Friday Was A Good Day (A Personal Post)

Part I.  My wife and I have been going to the same dermatologist for a number of years.  First, when she worked in another doctor's office.  Later, we went with her when she opened her own practice.  She was always thorough, always nice, always explained everything.  So, my wife and I were quite upset when we learned that she would be off work for a period of months, having been diagnosed with cancer.  What type?  We did not know.  In the meantime, there were other doctors in the office to see patients.

Another one of my doctor's offices is just down the hall from Dr. K's.  Periodically, I would stop in Dr. K's office (when leaving the other doctor) and ask the staff at the front desk how she was doing.  I always asked that they let her know we were wishing her all the best.  When I arrived at my appointment on Friday, I again asked how Dr. K was doing, and said to please give her my best.  While I was sitting in the waiting room, one of the staff said they had a surprise for me.  Out came Dr. K behind her.

As I stood up, Dr. K walked over and gave me a big hug, and was obviously appreciative of our constant good wishes.  I told her that, upon hearing she had some type of cancer, I said to my wife:  "No!  Dr. K is too young, too nice and too pretty for this."  (I know.  In today's world it is impermissible to comment on a woman's appearance.  Too bad.)  Anyway, Dr. K told me how she been diagnosed with lymphoma.  She had noticed swelling of her lymph nodes.  And then got testing.  She had to undergo a grueling six months of chemotherapy.  Dr. K is tall and thin, with flowing red hair.  But she looked a little gaunt after her chemo.  And I suspect her hair had fallen out, as she now had short red hair. 

The conversation continued for a while.  She said she was not yet back to work, even though she had stopped in the office.  I let her know that she had been in my prayers for those in need of healing.  It was just just so good, so inspiring, to see her up and about again.  As the conversation was ending, I said to her that she was still too young, too nice and too pretty to be going through this.  She seemed to be moved by my words.  I hope I remembered to also again wish her a full recovery.  As I left her office, I thought to myself:  "this is a good day.  In fact, this made my day."  

Part II.  Since we moved two years ago, I haven't been going to the small Chabad House that I used to go to for Friday night services.  Nevertheless, I am still on their email list.  So I received an email telling me that Friday night was going to be a special service, and dinner afterward, in honor of one of the congregants who had been such an important part of the community, but who now was moving with his wife to another state.  I confirmed that my wife and I would be there.

In the email announcement, they asked if anyone wanted to write a personal note about this wonderful man who was leaving.  They would compile all the notes and give them to him, so he could know and remember how important he was to the local Chabad community.  Of course, I felt I had to write something.  So, I explained that I had never gone to Chabad for Friday night services, until I started going to this particular Chabad House.  I had gone to High Holiday services at another Chabad for years, but this Chabad where I went on Friday nights was a much smaller, more intimate setting.  And, having been raised in a mostly secular family, I felt like a fish out of water.

I was always greeted warmly in the front lobby by the Rabbi and the "social secretary."  But once inside in the men's section (Chabad is an orthodox group, and the men and women sit separately during services), I really did not know anyone, except for one friend who often went also; but I liked sitting in the front and he liked the back.  But this nice Israeli man always made me feel so welcome.  Not that the others were not nice.  But this man was special.  

On a typical Friday night, there would ususally be between 20 and 40 people showing up for services.  What a pleasant surprise to see that 100+ people showed up to wish this nice man and his wife the best, as one speaker said, "for the next chapter of their lives."  He did not tell me the reason for his moving.  I'm not sure he told anyone.  He only said "Lech Lecha."  In the Torah, G-d tells Abram (later Abraham) to leave his homeland and go a place "that I will show you."  That land, Canaan, later becomes the land of Israel.  

Lech lecha can also be a spiritual journey.  And this very nice man, who I came to consider a friend, is a deeply religious man.  In my email to him, I wished him all the best, and that G-d bless him with good health and a long life.  It was just so good to see such a warm outpouring of support from the Jewish community (of all ages, and undoubtedly all levels of observance and all sides of the political spectrum) for this very nice man.  So I say to my friend:  Be'ezrat Hashem!  (Akin to G-dspeed.)

Two good things in one day.  Friday was indeed a very good day.