To Our Health

Jewish tradition mandates taking good care

of each other and ourselves.

G

ood health is always uppermost on our
minds. In most languages, a common
way to say good-bye is to wish the
person good health — zai gezunt in Yiddish,
tehiya bari in Hebrew and "be well" or "take
care" in English. In fact, healthy living is as old
as the Bible itself.
In the Book of Numbers 4:15, the verse
cautions us, You shall carefully guard your
health..." In (Hekhos Deyos, Perek 4:1),
Maimonides writes that it is a mitzvah to guard
one's health "since a healthy body is essential in
order to understand and act upon God's will,
for an ill person cannot function properly. It is
incumbent upon a person to distance himself
from all harmful and destructive behavior that
could adversely affect his health. . ."
Maimonides adds that it is prohibited to reside
in a city that does not have a doctor!
Although the Torah says God is the "healer
of all flesh" (Exodus, 21:19), it also recognizes
the right and obligation for doctors to heal.
Scriptures record a number of instances where
prophets and scholars revived ailing and
suffering patients. Furthermore, many of the
most prominent sages and halachic (according
to Jewish law) decision-makers in our history
were accomplished doctors, too. The remedies
of the famed talmudic scholar Mar Bar Shmuel
are quoted countless times throughout the
Talmud. Elijah the Prophet is alleged to have
performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Maimonides, Nachmanides and Abarbanel
were all court physicians. In fact, Maimonides
was perhaps as famous for his medical tomes as
for his works on Jewish law. In some
communities during the Middle Ages, the
term "Jewish doctor" was considered by many
to be an oxymoron.
Aside from addressing the medical needs of
a patient, Jewish health care is unique in that it
emphasizes the need to minister to the patient's
fragile state of mind, too. The mindlbody
connection was recognized early on by the
Torah. Bikur Cholim, the obligation Torah

places upon us to visit the
sick, is a telling example
of this awareness.
Beginning with the
incident recorded in
Genesis 18:2, where God
sent Abraham three angels
to visit him following his
Rabbi E.B. "Bunny"
circumcision and
Freedman
continuing throughout
our history, every Jew and
Jewish community has had a heightened
awareness of the extreme importance of caring
for the sick.

CARING FOR OUR OWN

In metropolitan Detroit, there are
numerous Jewish organizations devoted to
caring physically and emotionally for our ailing
brethren. A primary example of this is COJES
(Commission on Jewish Eldercare Services), an
umbrella organization created to promote
exceptional physical, spiritual and medical care
for the elderly and infirm population in our
community. Through networking, shared
resources and an organized referral system,
these individuals are able to take advantage of
many opportunities and benefits that
otherwise would be unavailable to them.
Such organizations as Meals on Wheels,
Chai Lifeline, Jewish Hospice, Friendship
Circle, Elderlink and Ahavat Chesed/Bikur
Cholim are but a few of the many groups that
comprise Jewish health care in this community.
Each organization attends to the needs of a
different segment of our community.
Volunteers, giving freely of their time, expertise
and resources, perform most these activities. As
new needs arise and are identified, the Jewish
community springs into action to respond to
those needs in a loving and caring manner.
Jews have been standard-setters in health
care throughout history and the Detroit Jewish
community proudly continues in that
tradition.

Rabbi E.B. "Bunny" Freedman heads the Jewish Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network.

HEALTHY LIVING

Audiology

Innovative Therapies and
Hearing Services

2766 W.11 Mile Road #8

Berkley, MI 48072
(248) 544-0560
Fax: (248) 544-7480
E-Mail: Kenyon@voyager.net

Audiology practice servicing all ages, newborn to
adult. Specializing in evaluations, hearing aid sales
and service, assistive listening devices and speech
and hearing programs. The only Berard Auditory
Integration Training provider in Michigan.

Co metic

West Maple Plastic Surgery

5807 W. Maple Road, Suite 177

West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 865-6400
Fax: (248) 865-6404

Specializing in cosmetic surgery, aesthetic and
reconstructive breast surgery. In practice for five
years after a seven-year training program.
Conveniently located in the heart of West
Bloomfield.

Hearing Ai

Lypka Hearing Aid Service

31148 Grand River Ave.
Farmington, MI 48336
(248) 477-6682

Provides clients with a knowledgeable staff, the
latest hearing-aid technology and personalized
attention to make hearing-aid use a positive
experience. House calls available.

Medical Centers

Detroit Medical Center

Wayne State University
Detroit , MI 48202
1-888-DMC-2500

JN • SOURCEBOOK 2000 •

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