Doctors and teachers are more than service providers: they are pillars of care and concern, bringing head and heart to those around them. The Avner Institute presents the Rebbe’s cheerful comments to a successful surgeon and a nervous mother on their ability to spiritually elevate their roles; and the common bond of modern medicine and Jewish education – both salves for the soul, as well as the mind.
“A Perfect Unity Pervades Everything”
By the Grace of G-d
1 Adar II 5717
Brooklyn, New York
Dr. William Mendelsohn
442 Temple Street
New Haven, Connecticut
Greetings and Blessings:
I was gratified to learn from Rabbi V. Schildkraut that you gave him your special attention and particularly in connection with the surgery which you performed on him.
A physician is, of course, the authorized agent through whom G-d sends a cure to a sick person, and needless to say, it is not only the physician’s skill that is important, but also his cordial attitude towards his patients, in conformity with the accepted view that a physician’s profession is not just a calling, but is a sacred mission of bringing a relief and a cure to the suffering. Hence a personal attitude, and even a personal bond with the patient often goes a long way towards bringing him the necessary relief and cure. Although in the case of a surgeon, a subjective attitude may, in a sense, present a problem, since the surgeon must operate with perfect calmness, without being distracted by personal emotion, yet in practice the surgeon who combines intellect and feeling in perfect harmony, enjoys G-d’s blessings, so that he is not only not distracted by his feelings, but rather the contrary, is greatly helped thereby.
Parenthetically, one of the significant lessons and influences of tefillin, which, as you know, is placed both on the arm facing the heart and on the head facing the brain, is to teach us and help us to harmonize the two and to subjugate both to the services of G-d and mankind, making the complete and perfect man.
All this is in keeping with the idea of monotheism, of which our Jewish people have been privileged to be the bearer throughout the ages. This is the idea that a perfect unity pervades everything, the macrocosm as well as the microcosm. Accordingly, in human life we do not consider the body and soul as two separate universes, but two aspects of the same microcosm. Even science, in modern times, has become aware of this truth, realizing that the physical and spiritual are intimately connected.
I trust, therefore, that in treating your patients physically, you also help them spiritually, which in general terms means to strength their bond with the Source of Life, the Creator of the Universe, and the Giver of the Torah, in the way we are taught in our Torah, the Law of Life, how to realize and strengthen the said bonds in the most effective and in the fullest measure.
I do not want to say “Thank you” for your personal attention to Rabbi Schildkraut, but instead I would rather extend to you my prayerful wishes that for many, many years to come the Al-mighty grant you the strength and the skill to help those who turn to you, both physically and spiritually. And as G-d’s reward is in kind, but in a very generous measure, may the Al-mighty reward you and all yours with good health, both physically and spiritually.
With blessings,
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“No Ground for Anxiety”
By the Grace of G-d
8 Kislev 5718
Brooklyn, New York
Mrs. Ratze Schildkraut
88 Kensington St.
New Haven, Connecticut
Blessing and Greeeting:
I was pleased to receive your letter of the 28th of Mar Cheshvan, in which you write that you started teaching. Judging from the tone of your letter, you seem to be satisfied.
I am particularly gratified that you have clearly noted the improvements in the yeshiva matters, and I trust that this will strengthen your faith in G-d, that everything will continue to improve in the future, even those things which, for the present, do not seem to be quite in order, for all that G-d does is for good.
With regard to your writing that your children are nervous and not sufficiently attentive to their studies, this is a frequent occurrence with children, and is no ground for anxiety, especially as the conditions are stationary and not getting worse, G-d forbid. One of the ways to improve matters would be that they should be in the company with other children of their age, so that they will instinctively try not to be different, and the condition will pass in due course. Certainly it would not be advisable to make an issue of it, or let the child feel any exaggerated anxiety on your part.
Furthermore, you should quite dismiss from your mind any thought that this may have anything to do with your pregnancy. At the same time, your work, as well as that of your husband, in the field of kosher education, will surely stand you both in good stead, to have true nachas [joy], which is Yiddishe nachas, from your children.
With blessing,
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