The life Jack ultimately saved was none other than his own
The Sunday after the storm, just nine men braved the treacherous weather to go to shul, making them one short for a minyan. Moshe Brayman, a shul member who was in the middle of the shloshim period for his father, called Jack, a friend of his and sporadic shul attendee, and encouraged him to come. When Jack told Moshe that he didn’t feel up to braving the winter storm, Moshe pushed back. Nine people wanted to daven with a minyan, and Jack was their only chance. Finally, Jack consented and showed up a few minutes later. Congregation Rodef Sholom would have its minyan after all.
One of the members of that Minchah minyan was Aryeh Leib Glancz, a chassidishe Hatzolah veteran who happened to be in Atlantic City for the day. Rabbi Glancz took one look at Jack and realized that something was amiss. When he asked him if he was feeling okay, Jack admitted that he wasn’t. Rabbi Glancz ran a few basic checks and the results confirmed what he already suspected: Jack’s pulse was dangerously erratic.
Moshe Brayman promptly helped Jack into his car, and the two sped off to the AtlantiCare Urgent Care in Somers Point, New Jersey, a short drive from the shul, where medical personnel conducted more extensive testing. Upon reviewing the results, the doctor had grim news for Jack. “Sir” he said, “you’re having a heart attack.”
The team swung into high gear. Jack was stabilized and transferred the next morning to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital’s cardiac unit, where he underwent the necessary procedures, and is on his way to recovery. In an act of chesed and mesirus nefesh to brave the elements, join tefillah b’tzibbur, and be there for another Yid, the life Jack ultimately saved was none other than his own.
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