Nov Bulletin 09.indd - Temple Beth El

temple news
CHILDREN IN PAIN
- CAN YOU HELP?
By Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
I received this heartbreaking
email a short time ago, and
hope that someone in our
Jewish Community can help
these Jewish children find a
home. Please contact Beth
Gerber in Columbus, Ohio if
you have an interest in helping
these kids. I can only imagine
their heartache and fear.
Thank you for whatever you
can do!
With hope,
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
“There are four Jewish
children in Toledo, OH who
need a Jewish family to adopt
them. They are ages 14(m)
7(f) 5(f) and 3 month old.
The older three were adopted
by the maternal grandmother.
She died about 1½ months
ago. The baby was placed
with the county for adoption.
All four children are in the
same foster home. Thank you
for your interest.”
Beth Gerber LCSW
Jewish Family Services
1070 College Avenue
Columbus, OH 43209
(614)-559-0119
F (614)-231-4978
bgerber@jfscolumbus.org
NEEDED!!
BRAILLE BINDERY
VOLUNTEERS
Call Ilene Sawyer
for details.
248-788-0358
HOSPITAL VISITS
By Keren Alpert, Rabbinic Associate
In years past, rabbis and Temple staff could call up the local hospitals and get
the “list of the Jewish patients”. This is no longer the case. Due to HIPAA
(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), patients’ privacy is much
more closely guarded, and hospitals are no longer permitted to give us Jewish
patient names. Now, we are only told that congregants are in the hospital when
we are informed by a family member or the patients themselves.
If a congregant is in a local hospital because of illness or a scheduled surgical
procedure, Rabbi Syme and I try to determine if a visit would be appropriate.
Not every person feels good about receiving visitors at the hospital. Certainly, the old joke is still
true: You’re never fully covered by your insurance…or your hospital gown. In the hospital setting,
people often do not feel that they look their best and they feel a bit exposed in every way: weaker,
not in their own clothes, and having to face issues of illness.
If the congregants are up for a visit, Rabbi Syme and I try to make arrangements to see them
in the hospital setting. If they are not receiving visitors and wish to receive a phone call, we try
to accommodate that wish as well. Nowadays, most congregants’ stays at the hospital are much
shorter than in years past. So, we don’t always get the information in time to make the visit.
Again, if you know of a family member going into the hospital or you yourself are, please put
calling the Temple on your to-do list, so we don’t miss each other.
Generally, when Rabbi Syme and I go to the congregant’s hospital room, we listen to their
concerns and the concerns of their family members. Their trip to the hospital is always eventful
and somewhat traumatic, and they usually appreciate retelling the story of their admission and
their treatment. Sometimes a congregant will tell us of their fears or how this hospitalization has
affected them and their family members. We try to spend enough time to listen to the congregant
and help them process what they are feeling and not so much time that they want us to leave.
If it’s okay with the congregant, we’ll often offer a short prayer, asking for G-d to bless them
with strength and courage as they face the short-term and long-term difficulties that illness can
present. We offer the prayer, not because we are G-d’s agents, but because when two Jews speak
of holy matters, G-d is present.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Again, please remember to call the Rabbis’
Study when you or a loved one is in the hospital.
TOM JABLONSKI, MITZVAH MODEL
For more than 20 years, Tom Jablonski has served as Temple Beth El’s Executive
Director. To the many members and staff who have sought his advice or
assistance, relied on his knowledge, trusted that his door would always be open to
listen to their concerns and, yes, their complaints, it should have been no surprise
on Rosh Hashana when Rabbi Syme named him the Mitzvah Model.
“Every year,” said Rabbi Syme, ”it is our privilege to recognize a member or members of the
staff who have shown extraordinary commitment to the congregation. The person we honor this
year has touched the lives of every family in Beth El, of every member of the staff…has touched
with caring and love, every program of this congregation for decades. I need not multiply words,
but I know you will understand why we call to the bimah our Mitzvah Model of 5770, Tom
Jablonski.”
As Tom ascended the bimah, to the sustained applause of the congregation, Rabbi Syme read
the words written on the Mitzvah Model certificate. “Temple Beth El proudly recognizes Tom
Jablonski as a Mitzvah Model who has performed extraordinary acts of caring in our congregation
and community and whose life is and shall be a blessing to those in need of kindness and concern”,
adding, “for all that you have done for all that you are, we love you”.
Tom’s simple response…”Thank you for letting me serve each and every one of you to the best
of my ability.”
4