The Jewish National Edition Post &Opinion Presenting a broad spectrum of Jewish News and Opinions since 1935. Volume 80, Number 3 • February 5, 2014 • 5 Adar I 5774 www.jewishpostopinion.com A Focus on Healing Cover art by Irene Konig (see About the Cover, p.2). 2 The Jewish Post & Opinion – NAT February 5, 2014 Editorial About the Cover Inside this Issue Love is like a mighty spring By Irene Konig Editorial.....................................................2 I was fortunate, recently, to meet and About the Cover ......................................2 hear a speech by an amazing Jewish Konig created this piece in the three Rabbi Benzion Cohen doctor just in time for our 17th Focus on months after her husband’s sudden death; (Chassidic Rabbi).....................................3 Healing section. Similar to Maimondies, he was in California when it happened. Henya Chaiet who after working all day would continue For three months she could not do any (Yiddish for Everyday) ............................3 seeing patients all evening – while on his artwork, so plunged in mourning she was. Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D. back because of fatigue – Dr. Rick Hodes After that time, she created (Wiener’s Wisdom)..................................4 (www.rickhodes.org) spends most of his a set of about 20 artworks Rabbis Dennis & Sandy Sasso.............4 waking hours working to over the following several Jim Shipley heal those who could months which she called (Shipley Speaks) ......................................5 never afford his services. Griefworks. This was one Bernie De Koven Dr. Hodes is the Medical of them. It is a poem by (Book Excerpt) .........................................6 Director of Ethiopia for Isaac of Nineveh. Ted Roberts the American Jewish Joint Her feelings for her late Irene Konig (Spoonful of Humor) ...............................6 Distribution Committee husband still gushed out of her, and the Melinda Ribner (JDC) (www.jdc.org) – Dr. Hodes form that they took was tears. Her love (Kabbalah of the Month) .........................7 celebrating their centennial this year. It is for him was not quenched by his sudden Rabbi Jon Adland an organization whose purpose is to help passing. In fact, it took five years before (Shabbat Shalom).....................................7 Jews in need around the world. For this she felt like a single person. She added the Sybil Kaplan speech, he was accompanied by their (see About the Cover, page 9) (Seen on the Israel Scene)........................8 Director of International Initiatives Elizabeth Rabbi Dr. B. Rosenberg..........Healing 1 L. Fine. The JDC is a partner agency of the j i Amy Hirshberg Lederman Jewish Federations of North America. “Sometimes God helps me in funny (Jewish Educator) ....................Healing 1 Called “the Jewish Mother Teresa,” Dr. ways.” He then shows the audience head Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, MD Hodes had worked at her Mission in India x-rays of a woman who has had a tumor (Jewish Ambassador) ...............Healing 2 in the 1990s. I first heard of him two years growing in her skull for ten years. Rabbi David Wolpe ago when Marilyn Berger was in town to He continues, “Whether or not it’s (Why Faith Matters) ...............Healing 4 promote her biography of him, This is a cancer, doesn’t matter because it is going Howard Karsh Soul: An American Doctor’s Remarkable to squash her brain and she is going (Jewish America) .....................................9 Mission in Ethiopia. It was a fascinating to die.” Although he networks with Dr. Miriam Zimmerman presentation with incredible stories and physicians in Germany, India, Israel, (Holocaust Educator) ............................10 slides, demonstrating how one man can Ghana and the United States, he does not Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel be responsible for saving many lives. It know if he will find one who can help her. (Media Watch).......................................12 was exciting to meet him in person and to One morning on a trip to Minneapolis Rabbi Israel Zoberman see that he is not slowing down. he overslept and didn’t have time to do (Book Review)........................................13 Soon after Berger’s presentation, we Shachrit (the morning prayers). His alarm Professor Arnold Ages published a book review of her biography. did not go off and he woke up ten minutes (Book Review)........................................13 It says Dr. Rick Hodes is a Jewish before he had to be out of the room. Dr Sybil Kaplan American doctor from Syosset, Long Hodes explains,“This happens to all of us (My Kosher Kitchen).............................14 Island who came to Ethiopia 28 years at sometime so you throw your clothes on, Abraham H. Foxman.............................16 ago to help the victims