When a patient is admitted into a hospital, a family is often thrown into chaos and their lives are interrupted with surgeries, procedures, medical jargon and constant unrest. Having a loved one at the patient’s bedside not only affords the patient comfort, it also gives the family access to the latest medical updates. The problem is, sleeping accommodations are either extremely uncomfortable or non-existent. It is not always possible for a family member to sleep in the patient’s hospital room for a night or two. For individuals and families who are not from the New York Tri-State area, this issue is exacerbated as they really do not have a place to call their home. The patient and family suffer a great amount from not only having to deal with a medical challenge but also being displaced and exhausted. Chesed 24/7 is therefore proud to announce the opening of the Chesed 24/7 Columbia Hospitality Apartment located minutes from NY Presbyterian / Columbia University Medical Center.
Graciously sponsored by the Zyskind Family, l’zecher nishmas their grandparents Avigdor and Chaya Ziskind, this newly renovated apartment provides luxurious accommodations which help make an otherwise stressful situation a little easier. The tastefully decorated apartment accommodates six guests, containing two bedrooms, a living room/dining room, a full kitchen and a full bathroom. Meticulously cleaned daily, the apartment includes many other amenities such as food, a Shabbos hot plate and urn, reading materials, toys and toiletries. Everything is provided free of charge so that the families have little to worry about and can focus their attention and energies on their loved one. Located 2 blocks from the hospital, the apartment is ideal for use on Shabbos, Yom Tov or during the week.
Chesed 24/7 held a heartwarming chanukas habayis last Sunday with the extended Ziskind family and the Chesed 24/7 Board members in attendance. The event was graced by the presence of Hagaon HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita and HaRav Aron Mendel Twersky, eldest son of the Skvere Rebbe shlita. In his emotional address, R’ Shmuel pointed out the great benefits this apartment will have to cholim and their families and the unbelievable chesed this apartment embodies. He spoke about the zechusim the Zyskind family are accruing and the achdus of their grandchildren in undertaking this projects as a zechus for their grandparents. The event culminated in both R’ Shmuel and R’ Aron Mendel affixing mezzuzas to the apartment, with words of praise and thanks to Chesed 24/7 and their volunteers for their amazing work all throughout the year, with additional brochos that the apartment should only be used for good.
Chesed 24/7 would like to thank the Zyskind grandchildren for their generous support and sponsorship. Chesed 24/7 is also indebted to Mrs. Doris Rothschild, a pioneer in bikur cholim, who initiated the first bikur cholim apartment at Columbia Hospital. May they only be used for simchos!
If anyone needs to use the Chesed 24/7 Hospitality Apartment at Columbia for Shabbosim or during the week, please contact us at 845-354-3233 x.1123.
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3 Responses
Whatever they do they should be very careful not to exclude Eino-Yehudim. The reason is not, so as not to offend them; The reason is so that we Should be Moirer the Midas Horachmim by showing the Boireh Kol Oilomim that we are not a selfish people, to the contrary, we are a caring people for all his creation Btzelem Elokim.
In this Zchus, nobody should ever need these services only for happy occasions.
Is that Eli Gerstner at the end? He’s such a mensch. And I know firsthand that he visits and sings to sick people.
I’m sorry, but you are wrong. Having had experience with this type of venture at another hospital, I would say that including non-Jewish people puts the kashrus of the apartment in question and the frum community will shy away from using it. Additionally, it may get pretty uncomfortable if both types are types. in the apartment at the same time. Believe me, it’s not worth it.