Pnina Souid
The Mitzvah Man Organization is there for anyone who needs help. Sometimes those who reach out for help are extraordinary. Sometimes the volunteers are extraordinary. And sometimes the situations encountered are extraordinary. This story, which happened a few years ago, is a triple-header.
Thursdays the Mitzvah Man sends out a text asking for volunteers to bring flowers to Holocaust survivors and to stay for a short visit to brighten their day. One Thursday, a regular volunteer named Sally, a young woman in her twenties, answered the call. She received the name and address of a woman named Mrs. Markowitz.
A Woman of Valor
Sally arrived with flowers in hand and rang the bell at Mrs. Markowitz’s door. Sally had learned that Mrs. Markowitz was a remarkable woman. She lost her entire family in Auschwitz, including parents, ten siblings, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Despite the challenges encountered in Auschwitz (or maybe because of them) Mrs. Markowitz proposed a pact for the 42 women with her. She suggested that they all agree to keep Shabbat for the duration of their time in Auschwitz as a merit to survive the war. And if they did survive, they would continue to keep Shabbat thereafter. All 42 women agreed. Six months later they were liberated. Each one of them was profoundly thankful for surviving the war and for the pact they made.
Mrs. Markowitz, a”h, was 93 years old when Sally arrived at her door. She lived alone. Her children lived out-of-state and her husband was no longer alive.
Sally began to worry when no one answered the door. Eventually, Sally heard a sort of shuffling noise, so she waited. After 20 minutes, which seemed like hours, Mrs. Markowitz opened the door. She apologized for the delay, and explained that she had fallen the day before, and had been on the floor all night! Somehow, she had made her way to the door and unlatched it. Sally helped Mrs. Markowitz up and got her a drink of water and then immediately texted the Mitzvah Man.
He was praying Mincha at Landau’s when the message arrived.
He told Sally to call Hatzalah right away. She responded that she had already thought to do so, but when she informed Mrs. Markowitz of her intention, Mrs. Markowitz became hysterical and started screaming. She told Sally that she must not call Hatzalah under any circumstances! She had had enough of this life, and was ready to die. Sally determined that Mrs. Markowitz did seem stable, but even so, she was afraid to leave her. Despite being scared, Sally was determined to stay to help Mrs. Markowitz.
A Doctor Fulfills His Calling
The Mitzvah Man’s tried to focus. He pictured Mrs. Markowitz on the floor all night and his heart started to race. He wondered what could have happened and what could be done. He knew Mrs. Markowitz needed medical help pronto. The Mitzvah Man looked around and saw that the man seated behind him was Dr. Albert Matalon.
He realized that Dr. Matalon was a busy doctor, but he explained that there was an emergency he needed to attend to, and asked the good doctor to join him. Dr. Matalon agreed immediately.
They arrived in the apartment, and Dr. Matalon assessed Mrs. Markowitz’s situation. He softly rubbed Mrs. Markowitz’s hand and spoke to her gently.
“You are having mini strokes,” he told her. “We need to call Hatzalah.”
“No!” she responded emphatically. “Let me have strokes! I am through with my life! I’ve been through so much! I want to see Hashem!”
Dr. Matalon explained, “You have life left in you. I will call Hatzalah and tell them to take you to the hospital in Manhattan that I am affiliated with.”
Mrs. Markowitz looked at Dr. Matalon and sighed. “I will go only if you will be my doctor.”
Dr. Matalon agreed on the spot. Mrs. Markowitz went to the hospital, was treated and recovered. She lived another six years, and passed away at 99.
The Mitzvah Man reflected on the hashgacha pratit involved in this story – starting with Mrs. Markowiz being matched up with a patient and dedicated volunteer, continuing with the doctor who “happened” to be sitting near the Mitzvah Man at Mincha, and concluding with Mrs. Markowitz’s recovery, Baruch Hashem.
Mrs. Markowitz saved lives by initiating the keeping Shabbat pact with the 42 women in her group in Auschwitz. Years later Hashem sent her special messengers to save her life.