Where in the world are Jews, Fish?!

By Yehuda Silverman, Staff Writter


On the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah, I had the opportunity to go on Mivtzoim with Dovi Small. Accompanying Dovi and I were Yossi Emunah and the three Botnick children.
With Machzorim and a Shofar in hand, we briskly ventured out of Young Israel and began our journey. The two destinations included the Hospital and the lake for Tashlich.

The weather outside was chilly, and the cold wind brushed against our faces and tried to knock away our hats and Kippas. Even though we were informed that the walk would be about 30 minutes, it felt like time had accelerated; because we arrived at the majestic hospital in what seemed like a few minutes.

As we pondered as to how we would enter the hospital, a sudden rush of happiness spread into my inner self, and I was ecstatic to feel such warmth emanating from me. When we finally figured out where the correct entrance was, we quietly went up the stairs and began our descent into the unknown. The mazelike structure became very perplexing, and Dovi had to ask various workers in the hospital how to get to the proper rooms.

We said to the Jewish people “Have a sweet new year”, and Yossi said the Berachos for the Shofar blowing and they answered Amen. He blew the Shofar loud and clear, and there was enlightenment in the rooms we conducted the ceremony in.

The last room we had to visit was the most complicated, because there was construction being done in the hallways, and it was difficult to navigate through the floors properly. Dovi asked a female worker how we could locate the room where Herbert could be found, and she replied that you take an elevator down and make a right and then a left, and you will find the room. Dovi Small responded that we can’t use elevators, since it is Rosh Hashanah and we are Jewish.

All of the sudden her face lit up. She replied to us that she herself is Jewish, and that her fiancée and her family went to Shul, but she stayed at work to take care of her patients. Dovi asked her if she wanted to hear the Shofar, and she immediately agreed to our offer. She told us her name was Margaret, and said she was very excited to hear the Shofar. She began conversing with us while she lead us down the proper staircases to the specific room we had requested.

When we finally arrived at the room, the other workers said that Herbert was in the lunchroom. So we went there and we found him talking to his friends. Dovi asked him if he wanted to hear Shofar, and he agreed. So Yossi recited the Blessings and Margaret and Herbert answered proudly “Amen”, while the other patients watched curiously.

After Yossi blew the Shofar, Margaret said that he did a better job blowing the shofar then the Cantor at her Shul does. We all smiled and were happy that we were able to find another Jewish soul in the Hospital, Margaret. It was Hashgacha Protis that we were to ask her for directions, and that she was able to hear the Shofar.

We said our good byes and left the hospital to continue our journey to the promise land on Kirkwood Ave. Our last stop was the lake to do Tashlich to talk to the fish, we finally arrived there and said the Tashlich prayers, we decided to take a little break, so we sat down on the docks and enjoyed a few moments in relaxation, as we had been on our feet for many hours.

The sun was soon to set so Dovi Small said that it was time to go back to Yeshiva. We slowly arose from our comfortable position and walked back to Mincha in the Yeshiva.

I had an amazing experience, and we all felt that the Rebbe was spiritually guiding us in helping on our quest. As we saw from Margaret, Hashem is always around us, and we just need to open our eyes, heart and soul to feel his presence.

May we all have a wonderful happy and sweet new year.