Page 116 - issue
P. 116
Rebbe then said. “It is I who should collapses or becomes sick due to Annex of Congregation Tiferes Yisroel
apologize. You did the right thing to stress is of no use to the family)? How (Rabbi Goldberger’s shul). All group
spend the time with your friend.” does he handle the hashkafic and activities are confidential, and those
emotional issues he and his children who wish merely to sit and listen are
Yaakov’s wife had a chronic neuro- face in dealing with his wife’s deterio- welcome. The group is appropriate for
logical disease that left her partially ration? those providing care for people with
disabled. She was frequently in con- dementias or physical disabilities.
siderable pain and had difficulty car- Support and Shomeri Ahuvim
ing for herself and the children. All people giving care, whether for In addition to the support group
Yaakov skipped his class to help, com- mentally- or physically-impaired for caregivers, Shomrei Ahuvim wel-
fort, and care for her. While Yaakov’s loved ones, may be subject to signifi- comes volunteer help from those in
wife was in physical distress, she was cant stress. The title of a well-known the community who can support care-
mentally “normal,” yet both she and book on caring for people with givers and help the impaired continue
Yaakov were suffering. Yaakov faced a dementias is The Thirty-Six-Hour to live meaningful Torah lives. We
quandary: evaluating the relative seri- Day. Many caregivers will relate. seek men, especially, who can learn
ousness of missing a learning session Emotional pain, anxiety, agonizing with impaired Torah Jews or anyone
versus letting his wife cope with her decisions, feelings of helplessness, who can accompany impaired individ-
situation alone. He had consulted monetary issues, and total exhaus- uals to shul and help them follow
with a rabbi to get the Torah perspec- tion are common. along.◆
tive. Yaakov had also asked about
other issues. What about physical Many helpful support groups for To obtain information about Shomrei
care for his wife when physical con- caregivers exist in the Baltimore area, Ahuvim, please call Andy Goldfinger
tact would ordinarily not be allowed? but they may not deal with issues par- at 410-578-8705 or via email at
What about modesty? How should he ticular to Torah Jews, such as those Andy.Goldfinger@verizon.net. There
divide his limited monetary resources raised in this article. To deal with this, is also a web site at www.Shomrei-
between tzedaka and his wife’s Shomrei Ahuvim, a support group for Ahuvim.org. The author would like to
needs? How should he balance his Torah-observant caregivers, has been thank Yehoshua Goldfinger for his
wife’s and his children’s needs? What formed and meets biweekly, on valuable comments and suggestions
about his own needs (a caregiver who Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m., in the about this article.
108 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
apologize. You did the right thing to stress is of no use to the family)? How (Rabbi Goldberger’s shul). All group
spend the time with your friend.” does he handle the hashkafic and activities are confidential, and those
emotional issues he and his children who wish merely to sit and listen are
Yaakov’s wife had a chronic neuro- face in dealing with his wife’s deterio- welcome. The group is appropriate for
logical disease that left her partially ration? those providing care for people with
disabled. She was frequently in con- dementias or physical disabilities.
siderable pain and had difficulty car- Support and Shomeri Ahuvim
ing for herself and the children. All people giving care, whether for In addition to the support group
Yaakov skipped his class to help, com- mentally- or physically-impaired for caregivers, Shomrei Ahuvim wel-
fort, and care for her. While Yaakov’s loved ones, may be subject to signifi- comes volunteer help from those in
wife was in physical distress, she was cant stress. The title of a well-known the community who can support care-
mentally “normal,” yet both she and book on caring for people with givers and help the impaired continue
Yaakov were suffering. Yaakov faced a dementias is The Thirty-Six-Hour to live meaningful Torah lives. We
quandary: evaluating the relative seri- Day. Many caregivers will relate. seek men, especially, who can learn
ousness of missing a learning session Emotional pain, anxiety, agonizing with impaired Torah Jews or anyone
versus letting his wife cope with her decisions, feelings of helplessness, who can accompany impaired individ-
situation alone. He had consulted monetary issues, and total exhaus- uals to shul and help them follow
with a rabbi to get the Torah perspec- tion are common. along.◆
tive. Yaakov had also asked about
other issues. What about physical Many helpful support groups for To obtain information about Shomrei
care for his wife when physical con- caregivers exist in the Baltimore area, Ahuvim, please call Andy Goldfinger
tact would ordinarily not be allowed? but they may not deal with issues par- at 410-578-8705 or via email at
What about modesty? How should he ticular to Torah Jews, such as those Andy.Goldfinger@verizon.net. There
divide his limited monetary resources raised in this article. To deal with this, is also a web site at www.Shomrei-
between tzedaka and his wife’s Shomrei Ahuvim, a support group for Ahuvim.org. The author would like to
needs? How should he balance his Torah-observant caregivers, has been thank Yehoshua Goldfinger for his
wife’s and his children’s needs? What formed and meets biweekly, on valuable comments and suggestions
about his own needs (a caregiver who Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m., in the about this article.
108 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
