SEPTEMBER 17 • 2020 | 33
Young Israel of Oak Park, the
Modern Orthodox congreg-
tion has a team of some seven
men ready to walk around the
neighborhood and sound the
shofar for those who cannot
get to synagogue.
HOSPITAL ROUNDS
For patients in the hospital,
Rabbi Aharon Amzalak,
staff chaplain at Beaumont
Hospital, notes that “to com-
ply with HIPAA [Health
Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act] require-
ments which protect patients’
privacy, I go to the patients
before Yom Tov and ask if
they would like to invite
someone to sound shofar for
them.
”
Rabbi Amzalak and a vol-
unteer (who happens to be a
physician at another hospital)
then divide up the rooms to
visit. “If the Jewish patient
has a roommate, we explain
the significance of the sho-
far for Jews, and we ask the
roommate if it would be OK
for us to sound the shofar
for the Jewish patient,
” he
said. “In practice, they always
have agreed. They often
seem pleased to support their
roommate.
”
Rabbi Amzalak uses a
shofar given to the chaplains’
office years ago by a grateful
relative of a patient. It has an
unusually deep pitch, so its
sound does not carry, and it is
less likely to disturb patients
in other rooms.
He adds, “Every year, peo-
ple ask to handle the shofar
themselves. They would like
to see it up close, even prac-
tice trying to sound the shofar.
This year especially, we have
to make sure that one mouth
and only one mouth comes in
contact with the shofar. I plan
to wear a new pair of gloves in
each room that I visit.
”
Boruch Lazewnik plans to
sound the shofar for residents
at Sunrise of West Bloomfield
Senior Living. He thanks
Rabbi Chaim Moshe Bergstein
of Bais Chabad of Farmington
Hills for making the connec-
tion.
If you cannot — or should
not — get to synagogue this
year, consider calling your
synagogue for advice. Perhaps
a private “recital” is not out of
the question.
Dr. Jay Novetsky
of Young Israel of
Southfield
Stay Safe
During the
Holidays
Kosher Meals on Wheels is available
for homebound older adults who need
assistance with access to food.
Up to
two meals per day will be delivered.
Kosher Meals on Wheels is provided
by the National Council of Jewish
Women in partnership with Jewish
Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit,
supported by JHELP and Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Call JHELP at
1-833-445-4357
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through Friday:
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