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Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com
**April 11th, 2024, Nisan 3, 5784**
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I want to thank all who said Tehillim and were mispallel for my son-in-law’s mother Mrs. Toby Seidenfeld, Toba Leah bas Reuvein (Sophie was her mother). She was nifteres last Thursday evening. The medical and nursing staff at Cornell Hospital where the nifteres was a patient for two weeks in their burn unit, gave the family, who kept vigil, tremendous praise for the love and care the family gave to their mother.They also applauded the family members midos tovos. The staff was grateful for the kindness and respect the family members, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gave them. The family brought lots of delicious food and beverages and showered the staff with much appreciation. Though the family had asked me various questions regarding their mothers care, I supported their decision to ask Rabbi Herschel Ausch a well known Posek, who guided them through their mothers last moments of her life. Rabbi Ausch was not only knowledgeable, but also very compassionate in the advice he gave them. He also conferred on several occasions with the doctors before giving his advice to the family. The levaya was held at a packed filled Shomrei Hadaas Chapel in Boro Park, Brooklyn.
The patient’s first husband was the world reknown Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt”l who had passed away years ago. Her second husband also well known was Rabbi Yeshaya Seidenfeld zt”l who also predeceased Mrs. Seidenfeld a”h. She was an outstanding mother and loved every child, their spouses and the entire mishpacha. She was also well respected and loved in her community and beyond. She was immensely humble, very modest in her dress, her mannerisms, her gentleness and for being very erlich. Rabbi Kaplan attributed his many accomplishments to his Aishes Chayil who gave him her wonderful support, as she did for Rabbi Seidenfeld.
The family came together with their love of H to deal with the loss of a home that went up in flames with so many of their memories. Their greatest concern was their mother’s hospitalization and their greatest tribute to their mother was family achdus. The well being and concern that they have for each other and their continued love for the Ribono shel Olam. In a sense, they are a microcosm of how Klal Yisrael should be. What a difference life would be like if there would be no machlokes and only achdus in Klal Yisrael.
We are living in one of the most tumultuous times for Klal Yisrael. What is mind boggling is how so many people in the world can change the truths around can change the situation around so that truth can become false and false becomes truth. How is it that the world is not sympathetic to the Jewish people. Yet, we must never give up hope and we must never change who and what we are. Our religion and heritage mandates how we behave privately and publicly with our friends, community, relatives and the rest of the world. We must continue to be erhlich, to be humble and modest, to be G fearing and close to our G, fulfilling mitzvos and always finding opportunities to make a Kiddush H. Simple acts of kindness can make the difference of how others perceive us. Just this Monday in the park in the back of my building there were over a hundred men, women and children who came to witness the Solar Eclipse. The Seward Park Housing management and Board distributed approximately 100 solar eclipse glasses and kosher black and white moon cookies and water. There were not enough of those glasses so many shared or found other means to observe the eclipse. I shared mine with seven other people who thanked me for being so kind. They mentioned if not for me they would not have been able to enjoy the special moments of seeing the eclipse. We kept handing the glasses to one another which united us even more. Being thoughtful, even if something might seem a minor act of kindness can go a long way in making a Kiddush H.
I want to give a special shout out to all healthcare chaplains whose sincere diplomacy, understanding, compassion and finesse goes a long way in helping to make the Pesach season as meaningful as possible for the patients and family members. The preparations, the in services, the training, being a liaison between family and staff, all the questions, all the reassurances takes immense know how, what to do and what to say. Chaplains need to know what to do al pi halacha and who to contact for their own guidance. Being a hospice chaplain has their own Pesach intricacies of knowing what to do and how to guide their patients and family members. The same is for chaplains in correctional facilities. There are Jewish men and women who are incarcerated and wish to observe Jewish holidays such as Pesach and other religious observances. There are community chaplains who also do phenomenal work to ensure that the Jewish customs, traditions and Jewish observances are available no matter if it is in a community facility or for the homebound. When we think of law enforcement chaplains, it conjures pictures of the men and women in blue with their shinny shields on their uniforms. There are chaplains of police departments, sheriff departments and other enforcement chaplains with various city, state and federal agencies. Chaplains are not only involved in ministering to department personnel but also involved in community relations. Many of the responsibilities I had as a police chaplain included ministering to all department and civilian members of the department, visiting them at the many PSA’s (that is what the Housing Police precincts are called) throughout the entire city, visiting personal who was in the hospital, attending special events, offering pastoral counseling for them and their families, speaking to other clergy and I was involved in community relations amongst other duties as well. Many people are not familiar with what a police chaplain does and the immense opportunities of making a Kiddush H. No, I did not drive a police car with lights and sirens. Though one of the requirements was for me to learn how to drive a police car. When I did so at the training course, my instructor would tell me, Rabbi, drive just a little faster, don’t worry, the cones are there as part of the obstacle course. I am not praying while you are learning to drive the police car in all conditions, though I do sometimes pray with other trainees. Besides, you are going to slow. I give you permission to drive faster. Chaplains play an important role in the work they do and the Kiddush H they can make is exceptional. There are challenges being a chaplain especially a Jewish chaplain or perhaps I should say a chaplain who is Jewish. Even more so, for one who wishes to observe his/her religion in all of the above settings. There is much we can accomplish. With our emunah and betachon we can overcome many obstacles. We must never give up hope nor dilute our love for our G and for our religion. It is unfortunate that there are those who wish to harm us. Sometime standing up for our rights is important no matter what others may think. No one can take away the kindness and the goodness Jewish chaplains have done for others and continues to do. We must be caring and respectful of all Jewish men and women regardless of their level of observance or being non affiliated. We are all brothers and sisters. When we pray for achdus, when we pray for Shalom al Yisrael, we should pray for the safety of Klal Yisrael . Let us be mispallel for the day when there will only shalom bein adam lechaveiro and the coming of Moshiach. Let us be mispallel for a sweet and wonderful Pesach enjoying and fulfilling all the Pesach rituals, customs, prayers, observances and of course the delicious Pesadika food.
Please don’t forget to promptly extend invitations to your Pesach guests.
The next issue will be the last until after Pesach.
Am Yisrael Chai- Chaveirim Kol Yisrael-Shalom Al Yisrael.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank.