LIFE PAGE 43
"12 Days of Fitness"
Featuring special savings on a different fitness item each day
December 17
a leg press machine
December 18
a programmable treadmill
December 19
a compact personal home gym
December 20
December 21
a steam cabinet
an electric incline treadmill
December 22
select stationary bikes
December 23
a home gym with VKR
December 26
December 27
a sauna
a programmable treadmill
December 28
a cross country skier
December 29
a home gym with VKR and leg press
December 30
a walker treadmill
AND, ASK ABOUT OUR
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY *PROGRAM
1-800-220-2580
Farmington Hills
Birmingham
1489 S. Woodward
27853 Orchard Lake Road
(between 14 Mile & Adams)
Orchard 12 Plaza
(810) 646-8477
(810) 488-0220
Open Seven Days
Rochester Hills
3140 Walton Blvd.
University Square Plaza
(810) 375 9707 -4r
-
Rabbi Goldman queried his
teacher, the late Rabbi Joseph
Soloveitchik, on this issue.
"In this case, where it would
greatly enhance the quality of life
of another human being, that
would be regarded as an excep-
tion to the rule. It's considered
a great mitzvah," says Rabbi
Goldman, though he acknowl-
edged that other Orthodox rab-
bis might disagree.
Another factor deterring peo-
ple from organ donation, medical
professionals say, is that too few
people understand that patients
who are declared brain dead will
not return to life. It's a difficult
reality for families to grasp, they
say, because the body must be
kept on a respirator to preserve
the organs for potential trans-
plant. The patient, therefore, re-
mains pink and warm and
breathing, even though there is
no hope for survival.
Transplant specialists aim to
dispel myths surrounding the
distribution of available organs.
Money, they stress, does not play
a role in who receives transplant
surgery.
The "Legacy" video features in-
terviews with donor family mem-
bers, like Penny Willet, who lost
a son in a car accident. Ms. Wil-
let recalls the moment the nurse
announced her son had died, ask-
ing if she and her husband would
opt to donate his organs.
"I remember my husband
and I just looking at each other,
not saying a word. We just nod-
ded our heads to say 'yes,' " she
says.
"It helped me. It helped me a
great deal to know that my son's
organs were going into someone
else so they could have another
chance.
"I look at people and I often
wonder, is it my son's eyes that
are in the person, or is it his kid-
ney or his liver? And, gee, look at
the life that's in them."
Emanuel Reinitz, chief of
transplant surgery at Harper
Hospital, is a Jew who believes
there is a strong argument to
be made for organ donations
which will save another person's
life.
"Every transplant is a bitter-
sweet experience. What keeps me
coming back, as a physician, is
that in one event you suddenly
see a quantum change in a per-
son's life. Their whole world view
changes from shades of grey to a
full, colorful existence."
Dr. Reinitz underscores;
however, the significance of the
halachic debate. Jews should
choose to donate organs only if
they feel comfortable doing so.
"As a member of the Jewish
community and the community
at large, I think there is an
attempt to make this issue
one for discussion because there
is a shortage of organs," he says.
"But no one is trying to force
someone to do something that
they feel is not the right thing to
do." 0
Wings Of Healing
An ecumenical book of prayer serves as a tool of
hope for the sick.
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
I
he prayers are different,
but the hope is the same:
recovery.
On the Wings of Healing
is an ecumenical book of reflec-
tions by Rabbi Dannel Schwartz
and the Rev. Charles Richter.
It contains prayers of different
religions: Jewish, Christian,
Muslim and Hindu.
Placed in nightstands beside
hospital beds here and on the
East Coast, the small, 31-page
book offers a less daunting, in-
terfaith alternative to Gideon's
Bible.
"The Bible doesn't have little
post-it notes saying, 'Turn to
Psalm 24,' " Rabbi Schwartz
says. "People don't have a road
map through the Bible."
Wings Of Healing includes
readings specifically aimed at
putting patients in touch with
their spirituality and religious
tradition. Research shows that
patients heal better holistically,
when recovery includes body,
mind and spirit.
The Rev. Richter and Rabbi
Schwartz chose most of the
prayers, some of which specifi-
cally address health and healing.
Others, including the medita-
tions at the back of the book,
were written by Rabbi Schwartz
and offer words of inspiration.
General prayers include
"Prayer Before An Operation"
and "Prayer After the Birth Of a
Child." There are Christian
prayers for baptism and Jewish
prayers in Hebrew. Muslim
prayers are written in Arabic and
English. The Hindu prayers in-
clude English versions as well.
Rabbi Schwartz and the Rev.
Richter sought translations from
Hindu and Muslim religious
leaders locally.
Rabbi Schwartz, of Temple
Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield,