Seudas Hodaah- A Meal of Giving Thanks
By: Rabbi Price
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this Shiur On the 23rd of Shevvat 5762-Feb 5 2002 I underwent open heart surgery. As Sunday Feb 7th is the 23rd of Shevat, I’m attaching a sicha that I gave in 2003 about my experience.
Seudas Hodaah- A Meal of Giving Thanks
By RABBI SHLOMO PRICE
On Tuesday evening February 4, 2003-the night of 3 Adar I, 5763, I had a seudas hodaah-meal of giving thanks, to thank Hashem as it was a year since my open-heart surgery. This is the speech I gave at that occasion.
It is now a full year after my open-heart surgery, which happened on 23 Shevat, 5762-February 5, 2002.
It is a time to reflect on the great miracles and Divine supervision that Hashem, in His great mercy, has bestowed upon me.
It is also a time to thank Hashem for all of His great kindness, which this meal is all about. The "Chayei Adam", a halachic sefer by Rav Avraham Danzig, in Chapter 155, cites the Yam Shel Shlomo, who says "Any meal that one makes to remember the wonders of Hashem is a seudas mitzvah-a meal that is a mitzvah to make."
The sages tell us that words that come from the heart (of the speaker) enter the heart (of the listener).
I also heard from a speaker, who was quite emotional, that words that come from heart sometimes get stuck in the throat, because of emotion it is sometimes hard to get all those heartfelt words out.
I, therefore, decided to commit my thoughts to writing in the hope that my thoughts can be transmitted entirely.
At this point, I think a little background of my medical history would be in order.
I have a neurological problem which means that my nerves are weak and it's hard for me to run and walk. I also fall a lot.
A few years ago I was diagnosed as having a condition in my heart, called H.O.C.M.-Hyper Obstructive Cardio Myopothy. This means that the wall of the heart is too thick and obstructs the normal flow of blood. I was taking some medicine for it and it was basically under control. Then it got progressively worse until it caused pressure on the lungs which made it difficult to breathe. Eventually I had atrial fibrillation where my heart was beating much faster then it was supposed to.
I spent many different times in the hospital. In fact, there were three Thursdays in a row, when I was discharged from the hospital, only to have to return to the hospital because I couldn't breathe. I had no koach-strength, I could barely walk across the street without stopping to rest. I took many tests and treatments but I was still quite weak.
Finally tests that were done on my heart in early January 2002, showed that unless I had immediate surgery, my prognosis was not too good.
The kind of operation I needed consisted of changing a valve in the heart(aortic valve replacement) and thinning out the wall of the heart (septal myectomy). This last procedure, of thinning out the wall of the heart, was the most dangerous and complicated part. It is necessary for the surgeon to manually thin out the wall of the heart without making a hole in it. As there is no way measure, it takes a lot of Heavenly assistance to be successful.
Then Hashem sent his messengers of mercy. Dr Raphael Bortz who is our family doctor here in Telz-Stone took all of my files and Fed-Exed them to Dr. Alan Weiss, a foremost cardiologist in St. Louis , who was Rav Shach's ztl. cardiologist when he was in Eretz Yisroel. Dr Weiss researched who would be the best and most experienced surgeon to do this complicated procedure. Eventually, through amazing Hashgocho, Rabbi Michoel Sorotzkin, Dr Weiss and Dr. Bortz arranged that my surgery would be done in Cleveland by a Dr. Bruce Lytle of the Cleveland Clinic, a surgeon who had successfully performed this operation many times. My cardiologist would be the very competent Dr. Harry Lever, who is well known and admired by the Cleveland residents.
Rabbi Michoel Sorotzkin, Mr. Sommerstien, the Mash ( Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Blumenfeld, Mashgiach of Neveh Zion), the Alumni, the staff and Talmidim of Neveh Zion, and Rabbi Mayer Solomon then arranged the financial and technical aspect of getting me to Cleveland and finding us a place to stay.
