64 Friday, March 5, 1982

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

The Hospice, Terminally Ill and Jewish Tradition

forced thereby to talk with pressed by inevitable
house and business; and holding medications, the ter appropriate to discuss one another, to seek out passing of time.
These results, too, hospice
surely he is not left to lan- morality of unplugging with him. In addition to those whom we have
suggesting the necessity of
(Editor's note: Rabbi guish in a dark, forgotten life-sustaining machinery, prayer, we are to remind wronged, and ask forgive- seeks to create. These too
Tanenbaum is spiritural corner of the world, ignored and the request to eliminate him of the necessity of com- ness from them first, before are the values of this com-
munity movement. With
leader of Temple Beth Is- by family and friends. Home so-called "heroic" measures pleting certain affairs of the approaching God on High.
On several occasions I professionals of every sort,
rael in Jackson, Mich., is the place to be if at all • which merely prolong living. In my rabbinic ex-
and is pastoral consul- possible, surrounded by agony and suffering, when perience, this has included have had the privilege of and carefully trained volun-
teers ready to face
hope is gone.
tant to the Hospice of those who love him and care all I real
find this remarkably even the creation of wills aiding deathbed reconcila- heartbreak and trauma as
for
his
welfare.
tions
between
spouses,
par-
Jackson.)
In short, one cannot treat consistent with the values and statements of purpose ents and children, family well as to effect positive and
Jewish tradition has al-
him
as though he is already of hospice, which seek to or ethical wills. The latter is and friends. The sense of re- humane goals, the hospice
ways regarded the face of
gone.
The grave cannot be emphasize the quality of the frequently tape-recorded lief which is obviously ap- concept strives to attain the
death as the natural and in-
prepared
in advance; burial remaining time, rather and is meant to encompass parent in both the parties Levitical injunction to "1,v
evitable conclusion of the
garments
must not be laid than the quest for a few that which the individual involved is more than can be thy neighbor as thyself.,
blessing of life. Beginnings
* * *
days or weeks of suf- wishes to pass on to his expressed in any essay. The
and endings mark the out in preparation for the more
posterity of an ethical and
fering existence.
funeral.
In
addition,
it
is
(The Hospice of South-
are truly over-
natural cycle of an orderly
And there is more. All moral nature, the elements results
cosmos, All creation stands considered a religious obli
of living which are closest to whelming and heartwarm- eastern Michigan is located
of
Jewish
law
may
be
at 22041 Fpster Winter Dr.,
enmeshed in the passage of gation to visit the sick, to transgressed, including his heart and soul.
ing.
Southfield. It is a 38-bed
Another
element
of
con-
time; all creation renews it- talk about him, and to pray the inviolability of the
These serve the dual pur-
self moment by moment for his recovery. A physi- Sabbath and dietary cus- pose of alleviating enor- fession needs to be viewed. I facility which has treated
with the precision of a de- cian must be consulted and toms, to ease the discom- mous heartache and prob- frequently ask the dying 500 terminally-ill patients
stiny ordained and main- treatment given. Yet there fort of those dying. The lems for the survivors, as person what they regret in and their families since it
tained by the Master of the are significant limitations importance of this must well as offering peace of their lives, what they would opened in November 1980.
Universe. Torah declares, as to what must be done in be viewed in the histori- mind to the dying indi- have changed, and what It also has a home-care pro-
without equivocation, that these regards.
vidual, that his affairs will they would have done gram.
Nothing may be affected cal light of the fact that be concluded in the manner differently. More often than
(Criteria for admission
everything He saw was very
these laws were promul-
good. Potential goodness which will hasten death in a gated when such conduct he wishes. In addition, the not, just the opportunity to include that the patient
inheres then in all this direct manner. In the could merit expulsion ethical will offers a tangible speak about these hidden must be finished with all
Shulhan Arukh, a medieval
fears, doubts, anxieties, and aggressive treatment aimed
creation, even in death.
