Pesah Has Passed Over

[medic09]

I hope you all had a good one.

Why no activity on the forum? Is everyone too busy cleaning out their matzah?

Rivkah, how's that new job?

[achot]

Here in Israel there is no rest after Pesach, Tomoro is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) my dtr is making some tekes for this for her youth movement and I am helping my pts get through it- always a difficult thing for survivors.
Before we can sneeze it is Memorial day (Yom HaZikaron) and then Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut). ..,. then Lag B'Omer , Shavuot then Chofesh Hagadol (school vacation) ....Whoooooh

I think Rivka just started after Pesach, give her a chance to breath!!!

In the meantime, how was your Chag?
I had difficulty with our in house Rav who refused to pull off the units the meds with Chametz and wouldn;t even put out a letter asking the nurses to wash their hands after handling the pills lest some have chametz. His answer was that it is pikuach nefesh and didn't care that there were chametz free versions and alternatives.
what could I do more than I did.
I did ask the nurses to wash their hands after handling pills but it would have been better coming from the Rav.

[medic09]

If we look past the fact that we didn't have a korban Pesah, and weren't even in Israel for hag, it was great. Usually we go to my wife's best friend and family for hag. They're in the US this year, so we were too.

I understand busy. I'm back to work in hospital and flight, shiurim on Mon, Tue, and Wed each week, and still haven't figured out how to promote Yom Hazikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut in a community where there is no religious awareness of it at all. Also, I'm working night shifts just before them.

I understand your frustration over not changing out the meds; but I assume you do know that the rav had a broad base to rely on? When I discussed medications with Rav Mordechai Eliyahu some 25 years ago, he clearly told me that I didn't have to switch out even the non-emergency medications (assuming they weren't flavoured). I heard Rav Hershel Schachter relate how Rav Soloveitchik told rabbanim from the RCA in the 60s that it was a shame they had wasted their time preparing a Pesah list for medications because it was all unnecessary. I believe the CRC under Rav Schwartz has a similar policy. Interestingly, the Star-K this year, while promoting the stricter approach, did make mention of the fact that it is not absolutely necessary. They brought interesting historical evidence to show that the stricter approach was at least not new, and had been followed in some communities in Europe.

The handwashing idea isn't bad; but given that the in principle the meds don't qualify as forbidden hametz, I'm not sure that handwashing is needed after handling meds. Of course, it can't hurt...

[achot]

May I suggest short movies and discussions for community awareness of the Yom Hashoa- lighting memorial candles, reading testimonials, etc.
Sometimes a pictures is worth a thousand words and people dont want lectures unless they are enthusiastic about the topic.
Its too late to really organize much else.
kol hakavod on the effort.

Thanks for the med info it made me feel better.

[achot]

BTW Yad Vashem has a sit on line
www.yadvashem.org
you might find some material there
If any of the members of the community want to do something to help survivors who are still suffering today , Our nursing home has many such survivors ( we are an amuta, non profit org- not a private fancy facility) Most are without families to buy even a new pair of slippers or eyeglasses etc. I can put you in touch with someone who can help you with that.

[medic09]

So I'm sitting here in the ER with one of our docs, who is also a member of our beit midrash. We'd like to know a bit more about how we might help out. We couldn't do much, but even a little has got to be worthwhile.

I'm glad the med info helped you feel better. I didn't know how you'd take it, and I didn't intend to interfere. The approaches to this by rabbanim are pretty wide ranging.

[achot]

You can be in touch with our Yachasay Zibbur people- Mr. Fred Slotnick at
[e-mail]
thanks, thats very sweet of you both.

[Rivka P]

I am working from home today doing some mandatory training on the computer. So far, I have watched lessons about HIV, MSDS, PI, lifting patients etc... today.

I get onto the floor on April 27th. Wish me luck!

FYI, as per my Rabbi, I took all my usual meds and vitamins on pesach. (I am nursing my baby so the vitamins are important)

[achot]

Apr 22, 2009 12:35:17 GMT -5 Rivka P said:

FYI, as per my Rabbi, I took all my usual meds and vitamins on pesach. (I am nursing my baby so the vitamins are important)

FYI, every situation is different,
I am sure your Rav was correct in instructing you as he did, and it was good you got the OK from him. Obviously it was important enough for you to even ask - taking into consideration your long list of Pesach preparations and regular day to day responsibilities.

My situation was different as here in Israel there are substitutions for almost every medication. The Health Funds all put out lists of what medications are Kosher for Pesach and what arent.
The in-house Rav never said "Its OK to use the ones we have" , he just ignored my requests. My husband and our Rav said that if a suitable substitution exists and is equally available and of equal expense, it is better to take the Kosher for Pesach version-which we did . For example, Simvastin has chametz as part of its ingredients but Simvacor is not- both are available, have the same active ingredient and cost the same.....
Hence my discomfort with the whole thing. Had the Rav told me or written a note saying that in this circumstance it would be OK to continue taking current meds without need to abstain or use a substitute, I would have felt better.

Good Luck on the 27th....Till then pamper yourself a bit!!!