My wife accompanied me and so did my mechutan (relative by marriage, his son married my daughter) Rabbi Mayer Solomon, who heads a Hatzalah organization in Israel called Boruch Rofeh Cholim. Part of what he does is, to escort sick people, who may need medical attention on the plane, to other countries to have surgery. Little did he realize that one day he would be using his talent to help his own mechutan.
We stayed in New York a short time by my brothers, then we went to Cleveland where we were helped out by a tremendous Chesed organizatrion and network called "Bikur Cholim" of which I will speak more about later.
On February 5, 2002 I went through my surgery. Just remembering my thoughts as I was on the operating table makes me realize how much I owe Hashem Yisborach.
Now, any time a person goes under anesthesia it is very dangerous. Even minor surgery can bring its complications. Here I was on the operating table before the operation reflecting on my situation. They are going to literally kill you. They are going to stop your heart from beating and hook you up to all kinds of machines that will barely keep you "alive". Then they are going to cut open your heart and make the wall of the heart thinner, since it was too thick and greatly impeded my breathing. They will also replace one of the valves, which was faulty. Afterwards, they will sew you back up, and hope that when they remove your life-sustaining machines, your heart will start to beat and you will be able to breathe normally.
After pondering all this, I wondered, "are you so sure that you are going to make it?"
Of course, I couldn't know. But one thing I decided. If, with Hashem's help, I do survive, then the moment I wake up, could there be a more opportune time to recite the "Modeh Ani"?
Boruch Hashem, as you may have figured out by now, I did make it. When I was coming out of anesthesia I didn't know where I was, if it was before the operation or after. The nurse assured me that I was after the operation and everything was fine. Then, I mustered up whatever feeling I could under the after-effects of the operation and I recited the Modeh Ani, probably with more feeling then I ever did.
Let us start having the proper feeling in Modeh Ani and not wait for personal messages.
I was discharged from the hospital 10 days later on February 15, 3 Adar which is, of course, tonight. I had to remain in Cleveland for 10 days awaiting a check up from my cardiologist, Dr. Harry Lever, to see if I was medically fit to travel. This appointment fell out on 13 Adar-Taanis Esther.
Dr. Lever was quite amazed and satisfied at the vast difference in my health from before the operation to after. He wrote in his report that I said I felt "better than before surgery", and then he quoted my wife who said, "It has been the difference between day and night." He himself compared my recovery to a "resurrection." As Dr. Irving Friedman, my neurologist from New York , said, "you received a new heart (by surgically repairing it) without receiving a new heart (a transplant)." Even Dr. Alan Weiss from St. Louis , who examined me, when he visited his children in Israel , wrote, " Rabbi Price has obviously had an excellent result from surgery…"
After getting permission to fly, I spent Taanis Esther and Purim in New York .
I had the pleasure of spending the Purim Seudah with a lot of my wife's relatives at the house of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Presser, who Boruch Hashem, were able to be here with us tonight.
One of the interesting Hashgochos and bonuses was that I had yahrzeit for my father o.h. on 16 Adar right after Shushan Purim. I was able to spend the yahrzeit with my two brothers, for the first time in many years. I, boruch Hashem, was able to make a siyum on Maseches Sotah, by my brother Yerachmiel Yaccov Yosef's house on the East Side . My brother, Yerachmiel Yaccov Yosef ben Chaya Leah, is right now very sick and I take this opportunity to wish him a Refuah Shleima.
In a lighter vein, I had to daven maariv for the amud on the night of my father's yahrzeit, so I went to the "Landau" Shul in Flatbush, which is famous for its many minyanim. The gabai (one in charge) arranged for me to daven in one of the later minyanim. I only found out later that, ironically, the gabai was a former Neveh student. It is good to know that we have someone in such an important position.
Shortly afterwards I returned to Eretz Yisroel. My mechutan, Rabbi Mayer Solomon came in special to escort me back.
Now comes the main purpose of the seudas hodaah, to thank Hashem and His agents. I have stressed many times that our obligation of hacoras hatov- showing appreciation applies to even inanimate objects and even if we received a benefit from someone or something indirectly. How much more so, to Hashem, Who constantly, in His mercy, directly gives us undeserving goodness. There is no way to really fully thank Him. The least we can do is to try to keep His Torah and Mitzvos, and as I heard that Rav Noach Weinberg recently said, "…to bring His children back home."
