On Monday evening, January 8, community women gathered at the home of Shaindi Glaser for an inspiring, beautiful program that was a new leadership initiative for Bikur Cholim of Queens.
The goal of the program was to invite new volunteers and to raise awareness of the most vital mitzvah of Bikur Cholim.
At the event, Mrs. Esther Rosenkranz greeted everyone and shared the community’s appreciation of all the volunteers.
Next, Mrs. Racheli Weiss introduced the guest speaker, who is a dear friend of hers. Mrs. Malky Jacobs then shared the story of her extremely difficult illness and how Bikur Cholim was so much a part of her road to recovery. She radiated hope and light as she shared her harrowing experience and illness. She said that “life didn’t get easier; we just get stronger.” She went into the details and of how challenging it was for her to face her new reality having lost so many limbs. She shared that, “We draw strength from others. That is where Bikur Cholim comes in.”
She went into the details of her illness and how it started in 2015. “I would never have survived without the generosity and kindness of Bikur Cholim.” She related how people filled her room in the hospital the whole day. There had never been so many visitors at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Hospital in Manhattan. The doctors and staff were amazed. Mi k’amcha Yisrael? The constant flow of visitors gave her a completely new lease on life. It was amazing to see how people dropped what they were doing and drove to Washington Heights and circled and circled to park and then came up to the fifth floor. “It was such a kiddush Hashem!”
She noted, “You see the power of having visitors. They lift your spirits and inform you what is going on in the outside world. This helps a person feel that he or she is a person and not shut out of the world.”
She said there is nothing in this world with such human-to-human contact. There is no medicine like this! She shared that a “meal train” set up by Bikur Cholim meant that for the six months that she was in the hospital, she and her family never had to eat hospital food. She stressed that “You should never underestimate the power of visiting someone.”
She shared how life now means everything has to be planned out in advance. She has learned to appreciate each moment and the little things she can do. What a message for all of us!
She shared how she has been blessed with helping others who lost a limb. She is currently helping soldiers in the IDF who are dealing with this. “It is the greatest comfort to be able to help others in this situation with practical logistics.”
She concluded by stating that, as Torah women, Bikur Cholim is such an important mitzvah.
To volunteer, to donate, and/or to otherwise get involved, please email BikurCholimQueens.org or call them at 718-380-7433.
There are many venues to join, including the following: hotline, rides, meals, equipment gemach, Bikur Cholim Room (upkeep, stocking, unpacking deliveries, and cleaning), nursing home and home visits, fundraising committee, and marketing.
As stated on their flyer BCQ there for you!: “Our mission is to provide compassionate support to those facing medical difficulties. We strive to alleviate burdens, foster hope, and promote healing.
“For 40 years, BCQ has been dedicated to servicing the Greater Queens Jewish community. BCQ is solely comprised of volunteers who graciously and discreetly give their time and energy to help those cholim in need.”
Bikur Cholim of Queens was started in the 1970s. Mr. Irwin Nathan z”l, along with his wife Eudice Nathan, were the impetus behind it. Mr. Nathan shared that we have a big Bikur Cholim in Brooklyn hospitals, and our community should have one, as well. The late Rabbi Usher Kirshblum, of the Jewish Center of Kew Gardens Hills, and Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld zt”l, the founding rabbi of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, helped overcome the obstacles at what was then called Booth Memorial Hospital, and the Bikur Cholim program was able to move forward there.
Mrs. Nechama Biderman donated a sefer Torah for the Bikur Cholim Room there. Mrs. Shifra Witty a”h also helped with the beginning of the organization. Mrs. Helen Prager ran the Queens Bikur Cholim for around 30 years, along with Mrs. Zelda Braun. They have passed the leadership of the organization to a young group of women. There are many other wonderful members of our community who have helped and who are involved in Bikur Cholim over the years. Baruch Hashem, there are too many to list in this article. The community is grateful to all these kind, heroic individuals.
By Susie Garber
