Despite the recent record-breaking cold, it\u2019s been a most heartwarming time for our family.\u00a0 One of our married couples welcomed into this world their second child, their first son.<\/p>\n
Most births are accompanied by stories and our 8-pound prince owns\u00a0his:\u00a0 He was born during the \u201cwinter cyclone\u201d when the East Coast of the United States was pounded with snow.\u00a0 Thank G-d, our daughter\u2019s labor set in prior to the storm so she and her husband made it safely to the hospital.\u00a0 Only the potent combination of snow, ice, wind, and poor visibility and road conditions prevented the grandparents, the baby\u2019s big sister, and extended family from flocking to the hospital that same day.<\/p>\n
The following day, when both the weather and roads were less dangerous, I went to the hospital together with two adoring aunts and one proud uncle to meet our newest grandchild and nephew.\u00a0 In addition, I examined him; once a pediatrician, always a pediatrician.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, I chatted in the nursery with the nurses.\u00a0 With her colleagues listening intently, one nurse said, \u201cDr. Lightman, I have a question and I hope it\u2019s respectful.\u00a0 All the religious patients take their babies home in these awesome pompom hats.\u00a0 Are pompoms a religious thing?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
Looking at the world through the eyes of these non-Jewish women, I totally \u201cget\u201d the question.\u00a0 Pompom hats span the spectrum in fabric, texture, color and so much more.\u00a0 They are ubiquitous in today\u2019s Jewish Orthodox communities throughout the world.<\/p>\n
To the best of my knowledge, pompoms are not a \u201creligious thing.\u201d\u00a0 However, they have acquired a status that clearly the nations of the world are equating with Torah Jews.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also apparent that our actions and everything we do in this world is scrutinized, analyzed, and discussed.\u00a0 How humbling.\u00a0 How I daven<\/em> that we are always seen as a Light Unto the Nations.<\/p>\n Based on being in and out of Northwell-Long Island Jewish Medical Center for a couple of days surrounding this baby\u2019s birth, I\u2019m proud to be a Torah Jew.<\/p>\n The Bikur Cholim Room is stocked by the Satmar Bikur Cholim, Elite Caterers, and others.\u00a0 Naftali Brach of the Satmar Bikur Cholim treks every Erev Shabbos from Williamsburg to New Hyde Park to make sure the room is functioning, including the warming oven.\u00a0 My wife, who spent Shabbos at the hospital with our daughter and grandson, told me that on Friday evening, several men spanning the spectrum of Orthodox Judaism davened in the room.\u00a0 The warming oven was fully stocked, including 2 trays of cholent and food with people\u2019s names on it, apparently prepared by the Satmar Bikur Cholim for people who had contacted them with personal dietary needs, i.e., vegetarian, gluten-free.\u00a0 In addition to Challah rolls and mini-Challahs, there was an array of Matza that included whole wheat and spelt.\u00a0 The fruit was fresh and the box containing one-person portion-sized cut-up cake was overflowing with at least five different kinds of cakes.\u00a0 There was grape juice in the refrigerator along with Cholov Yisrael, Cholov Stam<\/em>, and pareve cream for the coffee.\u00a0 This was in addition to plates, cutlery, napkins, and cups.\u00a0 By the end of Shabbos, most of the food was gone.\u00a0 There\u2019s no way to know how many people availed themselves of the Bikur Cholim room\u2019s resources but suffice it to say, plenty.<\/p>\n Further, there is a Shabbos elevator labeled \u201cSabbath Elevator\u201d in every patient building.\u00a0 The Shabbos elevator in the building where our daughter and grandson were was experiencing some technical difficulties that Shabbos.\u00a0 My wife reports that lots of patience and some ingenuity were required to navigate it without being Michallel Shabbos<\/em>.\u00a0 The guard saw that she needed the Shabbos elevator without saying so.\u00a0 He stepped forward, stating, \u201cLady, it\u2019s our pleasure to help you and your religious brothers and sisters.\u00a0 We respect you for respecting your religion.\u201d<\/p>\n Shabbos is a work day for physicians, nurses and others in the hospital and our daughter\u2019s room was trafficked accordingly.\u00a0 Paperwork was presented and our daughter explained that she couldn\u2019t sign until after Shabbos and all understood and accepted.\u00a0\u00a0 Just prior to Shabbos, the nurse adjusted the bathroom light sensor not to go on; another light was left on.<\/p>\n Some readers might be thinking, \u201cWhat\u2019s the big deal?\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s a very big deal.\u00a0 I remember a world where you couldn\u2019t take this for granted, even in New York.\u00a0 We\u2019ve come a long way and there are many people and organizations to thank that laid the groundwork for what we enjoy today and should never take for granted.\u00a0 The real trailblazers are the ones who remained committed to Torah and its tenets despite the vicissitudes they encountered every step of the way in carrying on Torah Judaism.\u00a0 Nothing swayed them.\u00a0 We enjoy the fruits of their steadfast commitment and hard work.<\/p>\n But we have our own work to do to assure that we are admired and we can continue to practice our religion.<\/p>\n First, remain involved with the world at large.\u00a0 Know what goes on.\u00a0 Speak with community members who are politically involved, including askanim<\/em> who devote countless hours to matters that we too often take for granted.\u00a0 Vote in elections.\u00a0 Don\u2019t know how to vote on issues?\u00a0 Educate yourself.\u00a0 Speak with your Rav or local askan<\/em>.<\/p>\n Know that every action is scrutinized as we are watched.\u00a0 Pay your cleaning lady on time.\u00a0 Offer water or food to sanitation workers when you see them working, especially during extreme weather conditions.\u00a0 Thank the cashier at the supermarket.\u00a0 Don\u2019t slam the phone down on the front desk person in your doctor\u2019s office because you don\u2019t get the answer you want.\u00a0 Refrain from making U-turns when driving; so it might be five extra minutes to drive around the corner.\u00a0 And there is much more.<\/p>\n Walk as a proud (not arrogant) Jew.\u00a0 Civilizations have come and gone but we Jews, the Jews whom so many of those so-called civilizations have aspired to eradicate from this world, are here.\u00a0 Our actions will always be recalled and pointed to, please G-d, for good reasons.<\/p>\n Our speech and actions reflect our inner thoughts.\u00a0 We should always maintain a positive outlook on our fellow man, speak favorably and give others the benefit of the doubt.\u00a0 We should always remember we are a nation of rachmanim<\/em>, bayshanim<\/em>, and gomlei chasadim<\/em>.\u00a0 Let\u2019s be as fresh looking as those pompom hats that elicit smiles wherever they go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Despite the recent record-breaking cold, it\u2019s been a most heartwarming time for our family.\u00a0 One of our married couples welcomed into this world their second child, their first son. Most births are accompanied by stories and our 8-pound prince owns\u00a0his:\u00a0 He was born during the \u201cwinter cyclone\u201d when the East Coast of the United States<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133543,"featured_media":59043,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\n