This past week has been particularly stressful. To compound my regular household responsibilities and work duties, my husband, Henoch*, is absent for most of the week. As project coordinator for a tzedakah organization, he works long hours and spends a lot of time on the road. This week he is especially busy, as a close friend of his was diagnosed with a brain tumor, r”l. Henoch is accompanying his friend to the hospital for testing and doctor visits, and is involved with trying to determine the best course of treatment.
Several halachic sheilos arise during the week and Henoch reaches out to Rabbi Itzkowitz, a well-known Lakewood posek. Rabbi Itzkowitz is an incredibly busy rav. In addition to his duties to his kehillah, his phone rings nonstop with all kinds of sheilos, and people visit his house well past midnight. Yet Rabbi Itzkowitz makes himself available to Henoch for any issues that come up.
By Friday, I am physically and emotionally drained, as much from caring for our family singlehandedly as from the silent tefillos for our dear friend, Baruch Moshe Avraham ben Chanah Devorah. Shabbos is the highlight of every week, and this week I am especially looking forward to spending some peaceful time with my family.
In the middle of the day, Henoch calls from his office to let me know that there’ve been some complications with our friend’s tests, and he is going to NYU in Manhattan to help out. I wish him hatzlachah and go back to my Shabbos preparations. At 4:30 p.m. I receive another call.
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