At the same time, we cannot forget Hashem's sheluchim neemanim, -trusty agents who brought to fruition Hashem's Master Plan.
It's hard not to forget someone and to mention them in their proper order. So I'm just going to mention what I can remember and you have to realize that there is no order. They are all equally important.
However, there is one person who I will mention first. I usually save her for last and then I forget to mention her. That is of course my wife, Malka Miriam Rochel.
It is not easy to put up with a grumpy old man, and when he is sick, it's even worse. All the more so when he's just undergone open heart surgery. Well, my wife, with great devotion, went way beyond the call of duty and was always at my side to help me in any way that she could.
I also must thank my own children, whose practice at playing house finally came into good use. They each deserve personal recognition. They are bli ayin horo, Chana Liba, Sarah Fayge, Tzvi, Esthy, Moishe, Nechama, Yocheved, Zissel, Tzivia, Rivkah, and of course my ben zekunim, my four year old Yehudah Dovid. He so graciously allowed me to share his Mother with him and only yelled occasionally on the phone for her to come home.
Among my children, I can, Boruch Hashem, now include my son-in law Eliyahu Solomon and our granddaughter Leah. Even though she wasn't yet born during the surgery, she prayed for me in her mother's stomach.
My brothers, sisters-in-law and their family, and my wife's side of the family were all very instrumental in making our stay in New York very comfortable. My neurologist Dr. Irving Friedman from New York was always available for advice and assistance. Many of my brothers' friends and neighbors also helped us out.
I must thank all the relatives, neighbors, alumni and friends who had our children over for Shabbosim and Purim.
I want to thank Rabbi Mordechai Friedlander, the Rosh Hayeshivah of Ohr Chodosh , who has been our spiritual adviser for many years. He was always very generous with his precious time. He was always available to give us his wise advice, encouragement, and guidance.
Dr. Bortz, Dr. Weiss, Rabbi Michoel Sorotzkin, the Mash, Mr. Sommerstien, the Neveh staff, talmidim and alumni, Rabbi Mayer Solomon all got this whole trip literally off of the ground.
While I was in Cleveland , many people made a special trip, many times it was many hours, to come and visit me after the operation.
My brothers Mayer, and Yerachmiel Yaccov Yosef and his wife Elkie, and very close family friends Dovid and Kate Kupferstien all trudged by bus or car from New York . My nephew, Chanoch Bresler made the long trip from Detroit . And what a surprise it was, when I was still in the I.C.U. not too long after the operation and in walks a close Neveh alumnus and his mother, Sony Perlman and his mother, Naomi, who made the special trip from New York . In a way these people gave my wife and me the chizuk and the medicine that we needed most.
My stay in Cleveland allowed me to get acquainted with a tremendous network of Chesed called "Bikur Cholim." From the moment we arrived in Cleveland until we left they took care of anything that we needed. They arranged for kosher meals in the Hospital for me and anyone else who was with me. They gave us a room in a beautiful house called "The Bikur Cholim House." It had a full kitchen and they bought for us any foods we wanted and always served catered suppers. Any time someone came to stay with us they were also given a room and all the services. In fact, they had a special person arranging transportation for us from and to the hospital and from and to the airport. Even our guests who came by bus or plane were picked up by them. All appointments and interviews were arranged by them. When necessary they sent someone with me to help with the red tape in the different offices we had to go to. They even had toys and cribs for little children and babies. They also supply an interpreter when necessary, as many people come from Eretz Yisroel and cannot speak English. They also had a Video and tape recorder, so we can spend some time relaxing. They even arranged for me in the Hospital to see the video of my daughter's wedding. On Shabbosim, they supplied all our needs in the house or, if we wanted, they would arrange for us to eat by one of the families near the Bikur Cholim House. They had all of my medical necessities in mind. They got me a wheel chair, a walker, cane etc.. Of course, Spiritual necessities were of prime importance. There were many seforim and a shul not too far away. When I needed, they even arranged a minyan in the house. The chaplin of the Hospital, Rabbi Ephraim Spero, arranged to get me a private room and a cot in the Hospital, so my wife could stay with me.