from the community. ideological legacy which
Because of this healthy compilation of laws, cus- Anything could be done heirs may cherish for gen- disappointments opens the at cure; life expectancy as
view regarding the natur- toms, and traditions, we to offer relief from pain.
erations: a solid link with way for true communication corroborated by the
with family and friends. (Of patient's physician is six
alness of death, early on find the following admoni-
In my mind, this clearly their past and a concrete course, this discussion is months or less; the patient
Jewish teaching stressed a tions: we may not remove suggests that the so-called memorial for the deceased.
must know he is terminally
logical and humane concern the pillow or mattress from hospice mixture, a medical
Also we are bidden to always in addition to the
questions raised in a reas- ill and understand the hos-
for those about to die — under the dying person (lest concoction which includes encourage a confession
suring manner concerning pice concept.
those for whom little could his head fall back and brea- strong and often addictive of sins and guilts. Under-
(The hospice emphasizes
be done to effect- recovery. thing be made more dif- pain killers, is surely stand this from a Jewish positive pursuits.)
Hearts are turned one pain contral, considers the
Care was lavished on the ficult), nor are we to remove sanctioned. Human pain context: confession is not
to the other; minds and patient and family as a unit,
dying; special consideration a patient from his place ex- and suffering always come wholly a private matter
was taken of their unique cept in a dire emergency before law and religious ob- between an individual eyes are opened some- and tries to create a life-
position, hovering betwixt (lest the additional move- ligations, with few excep- and the Lord of the Uni- times for the first time in affirming environment.
ment cause discomfort and
years; families that have Patients may have visitors
life and world-to-come.
tions — indeed, that is the verse. Confession in-
wandered in different di- in any number, at any time,
Like a sputtering candle, hasten his demise). Yet, in- law and obligation.
cludes
family
and
rections are pulled back including pets.
the breath of life is fleeting, terestingly enough, exam-
Just as we are bidden to friends.
(For information, call the
together in a unique
and a sophisticated body of ples are given to the possi- visit the terminal patient,
Forgiveness
of
sins
in-
custom developed for their bility of removing hindr- we are also offered sugges- cludes a reconciliationowith manner, awed by the Hospice of Southeastern
ances to the soul's depar-
presence of finitude, Michigan, 559-9209.)
spiritual 'regard.
tions as to the subject mat- those around us. We are
In my mind, great consis- ture. These are permitted
tency of thought exists be- since this is not a direct
tween these customs and deed, but merely the re-
the goals of the hospice moval of obstacles to the in-
ports invariably are fac- understanding of the out- print with which to
movement. Both recognize evitable conclusion of
By MARCUS ARKIN
tually inaccurate, grossly look and prospects of counter assimilation by
the importance of the re- death.
Director General,
squarely placing the cen-
simplistic, and subjec- South African Jewry.
maining days of the
South African
It is recorded in the
Zionist Federation
It is a community which is trality of Israel in the
terminally-ill individual in Talmud 2,000 years ago
tively woolly, reflecting
forefront of its affairs.
(Copyright 1982, JTA, Inc.)
the sense of quality. Allevi- that the wife of a promi-
the writers' preconceived no longer growing: at roun-
One specific example will
dabout
115,000
(of
whom
If
the
world
at
large
has
ation of pain, physical, nent rabbi begged his
prejudices and the im-
awakened in recent years to possibility of presenting more than half live in and have to suffice. In South M-
spiritual, - and mental, is the followers to cease their
around Johannesburg and rica there is virtually no
primary concern.
constant prayers in his • an awareness of the prob- an objective evaluation
between
Aiding the family and behalf, since these lems of the people of South after such superficial ac- some 25,000 in Cape Town), distinction
it
constitutes
.4
percent
of
"Zionists"
and
"fund
rais-
patient to face what is in- prayers ✓ were keeping Africa, the Jewish world quaintance.
To
view
South
African
the
country's
total
popula-
ers."
The
United
Israel
Ap-
has
become
no
less
con-
evitable within a context him alive.
is an integral depart-