of famine, and you brush your teeth and run out the door. never left. The review, with a photo of In my case I put my tefillin in my backpack.” The Jewish the author, is on our website but below in He wanted to do Shachrit, so after his italics is an excerpt of the review. first meeting, he says to Mort, the man Post&Opinion Jewish News and Opinion since 1935. Berger went to Ethiopia to write about from the Federation who is not religious Dr. Hodes, not only, as she says, “because he but is taking him around,“Do me a favor 1427 W. 86th St. #228 has devoted his life to ministering to some of and take me to a synagogue.” Indianapolis, IN 46260 the poorest people on the planet, but…what Mort takes him to an Orthodox email: [email protected] had particularly grasped my imagination was synagogue but as they enter, the morning phone and fax: (317) 405-8084 the way he lives in this impoverished country. prayer group is walking out so Mort starts website: www.jewishpostopinion.com He has taken some 20 poor and sick children talking to the rabbi. Dr Hodes ends up publisher & editor: Jennie Cohen into his own home and officially adopted five talking to the rabbi’s Talmud student, a 45 graphic designer: Charlie Bunes of them. He cares for them, feeds them, and year old man who is getting a lesson. sends every one of them to private school.” Just to make conversation, Dr. Hodes asks something very special called skull based These children, suffering from TB of the him,“What do you do here in Minneapolis?” nerve surgery. I’m a neurosurgeon, but I spine, growth-hormone deficiencies, cancer, “I’m a doctor,”he replies. only operate on the bottom of the brain.” and malnutrition are given second chances “Oh, me too,”Dr. Hodes responds. Dr. Hodes perks up and remarks, “Oh, by this amazing egoless doctor.…what “What kind of doctor are you?”the man that’s interesting, let me show you drives Rick Hodes’ to leave the comforts asks. something.” He opens his computer and offered here in the U.S., for a life of difficult “Actually I do tropical medicine in shows him the x-rays of the woman with service as well as infrequent successes? Africa,”Hodes answers and then asks him, the tumor. During the speech Dr. Hodes tells “What do you do?” “Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen anything several stories. He begins one with, The other doctor explains, “It’s (see Editorial, page 5) February 5, 2014 The Jewish Post & Opinion – NAT 3 biz vanen zee haut dos gehmacht vee zee Chassidic Rabbi Yiddish for haut gevault. (She twisted and turned the fabric on the paper pattern she had cut out BY RABBI BENZION COHEN over and over again until – Viola! – she Everyday made it work for her.) Tzu mir haut dos geven ah vunder ahz zee haut nauch The good life BY HENYA CHAIET gehkent machen eppes fuhn gornisht. (I marveled that her great enthusiasm for I grew up in Indianapolis, Ind. My life Mein Mahmeh creating “something out of nothing”was was basically secular, 364 days of the year. still there as I remembered it.) I do remember praying one day every year, Dee Shneiderkeh In ear gantzen leben fleckt zee dos Yom Kippur.Yom Kippur is the holiest day (My Mother the Dressmaker) tzores drayen ah hin un ah her biz vanen of the year. Even though my life was rather zee haut dos goot gehmacht. (The same devoid of spirituality, I still felt this holiness. Ich haub geh kayft tzveh klayneh twisting and turning played a role in every What were my goals? I wanted to have shticklach vareh vaus ich haub dos zayer facet of her life. She lived through many big muscles, succeed in sports, be popular gehglichen. (I had purchased two small wars and depressions in her lifetime of 98 and have beautiful girl friends. I spent a lot remnants of fabric not really knowing why years.) Zee haut geh glichen altz tzu zein of time lifting weights and exercising, I but just because I liked them so much.) richtig, ahz meh haut dos gehzen auder took protein supplements, but nothing Dee Mahmeh iz geven balt finf un nisht gehzen. (She worked her problems helped. My muscles just would not grow. I achtzick yor. (Mama was about 85 at the twisting and turning them until she tried out for sports, but failed. I wasn’t very time and had been a dressmaker most of made them work for her.) Zee haut unz popular and never had a beautiful girl her life.) Ich haub ear gebeten, “Effsher gehlerent “ahz meh nemt tzeit machen friend. In those days I was quite frustrated, kenst do mir machen ah klayd fun dos eppes macht men vee goot mehken.” and jealous of those who did succeed. shticklach vareh.” (I asked her if she (She took great pride in her finished Now I realize that even those who had big thought she could make me a simple product; the inside had to be just as well muscles and succeeded in sports were not outfit from these small pieces of fabric.) tailored as the outside.