I will mention a partial list of those wonderful people who so unselfishly gave of their time and money to make our stay in Cleveland as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Anyone I have forgotten will please forgive me. The list is not in order of importance.
[The names were omiited from the interent version. Y.L.]
I also must mention the wonderful Cleveland Clinic, Drs. Lytle, Lever and the whole warm staff who were so nice and sympathized with my situation.
A special mention to Dr. William Schwab, a brilliant religious doctor with a beard and peyes-sidelocks, who was my "family doctor" in Cleveland . He had originally been from St. Louis and was in constant contact with Dr. Weiss from St. Louis .
I must at this time convey my heartfelt gratitude to the Hanhala of our yeshiva Neveh Zion, who 25 years ago, then known as Neveh Yehoshua took me in and gave me all that I needed and continues to do so despite the fact that I have not been able to fulfill completely my responsibilities to the Yeshivah.
To all those who davened for me, Thank you, and please keep it up. My name is Shlomo Yoel ben Chaya Leah, and please have my brother in mind as well, Yerachmiel Yaacov Yosef ben Chaya Leah. Bsoch shur cholei yisroel.
In my original draft of this sicha, at this point I was going to end off with a beautiful story from Rabbi Krohn , and I certainly will, but as Hashgacha would have it, I just received this afternoon a beautiful article from Rabbi Felman's mother-in-law, Mrs. Perl, about the beauty and the concept of saying "Nishmas" ("The Soul of every living thing shall bless your Name…"-found at the end of Shabbos Shachris Pesukei Dezimra). The article is called "The Blessing of Song", by Rabbi Avraham Chaim Carmell. It is from the paper, "Hamodia" Teves 22, 5763- 12/27/2002. He relates that "Nishmas" is mentioned in the Gemoro Pesachim (118a). It is not clear who the author is. Some say Rabbi Shimeon ben Shetach, others say Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, and others attribute it to Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.
There is a tremendous segulah for anyone who needs salvation. He says in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Hachasid that when a person is in need of special Heavenly help, whether it's sickness, a shidduch, sustenance, or children, he should accept upon himself that when the danger is over he will say the song of Nishmas to praise Hashem for His salvation (Ben Ish Chai, 2nd yr. Toldos sec.3; Kaf Hachaim, Orach Chaim 281:8; Chaim Larosh on the Haggada shel Pesach by Rabbi Chaim Palachi; Chanukas HaTorah, p. 101). Some sources mention that this should be sung among a minyan (quorum of ten). Others add that one should announce the resolution before a minyan as well.
Perhaps the importance of "Nishmas" can be understood by the words of the Prophet Yeshaya (Isaiah 43:21), "I have created this people for Myself- they will relate my praises." The very title Yehudi, a Jew, is based on the concept of hodaa-giving thanks.
The Ramban at the end of parshas Bo (Exodus 13:16) says, "There is no other purpose to creation, and the Alm-ghty Above has no interest in the lower worlds, other than the fact that man should know his G-D and express his gratitude to Hashem for having created him. That is the intent of the erection of houses of worship, where masses assemble and raise their voices in prayer to publicize their praise of the Creator Who brought about their existence and to proclaim their subservience."
The article continues, "Surely one who tries to fulfill the purpose of creation will merit that Hashem will fulfill all of his needs."
(Till here is from the article.)
The Artscroll Siddur has a beautiful introduction to Nishmas. "This beautiful moving Prayer is an outpouring of praise and gratitude to Hashem. Lyrically it depicts our utter dependency on His mercy, our total inadequacy to laud him properly, and our enthusiastic resolve to dedicate ourselves to His service."
I did not know about this segulah, I did not make the declaration beforehand to say Nishmas after my salvation, but I still feel obligated to say Nishmas in public after such a great salvation. (At this point I said the "Nishmas" prayer).
