Shabbos/Religious Observances

shelly304 · Jun 25, 2008

I wonder what happened to "texasmommy", the OP? She has never posted since 01/01/2008.

lamazeteacher · Jun 25, 2008

I wonder what happened to "texasmommy", the OP? She has never posted since 01/01/2008.

I looked for the post you referred to and couldn't find it............ In her OP, in Nov. '07, TM said she was in the "application process" for nursing schools. Perhaps her life took another direction........? :confused:

I'd like to recommend Hadassah's Nurses' Council, to Jewish (and interested non Jewish) Nurses. If you would like to get together in your communities and foster hospitals, clinics, and advanced education for Nurses in Israel, this is a worthwhile organization without political leanings (and you don't have to be Jewish to join) - however, men are "associates" in Hadassah, rather than members - which may change with modern input. Let me know if you don't know how to contact the main office in New York, about it.

woody62, RN · Jun 25, 2008

I worked at two hospitals, in New York City, one os which was run as a non-observent but Jewish facility and the other as an observant facility. It was at the observant facility that we had the least number of problems. Half the nursing staff was observant and the other half was not. We worked Shabbos and all religious holidays for our observant sisters. In tern, they worked all of our Crhistian religious holidays for us. On Shabbos Eve, we helped our observant patient's prepare for Shabbos. There were times when we had observant patients who did not wish to take medications or undergo treatments, citing them as being considered 'work', forbidden. We generally called the Chief Rabbi to talk with them.

Today this hospital has a half Mulism population. They have a prayer room with appropriate directions as to Mecca. I learned a great deal about observant Jews. I also learned a great deal about tolerance. It is too bad we don't have more of it in our world.

Woody:redbeathe

shelly304 · Jun 26, 2008

I looked for the post you referred to and couldn't find it............ In her OP, in Nov. '07, TM said she was in the "application process" for nursing schools. Perhaps her life took another direction........?
I'd like to recommend Hadassah's Nurses' Council, to Jewish (and interested non Jewish) Nurses. If you would like to get together in your communities and foster hospitals, clinics, and advanced education for Nurses in Israel, this is a worthwhile organization without political leanings (and you don't have to be Jewish to join) - however, men are "associates" in Hadassah, rather than members - which may change with modern input. Let me know if you don't know how to contact the main office in New York, about it.

In "Public Profile" for each member it states the last date and time activity took place for that member. When a member is on-line you can also see what thread they are viewing. Kind of spooky to be spied on.

shelly304 · Jun 26, 2008

I wonder what happened to "texasmommy", the OP? She has never posted since 01/01/2008.

OOPS!

Last post was dec.26, 07

Last on-line was jan.1 2008

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 26, 2008

I do not know in regards to staffing since I do not work there, but the hospital that I am a patient at has the elevators running up and down constantly during the sabath, since i guess (NOT JEWISH HERE just trying to understand) pushing the elevator button would be considered work.

shelly304 · Jun 26, 2008

I do not know in regards to staffing since I do not work there, but the hospital that I am a patient at has the elevators running up and down constantly during the sabath, since i guess (NOT JEWISH HERE just trying to understand) pushing the elevator button would be considered work.

I am not sure this would fall into Shabbos observance. Maybe someone else could answer. This is one of the most interesting threads on an. I have learned so much!

pattycakeRN · Jun 26, 2008

I enjoyed reading this thread. I love learning more about different cultures/religions. Thanks, everyone!

lamazeteacher · Jun 26, 2008

I do not know in regards to staffing since I do not work there, but the hospital that I am a patient at has the elevators running up and down constantly during the sabath, since i guess (NOT JEWISH HERE just trying to understand) pushing the elevator button would be considered work.

Hospitals are probably exempt from observances normally followed in some facilities in which Orthodox Jews live and strictly follow concepts of what is, and what's not, work. The need to transport patients to X-Ray, Operating Rooms, ICU, etc. make it a "mitzvah" (good thing) to break rules that could impair their wellness.

I received my hospital Nurses' Training at a Jewish hospital in Montreal that served Kosher food, and tried to adapt to all patients' religions and requiremenmts. The elevators ran there, as Jewish Orthodox services were held there, in the attached Nurses' residence auditorium, for any who wished to or could attend, on any holy day or weekday morning.

