briefcase, a very odd place to keep his tefillin. Throughout the long and aggravating day they were actually right next to him all along! There they had remained concealed from him, despite their close proximity, until he accomplished the mission that G-d had assigned him - to help a single, isolated fellow Jew from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, procure a new, kosher pair of tefillin.
Today, almost two years later, Rabbi Wolf still stays in touch with that Jew from Eau Claire, encouraging him in his tefillin performance and other religious observances. Together they marvel at the wondrous ways of Divine Providence, and reminisce over the remarkable story of how it came to be that AL’s frustration over unexpectedly losing his tefillin and his consternation at being unable to perform the mitzvah became the catalyst for another Jew acquiring a new pair of tefillin and gaining the ability to perform this most precious mitzvah.
A Story of Divine Providence
The Rabbis and volunteers at CMC often have the opportunity to experience and observe Divine Providence in action during the course of their daily activities. The following story illustrates how an effort made by an individual to initiate good works or a holy endeavor may be rewarded with a surprising and unexpected display of such Divine Providence.
As part of his CMC duties, Rabbi Raphael Jaworowski is the Jewish chaplain on call at Kindred Lakeshore hospital, a long-term medical care facility on the north side of Chicago. One day, the administration at Kindred called Rabbi Jaworowski and informed him of a Jewish patient who had recently been admitted to the hospital, Mr. ES. In response to the rabbi’s inquiry, the administrator said that ES was in fairly stable condition, but was prone to irritability due to severe discomfort.
Arriving at the hospital armed with his tefillin and prayer book, a sympathetic smile, and an inexhaustible treasure of patience, Rabbi Jaworowski found ES lying in his bed, attached to a large number of tubes and machines. Upon noticing his visitor, ES gave the rabbi a warm welcome, and immediately engaged him in candid conversation. He lost no time in reciting his ailments and decrying his condition of health, but through the veneer of irascibility Rabbi Jaworowski detected a warm, generous, and virtuous Jewish heart. Before long the two were convivially discussing religion, politics, and the social condition, and exchanging details of their own histories, goals, and world outlooks.
From the conversation it emerged that ES had grown up in a family with a solid sense of Jewish culture, but very little religious knowledge or practice. Still, he had been imbued from early life with a strong feeling of responsibility for his fellow man, and this had remained a powerful and influential theme throughout his adult life.
ES had chosen to make his career as a radio disk jockey, and over the years he had carved out a place as a uniquely popular radio host on the late night shift. Not content to just sit back and enjoy the success he had earned for himself, ES used his fame to benefit society. He put his heart and soul into publicizing fundraisers for the poor and disadvantaged, selflessly taking it upon his shoulders to raise millions of dollars for those in greatest need.
During the months that ES spent in Kindred hospital, Rabbi Jaworowski spent a lot of time with him, wrapping tefillin, praying, talking, and schmoozing. Unfortunately, ES’ body was not responding as hoped to the hospital’s treatments. Moreover, the many months he had spent confined in a bed resulted in loss of muscle and other secondary difficulties. After a time he was transferred rather unexpectedly to different medical facilities, and he and the rabbi unfortunately lost track of each other.
Rabbi Jaworowski was very disappointed at this sudden loss of contact. Although he continued his attempts to locate ES, he was prevented from doing so because of the new, rigid, patient privacy laws. It now seemed likely that ES would be left facing deteriorating health and possibly end-of-life issues as well, without the rabbi at his side to offer spiritual support, counsel, and access to Jewish tradition. Who would be there for him to ensure that he would be provided with a kosher Jewish burial, should the worst eventuate?
But Divine Providence has its own wondrous ways of operating, regardless of any apparent difficulties.
Many months later, Rabbi Wolf received a phone call out of the blue at the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign. On the other end of the phone line was someone who had heard on the news that the well-known radio personality, ES, had passed away. Figuring from his last name that ES was probably Jewish, the caller decided to contact Rabbi Wolf and raise the issue of providing ES with a traditional Jewish burial. After all, who knew whether or not ES had any family members to take care of this most important mitzvah?
Rabbi Wolf barely recognized ES’ name, and it certainly did not ring a familiar bell to him as belonging to an individual who had prior connections with the CMC. Nevertheless, after hanging up the phone he immediately began making phone calls to see what he could do about the matter. One of those calls was placed to the Chicago Jewish Funeral Home, to inquire as to whether ES’s name had been registered there. Several minutes later Rabbi Wolf’s phone rang. Apparently, only moments after he had spoken with the funeral home, ES’s brother called the home concerning his deceased brother. Upon hearing from the director that a certain Rabbi Wolf had called to inquire about ES just moments earlier, this brother immediately decided that he might as well request that the same Rabbi Wolf perform the funeral service.
Thus it miraculously materialized that ES received a kosher Jewish burial, as this is always the stipulation made by Rabbi Wolf before undertaking to perform the funeral service. Rabbi Jaworowski’s concern for his patient’s access to Jewish tradition was taken care of by an open display of Divine Providence. Although Rabbi Wolf had been unaware of Rabbi Jaworowski’s concern with ES and his whereabouts, he performed the traditional funeral service, and is now saying the kaddish for the customary eleven months of mourning as well.
Although ES never married and did not have the responsibility of raising his own family, he truly lived his life carrying out the Biblical mandate to be his “brother’s keeper”. At the end of his life, the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign was privileged to be part of the Divine Providence with which this fraternal sense of responsibility was reciprocated to him.