I will now end off with a beautiful story from Rabbi Paysach Krohn 's new book, "Reflections of the Maggid," p.44, which gives us a beautiful insight in showing appreciation.
He tells about a Dr. Chuna Chaim (Howie) Liebowitz, a graduate of Harvard Medical School , who learned by Rav Noach Weinberg and eventually gave a shiur at Aish Hatorah in Yerushalaim. He also practiced medicine at Yerushalaim and Boston , Mass. , where he was the senior resident in charge of the emergency room.
One afternoon he was making his rounds, the loudspeaker blared a "Code Blue" alert, the words that indicate an emergency life-threatening situation. A woman had suffered a severe heart attack in the cafeteria upstairs, and was in cardiac arrest. He took his equipment and ran upstairs only to find the other doctors who were afraid that it was too late. They were already working on her for a while and couldn't get her heart to start. Dr. Liebowitz tried several times to shock her heart to jumpstart it back to normal rhythm, without success. The other doctors began to leave, disappointed that a patient had died right before their eyes.
Dr. Liebowitz, however, did not give up. After a fifth and sixth unsuccessful try, he realized that the end was near, if it hadn't already come. He would try one more time.
He pressed the control button with added emphasis, and looked at the cardiac monitor. The razor-thin line that had been flat darted upwards! There was life! He had a heartbeat!
Infused with hope and determination he worked hard until he managed to stimulate a feeble purse. He then ordered the medics to take her to the I.C.U. Once there her progress was slow but steady.
He kept calling in for an update and six hours later he was told the good news that she was being allowed to sit up in bed.
She wasn't his patient, so Dr. Liebowitz wondered if he should go visit her. He was in medicine to help people not for gratitude and recognition.
Then he realized her name was Kelley (not her real name), apparently not Jewish. His name, Liebowitz, was unmistakably Jewish. If he would visit her, she would realize that a Jew saved her life. This would be a Kiddush Hashem-Sanctification of Hashem's name. She would know that Jewish people are compassionate to everybody.
As he walked to her room he wondered how to introduce himself. When he got there he didn't have to. A man sitting next to her called out, "He's the one! He's the one who saved your life! That's the one I've been telling you about."
" And who are you?" Dr. Liebowitz said, extending his hand to the gentleman.
"I'm her husband and I saw how hard you worked to save my wife's life."
"Where were you?" Dr. Liebowitz asked.
The man explained that he was with her when it happened, but then they whisked everyone out of the room and he had to watch from behind the glass wall.
The woman began crying uncontrollably. When she composed herself, she spoke softly and said words that Dr. Liebowitz would never forget.
"What do I say? Thank you? That's what you say to someone who holds a door open for you, not to someone who has just given you back your life. But I will tell you this. When I go home and see my children I will remember you and say, 'Thank you Dr. Liebowitz.' In a week from now when I take a walk with my husband I will think of you and say, 'Thank you Dr. Liebowitz.' The next time I go out with my friends I will think of you say, 'Thank you Dr. Liebowitz.' And the next time I have a birthday, I will remember you and say, 'Thank you Dr. Liebowitz.' "
Her words were simple but heartfelt-gentle but powerful.
When Dr. Liebowitz left the room he walked out into the hospital corridor and said to no one and to anyone, "When I go home and see my wife and family, I'm going to say, 'Thank you, Hashem,' and the next time I daven and feel connected to Hashem I will remember and say, 'Thank you Rav Noach Weinberg,' and the next time I learn Chumash I will say, 'Thank you Rav Noach Weinberg.' The next time I walk up the stairs and don't get out of breath I will say, 'Thank you Hashem.'
" Dr. Liebowitz returned to the emergency room a humbled and grateful person.
We all have this opportunity to thank Hashem. We daven three times a day. Why wait till our lives are in danger.
We also have to realize that thanking Him is not enough. We must combine our words with action. We should try to keep His Torah and Mitzvos to the best of our abilities.
In this merit we will be privileged to see the coming of Mashiach and receive the ultimate blessing, Hashem will give strength to His nation, Hashem will bless His nation with peace.
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