Your post reminds me of an occasion in Israel, in early 1985, where I was attending a residential Hebrew school for new residents there in Netanyah, with my 12 year old son (he was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah which our Los Angeles Reform Rabbi required, during our year long odyssey around the world, if he was to have that upon our return when he was 13). The first air lift of Ethiopian Jews happened during that week, and my awareness of our "lost tribe" was greatly enhanced. Being something of a skeptic, I'd thought before they came, that anyone hungry and desperate might say they were Jewish, to come to the "land of milk and honey".

They were more familiar with the prayers I knew so well, and could read the Hebrew in the Torah (Bible). At the Friday evening suppoer celebrating the commencement of Shabbat, these very poor (to put it mildly) people were all dressed in white for the Sabbath (Shabos), and I raised my small camera to take a picture. Just as I would have pushed the button to snap it, an arm held mine, and a gentle male voice said, "We don't work now".

OOOOps!!!!!

Another aspect of these folk, was that the Book of Esther hadn't been written when they went south, while others headed north from Israel so many thousands of years ago during the "Diaspora" (dispersal). So Purim, (the Jewish holiday that celebrates yet another narrow escape from death of the Jews, in Persia) was unknown to them. Their children were being taught to make masks in their arts and crafts class, for the masquerade that reenacts that story (well, it did, but in the later 20th century, Big Bird, Darth Vador, Superman, and astronaut costumes replaced Mordecai, Vashti, Esther, and King Ashachverus). Their parents were horrified by the prospect of "graven images" (which we are forbidden to worship) being created there, and the class was quickly suspended.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jun 26, 2008

Hospitals are probably exempt from observances normally followed in some facilities in which Orthodox Jews live and strictly follow concepts of what is, and what's not, work. The need to transport patients to X-Ray, Operating Rooms, ICU, etc. make it a "mitzvah" (good thing) to break rules that could impair their wellness.
I received my hospital Nurses' Training at a Jewish hospital in Montreal that served Kosher food, and tried to adapt to all patients' religions and requiremenmts. The elevators ran there, as Jewish Orthodox services were held there, in the attached Nurses' residence auditorium, for any who wished to or could attend, on any holy day or weekday morning.
Your post reminds me of an occasion in Israel, in early 1985, where I was attending a residential Hebrew school for new residents there in Netanyah, with my 12 year old son (he was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah which our Los Angeles Reform Rabbi required, during our year long odyssey around the world, if he was to have that upon our return when he was 13). The first air lift of Ethiopian Jews happened during that week, and my awareness of our "lost tribe" was greatly enhanced. Being something of a skeptic, I'd thought before they came, that anyone hungry and desperate might say they were Jewish, to come to the "land of milk and honey".
They were more familiar with the prayers I knew so well, and could read the Hebrew in the Torah (Bible). At the Friday evening suppoer celebrating the commencement of Shabbat, these very poor (to put it mildly) people were all dressed in white for the Sabbath (Shabos), and I raised my small camera to take a picture. Just as I would have pushed the button to snap it, an arm held mine, and a gentle male voice said, "We don't work now".
OOOOps!!!!!
Another aspect of these folk, was that the Book of Esther hadn't been written when they went south, while others headed north from Israel so many thousands of years ago during the "Diaspora" (dispersal). So Purim, (the Jewish holiday that celebrates yet another narrow escape from death of the Jews, in Persia) was unknown to them. Their children were being taught to make masks in their arts and crafts class, for the masquerade that reenacts that story (well, it did, but in the later 20th century, Big Bird, Darth Vador, Superman, and astronaut costumes replaced Mordecai, Vashti, Esther, and King Ashachverus). Their parents were horrified by the prospect of "graven images" (which we are forbidden to worship) being created there, and the class was quickly suspended.

Thank you for explaining.

Also thank you for not just throwing words out there, but explaining them to someone who would not know. I knew about the diaspora because I am taking a history class right now and we just learned about it 2 weeks ago, but if it had not been for that I would have had no clue so thank you.

tarapom · Jun 29, 2008

but what if their room hasn't room for 2 beds?

One does not need to be an over-acheiver to have a bedroom with space for two twin beds.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2008

Pushing a button that makes something electronic work is considered "kindling fire," which is proscribed during Shabbos.

edited to add: elevators, cameras, light switches, etc.