The Jews are preparing for the upcoming holiday Rosh Hashana. The supermarkets in Jerusalem are packed, Israelis buy groceries, as if there will be nothing to eat next week. Let alone all the business with buying presents. Everyone is just busy; if not with food preparations then definitely with cleaning the house.
There will be intense prayers, listening to the Shofar, having a delicious Yom Tov meal and so on. What we should not forget are those Jews who either cannot afford a great Yom Tov meal and depend on welfare. At the moment, various religious and further private organizations are giving out food packages for the needy. Wine, meat, rice and a few candies for the kids. Thousands of Israelis depend on those packages.
Plenty of haredi families are also struggeling and can hardly afford the expensive upcoming holidays such as Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. Some time ago, I interviewed a Chesed organization located in Mea Shearim and, in case someone is in the lucky position and doesn't know what to do with all of his money, "LINAT HA'CHESED" could be a great Zedakah opportunity.
Besides the needy, there are also lots of Jews spending the Chagim in hospital. For the past eight or nine weeks, I have been visiting the 19 - year - old American girl Jordan at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. I haven't written about it in detail yet but will do so after Rosh Hashana. About two months ago, Jordan and I got hit by two Egged buses in front of the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. One of the bus drivers had left his bus without using the brakes properly and his bus started to move backwards injuring Jordan and me. I was out of hospital after one night but suffered from bruised ribs and skin abrasions. Jordan was severely injured and is only returning to the US these days. After three operations at Hadassah, she will be undergoing rehabilitation in the States. Both of us were extremely lucky having survived the accident. Not only that but we were also saved from suffering internal injuries. For me, this was THE year having survived a bus rolling upon me. It seems as if G - d Himself was turning the wheel, as the bus pushed me onto another bus but, at the same time, made a turn to the other side.
Unfortunately, most of us only appreciate health when we are getting sick. When we suddenly cannot even tie our shoes anymore or, like me, are not able to use the toilet. Only then we realize how precious it is to be healthy.
The accident made me think and let me tell you: "All the money in the world won't help you when a bus is moving towards and hitting you !" We are all so terribly busy working, planning our lives, our careers but we forget the most important thing: TO LIVE !
To all those people who are forced to spend Rosh Hashana in hospital:
May you have a speedy recovery, Refu'ah Shlemah and a great holiday !
Link:
The LINAT HA'CHESED HOMEPAGE
Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem
The Emergency Section
Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital has a constant exhibition of the famous Marc Chagall windows. The exhibition is only open at certain hours and does cost entrance fee.
The above drawings are from Marc Chagall part not part of the direct exhibition.
Sunset: View from Hadassah over the Jerusalem Forest
Photos: Miriam Woelke
All the money in the world won't help you the moment the bus comes at you - but definately helps afterwards. Way better to recover in a luxury apartment with help to cook, clean and being able to do the things you enjoy, eating the foods you like and not having to get back to some low-paying manual job.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteI don't have a luxury apartment and if you think that the injured in this accident will receive millions of Shekels as compensation, then you are wrong. We are in Israel and not in the US.