of warmth and friend-
Other hindrarices to cerned about the prospects Jewry and its prospects in tion and 2.5 percent of the peal
ment of the SA Zionist Fed-
ship, of caring and loving death which may be re- for South Africa's Jewish proper perspective one has white population.
Emigration,
a
low
birth-
eration
and campaigning
community.
to strike a balance bet-
peopl e, is the object. moved are detailed: the
In a continual stream tween the institutional rate, and a high age-pattern reaches out to almost every
Jewish tradition and noise of a wood cutter's -
- hospice philosophy both chopping may be silenced they come to Johannesburg structure and outlook of the may well have been Jewish household, instead
stress the necessity of (thereby permitting the and Cape Town, to Durban community itself and its re- counter-balanced over the of embracing only the very
combining medicine with dying to drift off in death); and Port Elizabeth, these lationship and inter-action last decade by an influx of rich. In its turn, this implies
v the an ongoing educational
psychology, technology the salt placed upon the "experts" from other parts with the South African Israelis. But, whateer
, South process in which virtually
With plain decent human tongue, used as an ancient of the Diaspora, together environment as a whole.. demographic trends
African Jewry, in strong the whole community par-
contact, in order to stimulant, could be with- with even larger numbers of
As regards the former,
maximize the quality of held; and indeed _even Israeli journalists and Chaim Weizmann's impres- contrast to most of the rest ticipates.
On domestic political
life, and to take the family prayers may be offered for a politicians, Jewish Agency sion after his 1932 visit is of the Diaspora, does not issues, South African
feel its future physical
_ back to face continued cessation of life, that a suf- officials and university pro- worth recalling:
existence to be threatened Jewry is a microcosm of
existence after the'death fering person who is. bound fessors.
"I
found
myself
in
an
un-
the white electoral -
They stay a few weeks
by assimilation.
has taken place.
to die might expire in peace,
usual Jewish community
has prominent rep
and
then
they
go
home
to
This is not to suggest that tatives
tne
(he was to note in his auto-
in
One who is in a dying relieved of pain.
write
articles
about
"South
While the foregoing cus-
loss of identity and inter- Progressive-Federal
biography)
scattered
over
a
condition is considered a liv-
African Jewry's Dilemma,"
ing being in all respects," toms may appear to some as how that "Ghost of the Fu- wide subcontinent in small marriage are not problems, party which advocates
and rnust be treated as such. quaint in the light of mod- ture Haunts the Jews of groups, but united in but they do not provide the power-sharing
with
Our tradition clearly indi- ern science, many who South Africa," or express Zionist spirit. South African catastrophic statistics to be blacks; possibly, a major-
cates that he is not to be study these traditions and concern about "Those Who Jewry was singularly free found in most other coun- ity remain middle-of-
shut off from family con- stories are convinced of Have Chosen to Stay."
from the so-called as- tries.
the-road conservatives;
tacts; he is not to be their far-reaching implica-
Zionism in its broadest and undoubtedly a large
With one or two honor- similationist taint . . . I met
excluded from conversation tions in relation to the ethi- able exceptions, such re- many types of modest, quiet context and for almost minority' view the situa-
and daily affairs of the cal considerations of with-
workers to whom Zionism 100 years now has given tion in not very different
was the whole of their exist- South African Jewry the terms to the "verligte"
ence."
means and the will to re- (enlightened) wing of the
National party.
Whether modesty is sist the tremendous ruling
However, no matter what
still as characteristic as it forces of assimilation. the outlook of the individual
was half-a-century ago is Indeed, because the it would be misleading to
debatable but Weiz- Zionist ideal has per- suggest — as many visiting
mann's point about as- meated the community's authors and journalists
similation in relation to "life style," South Africa have done — that the over-
Zionist commitment re- is in a position to offer the riding current mood of the
mains valid and crucially rest of the Jewish world community is complacency.
important to any proper an organizational blue-

By RABBI IRWIN A.
TANENBAUM

S. African Defends His Jewish Community