39th Christmas Day North Shore University Hospital Welcomes Temple Beth-El Carol-Singing Volunteers
December 27, 2011
MANHASSET, NY --- The sweet sounds of carolers singing traditional Christmas songs wafted through the pristine hallways of North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset on Christmas morning. The cheerful carolers were members of the Brotherhood of Great Neck’s Temple Beth-El, who, for the last 39 years have volunteered their time and talent to make sure that patients who can’t be home for Christmas are entertained and not alone.
The singers were led by the guitar-strumming Associate Rabbi Devorah Marcus, who pointed out that as many hospital staffers get the day off, the 40 volunteers take on the job of caring and making the day just a bit brighter for those who are ailing. “In the Jewish tradition it’s a “mitzvah”- a sacred obligation - to visit the sick. We look to this special day and every day, to seize the opportunity to help our neighbors, and today we coupled it with the joy of music,” said Rabbi Marcus.
Temple Beth-El's dedicated involvement on Christmas Day at the hospital began in 1972, when the program was started by a Temple member who was a pharmacist, and who volunteered in the hospital pharmacy so that the Christian pharmacists could stay home and celebrate the holiday with their families. The day was thereafter named after Samuel Baker, a former Brotherhood president, who chaired the event for many years.
The singers were led by the guitar-strumming Associate Rabbi Devorah Marcus, who pointed out that as many hospital staffers get the day off, the 40 volunteers take on the job of caring and making the day just a bit brighter for those who are ailing. “In the Jewish tradition it’s a “mitzvah”- a sacred obligation - to visit the sick. We look to this special day and every day, to seize the opportunity to help our neighbors, and today we coupled it with the joy of music,” said Rabbi Marcus.
Temple Beth-El's dedicated involvement on Christmas Day at the hospital began in 1972, when the program was started by a Temple member who was a pharmacist, and who volunteered in the hospital pharmacy so that the Christian pharmacists could stay home and celebrate the holiday with their families. The day was thereafter named after Samuel Baker, a former Brotherhood president, who chaired the event for many years.
"Since joining the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El nearly 30 years ago, I have missed only a handful of Christmases at North Shore University Hospital. Seeing the joy we bring to the faces of patients of all ages I'm sure benefits us as much as it does the patients," said Howard Herman, a long time Brotherhood member and someone very involved with many aspects of Temple Beth-El life.
“These volunteers sign up for an early day,” said Lisa Breiman, director of Volunteer Services for the hospital, and in-service class instructor. “At 8:30am they are required to take an in-service class and learn some basics about hospital procedures, like hand hygiene, infection control and patient confidentiality. By 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, volunteers from Temple Beth El divided into groups. Some went to various patient floors singing, playing the guitar, and also take song requests,” added Ms. Breiman.
At the same time, other Temple Beth El volunteers - the ones who don’t sing - went to the Kaufman Boardroom where they assisted hospital volunteers in packing up Christmas gifts to be sent to the hospital’s adopted military troop stationed somewhere overseas. The troop’s destination had not yet been divulged. Volunteers also took the time to write personal letters to each soldier in the adopted troop.
Other NSUH volunteers, including junior volunteers, and some members from Temple Beth El, met at the volunteer office ready to give every patient in the hospital the gift of a specially-designed snowflake mug, purchased by the NSUH Auxiliary. As a thank-you from North Shore University Hospital, all volunteers received a free lunch in the cafeteria.