A Jewish Burial
Every Rosh Hashanah the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign arranges for volunteers to blow shofar for Jewish patients at many Chicago area hospitals. This past Rosh Hashanah (5769), Rabbi Aron Wolf took his shofar and walked from West Rogers Park to Weiss Memorial hospital overlooking Lake Michigan. There, among other Jewish patients, he met a bedridden middle-aged man, MW, who was very happy and relieved to see a rabbi.
After fulfilling the mitzvah of hearing the shofar, MW told Rabbi Wolf about his dire health condition. His doctors had diagnosed him with two different types of blood diseases, each of which was considered terminal. In fact, over six months prior they had informed him that he had at most half a year left to live. Rabbi Wolf encouraged MW and cheered him with words of support and comfort.
The conversation between rabbi and patient turned to matters of the spirit. Regrettably, MW had never been given the benefit of more than minimal exposure to Jewish education and observance. Now in middle-age, with his body failing him, his soul’s flame was beginning to sparkle, and he expressed interest in refreshing and renewing his connection to Judaism. Upon Rabbi Wolf’s advice he resolved to move forward in the areas of putting on tefillin, prayer, and Torah study.
In view of MW’s deteriorating physical condition, Rabbi Wolf inquired after his family situation. It turned out that aside from a brother living interstate, he had a non-Jewish wife and no children. Delicately, Rabbi Wolf broached the subject of funeral arrangements. MW related that he had instructed his wife that, when the time would come, his body should be cremated. His parents were both buried (in separate locations) in Waldheim cemetery, and it was his wish that his body’s ashes be sprinkled on his father’s grave!!
Rabbi Wolf was disappointed and saddened, although hardly surprised, at this revelation. Unfortunately, there are many Jews today who do not realize the importance of adhering to Jewish practice in death as in life. He spoke earnestly with MW about the importance of a traditional Jewish funeral, its customs and its significance. MW seemed to be taken unawares by all of this new information, and unsure of how to digest it, but he was obviously touched by the rabbi’s heartfelt words and demeanor.
After a pause, MW began to speak hesitatingly of “difficult times”, of financial hardship that affected his ability to pay for even such basic items as food and other household bills. It was clear to Rabbi Wolf that the difference in expense between a funeral and a cremation was a significant obstacle to MW. On the spot, Rabbi Wolf assured MW that he would take care of all expenses and logistics for the funeral. MW said that he would think it over, and Rabbi Wolf wished him a gut Yom Tov and bade him farewell.
It was two or three days later when Rabbi Wolf received a call from MW’s brother in Arizona, who apparently wanted to confirm for himself the veracity of the report he had received from MW concerning the rabbi’s offer. Soon afterwards MW called Rabbi Wolf directly and proposed that everything be put in writing. The rabbi enthusiastically agreed, and suggested that perhaps an empty plot might be found next to one of MW’s parents in Waldheim. Upon further investigation, he discovered that indeed there was an available space neighboring MW’s father.
It should be noted that Waldheim cemetery is divided into individual sections that belong to various organizations and congregations, each of which have their own sets of rules concerning to whom and at what price they sell their funeral plots. Thus, the next challenge facing Rabbi Wolf was to ascertain who owned the section in which MW’s father was buried, and then to approach the owners and gain approval for discounted terms for the plot for MW, an indigent but sincere client, next to his father.
Thankfully, as it turned out, that particular section of Waldheim was owned by the Eichenstein shul. Rabbi Eichenstein immediately and gladly agreed to Rabbi Wolf’s request for his crucial assistance in facilitating such an important mitzvah as a kosher Jewish burial. On the night before Yom Kippur Rabbi Wolf met MW at his home, and there they signed the documents setting forth the rabbi’s undertaking of responsibility to provide for all of MW’s funeral arrangements and expenses.
Defying his doctors’ expectations and despite frequent urgent trips to the hospital, MW clung to life for several more weeks. During this time Rabbi Wolf kept in close contact with him, providing encouragement, support, and spiritual counsel. He connected MW with his “Chicago Mitzvah Campaign” colleague, Rabbi Raphael Jaworowski. During these weeks Rabbi Jaworowski visited MW regularly in Weiss Memorial, helping him to put on tefillin and pray, and discussing with him words of wisdom from the Torah.
It was obvious that MW looked forward to these visits with great anticipation. Disregarding his physical weakness and discomfort, he would sit up in the hospital bed and stretch out his bruised and aching arm to be wrapped in the tefillin. Although his condition prevented him from talking much at all, he would make a remarkable effort to proudly repeat the words of the Shema, slowly, laboriously, in both Hebrew and English. His wife and nurses often remarked how glad and excited MW was about these visits, and how this happiness brought about a tangible physical benefit in his physical condition.
Several weeks passed and MW’s soul took leave of his body, leaving life for the living. Rabbi Wolf provided for all of the arrangements in full accord with traditional Jewish practice, and personally conducted MW’s funeral at Waldheim cemetery, in the presence of a minyan. Thus did he fulfill the promise he made to MW weeks earlier in Weiss Memorial Hospital, on Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish new year. And, perhaps more importantly, thus was MW’s soul given the opportunity to benefit from a proper Jewish burial, an appropriate and befittingly Jewish way to be born into its new journey in the world of truth.
