Where What When - Articles by Devora Schor

Articles by Devora Schor

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Mattresses, Music, Mitzrayim

All of us listen to the news and hear the facts about the war in Eretz Yisrael. But nothing compares to hearing from people who are living through it. I spoke with a few of my relatives to find out what it is like.

I spoke first to my sister, Chaya, who lives in Bnei Brak. I asked her why she sounds so calm. Wasn’t she worried that a missile might fall on her head during our conversation? She explained that it is a defense mechanism. “You can’t live in constant fear and remain sane,” she said. “Life goes on as normal most of the time.”

While we were taking at about 10 p.m., Israeli time, one of Chaya’s daughters was outside going for a walk with her friend. I found that hard to believe. Chaya explained, “The children are prepared. They understand that if an alert comes, they should go into a shelter room in a nearby building. Other adults on the street help the children. If a siren goes off while people are on a bus, the bus stops and people go into nearby buildings.

While we were talking, there was an automated call from her children’s teachers explaining that, although there would be no school tomorrow, the children would learn over the phone.

Dr. Sondra Heiligman Long-Time Community Physician

A young patient of Dr. Sondra Heiligman, a beloved pediatrician in our community, once went to an urgent care for an earache. The PA who examined the child playfully told her that he saw an elephant in her ear. The child was surprised and said that her doctor, Dr. Heiligman, had said the same thing. It turned out that the PA was one of the students who had studied under Dr. Heiligman.

This amusing anecdote shows Dr. Heiligman’s enjoyment of children as well as her desire to serve others, including medical students. These qualities, along with her interest in science, led her toward a career in pediatrics. Volunteering in the hospital playroom was one experience that helped shape her path. She graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1985, did her residency and training in Maryland, and later completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology.

From Budapest to Baltimore: A Profile of Mrs. Klara Margaretten

It is one thing to learn about history from books; it is another to hear about it from people who lived it. I visited Mrs. Klara Margaretten, a Baltimore senior, who shared her interesting life story.

Mrs. Margaretten is the mother of Judy Landman and Lazer Margaretten of Baltimore. Her husband was Yaakov Mordechai Margaretten, the younger brother of Moshe Magaretten, who used to be in the chicken business in Baltimore, and later ran the kitchen at Ner Yisrael. Klara’s husband was the youngest of 14 children, of whom only five brothers survived the Holocaust.

Starting Married Life in Eretz Yisrael

Many young couples choose to begin their married lives in Eretz Yisrael. I was curious about how and why they do that and what the experience is like for them. Although it seems clear that the best time to move is as newlyweds, when couples do not have to worry as much about expenses and children, most of those I asked did not cite those factors. Instead, they responded incredulously. They assumed it would be obvious that Eretz Yisrael is the land of the Jews and one does not need a specific reason to want to live there.

I only spoke to the wives, so these words are from their perspective.

Sarah Needs a Kidney

Sarah Bickford is a young member of our community, a former Bais Yaakov student and former teacher at the JCC and Khal Chasidim childcare programs. Tamar Schulman, director of Khal Chassidim daycare said that Sarah is a much beloved, creative, and thrifty teacher.

Unfortunately, Sarah cannot work anymore. After a severe illness, her kidneys no longer function properly, and she must spend most of her time taking care of her health. Sarah’s diet is very restricted, and she is often very tired and weak. To stay alive, she must go to dialysis three times a week for three-and-a-half hours each time. If the kidneys are not working properly, the dialysis machine does the kidneys’ job of filtering the blood and removing waste products from the body.

Sarah has been accepted into a program at John Hopkins Hospital Transplant Center, which means she will be able to receive kidney if one becomes available. This could take from two to seven years according to the doctors. She must always be prepared to receive a kidney if a suitable donor is found. She works with a nurse transplant coordinator to make sure she is prepared.

Reflections on Old Baltimore

Beth Abraham shul, affectionally known as “Hertzberg’s,” is tucked away on a small side street, a simple brick-faced building set back on a green lawn. You could pass it by without ever guessing its history and unique personality among the shuls of Baltimore.

I had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Chava Rosenfeld, the daughter of its first rav, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech, zt”l, and Mrs. Nechama Shifra, a”h, Hertzberg. I was interested to hear from Mrs. Rosenfeld about her parents, her shul, and how life has changed since she was a girl growing up in Forest Park.