Mercy! Catholic hospital provides room for Shabbat food, rest, prayer

With a growing number of Shomer Shabbat patients arriving at Rockville Centre’s Mercy Medical Center, a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, the need for hospital-based bikur cholim assistance has been increasing.

A kosher kitchen and two suites — each with two beds and a bathroom — had been opened by Chabad of the Five Towns in 2007.

After Dr. Aaron Glatt, assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere, joined Mercy as Chief Administrative Officer in 2011, he arranged to open an adjoining shul, with a mechitza available for use as needed. Then, last May, Achiezer, an organization that facilitates care and aid for residents in need in the Five Towns and Rockaways, assumed the kitchen responsibilities.

With the help of Gourmet Glatt, the kosher superstore in Cedarhurst, Achiezer opened a new kitchen, putting the crowning touch on a section of the hospital’s second floor that is dedicated to assisting Jewish caregivers during the week, on Shabbat and the holidays.

“The beauty of Judaism is that even in times of struggle and stress, the yom tovs go on,” said Gourmet Glatt General Manager Yoeli Steinberg.

“We need to maintain our strength, cheer, and good mood, to go on” — and should not be compelled to do without kosher necessities or miss having a seudat Shabbat, he said.

“Achiezer and Gourmet Glatt — it’s wonderful,” said Dr. Glatt. “The patients and I thank them for providing this additional benefit.” He noted that there will be a mincha minyan in the shul at Mercy, Monday through Thursday at 1 p.m.. after November 4.

Tova Brill, a pharmacist at Mercy, explained that the original bikur cholim kosher kitchen was set up by Chabad in memory of Carol Susan Brooks, Brills’ sister. The new kitchen, dedicated in honor of Abraham and Sara Silber by Barbara and Mark Silber, is administered by Achiezer and supplied by Gourmet Glatt.

The Silbers saw the bikur cholim in South Nassau and “took it upon themselves to do it in Mercy,” said Shalom Jaroslawicz, project coordinator and hospital support services for Achiezer.

“The Silbers are shoppers at Gourmet Glatt and knew that the supermarket was involved with the bikur cholim project at South Nassau Community Hospital. They approached Steinberg to make the connection with us.”

“It’s a perfect opportunity to help,” said Steinberg. “The partnership between Achiezer and Gourmet Glatt creates an oasis in a desert. When caregivers find it they think it is a mirage; it comforts people who need to be there.”

Steinberg said that the room is stocked with food, chalav yisroel milk, meals that are sealed, a hot water kettle, and a warming oven loaded before Shabbat — “it’s ready, there’s a warm meal.”

“We help out many specialized organizations, we’ve become an institutional name when people look for help,” he said.

“We have a team of volunteers who keep the space clean, keep it stocked, take inventory and bring food as needed,” said Jaroslawicz. “It’s the most troubling time, when someone is in the hospital; we try to make it easier. There’s always hot food, hot water, soup. It’s a place to sit down and forget for a few minutes in the hospital. Give them five to ten minutes, go in there, grab a bite to eat, or a whole Shabbos meal. They have whatever you could want. It gives a little bit of a break and you get reenergized and hopefully be out with good results to be there for them. It’s definitely draining to be at a patient’s bedside.”

“People find it themselves and have no idea,” said Steinberg. “They don’t know what they are going to do, they are very worried. No one should ever need it but once you discover it, you are so grateful.”