The Talmud’s recorded remedy for “palpitations of the heart” was to take three wheat cakes, streak them with honey, eat them and wash them down with strong wine (Gittin 69). Whilst this solution was probably considered advanced in its time, we are glad to see as volunteers at ‘Save a Child’s Heart’ that medicine has progressed since then. However the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (lit. Repairing the World) is alive and well at the children’s home in Israel.
Throughout this week, we have seen people from all walks of life join us here in Azor to volunteer: medical students, retirees, university students,youth workers, gap year programee etc. however we had not heard of Orthodox Yeshiva students attending, so we are glad to add this category to the ever-growing list. As both full-time volunteers and observant Jews, we presented many new and unique learning opportunities for both the mothers and ourselves:
Keeping Kosher in a home where the savory foods of Kuku (a chicken stew) and M’kate (flat-bread) are always available is tough; and yet, with the help of Kadidya (the Zanzibarian nurse), we were able to learn how to make these dishes both for ourselves in the home and for our families back home. We attended Friday night prayer services at the local (Messianic) Chabad synagogue whilst the kids were playing with their mothers and also ate Shabbat dinner with the local rabbi; who was also impressed with the work we were doing at SACH. Everyone in the house was very respectful of our limitations over the Sabbath and we still managed to keep all the children entertained with the help of toy cars and the park slides!
Throughout this week, we have seen people from all walks of life join us here in Azor to volunteer: medical students, retirees, university students,youth workers, gap year programee etc. however we had not heard of Orthodox Yeshiva students attending, so we are glad to add this category to the ever-growing list. As both full-time volunteers and observant Jews, we presented many new and unique learning opportunities for both the mothers and ourselves:
Keeping Kosher in a home where the savory foods of Kuku (a chicken stew) and M’kate (flat-bread) are always available is tough; and yet, with the help of Kadidya (the Zanzibarian nurse), we were able to learn how to make these dishes both for ourselves in the home and for our families back home. We attended Friday night prayer services at the local (Messianic) Chabad synagogue whilst the kids were playing with their mothers and also ate Shabbat dinner with the local rabbi; who was also impressed with the work we were doing at SACH. Everyone in the house was very respectful of our limitations over the Sabbath and we still managed to keep all the children entertained with the help of toy cars and the park slides!
A variety of religious dress can be seen at the SACH house. Many Muslim mothers wear the Hidjab and some of the catholic women wear crosses. All of the children are fascinated by our addition of colorful Kippot (skullcaps). One of Ibrahim's (from Mali) favorite past-times is to take one of our kippot, put it on his head, waddle away, then scrunch the kippah into a ball and stuff it into his mouth when no-one is looking. Last week, one of us (Ben) had the pleasure of escorting Tudor and his mother to the airport for their return to Romania. Upon his leave, Tudor asked for Ben's knitted kippah as a memento of his time in Israel (along with a guitar pick so he can continue his jamming sessions in the future). We hadn't anticipated this aspect of the volunteer-work before and thus we're pleasantly surprised to see how religious expression plays such a positive role in each child's experience within the home.
Ben Winton & Gavi Brown
