Conflicting aspects are attributed to the month of Tevet: The name’s origin is from Babylon, in Akkadian the name is “Tabito” and means something that you sink into (like mud). On the other hand , Tevet also comes from the Hebrew word “good” (tov) and is the month when Esther was taken to the harem of Ahashveosh, and hence arose the good of Israel, and canceled the decree Haman … Another positive commentary says that Tevet comes from the Hebrew word “Hatava”- benefit or repair, improvement, and it’s inspired by candle light the menorah numbering near the month of Tevet … but again, on the other hand, the Tenth of Tevet began the siege of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon to Jerusalem, the siege ended with the destruction of the kingdom of Judah …
In our case, the siege of the body means the condition where the body is surrounded and attacked and unable to get out by himself from the strait in which he is caught against his will. This is the main characteristic of the patients in the rehabilitation department where I am a spiritual caregiver and volunteer with volunteers from the Ramot Zion community of the French Hill. This is a siege on the body, injured by acute health events, creating mental and spiritual distress and feelings of helplessness, the “Tabito” that which may sink into melancholy and loss of hope…
But anyone who believes in the power of spirituality can connect to the noble cause of the Rehabilitation Department (largely geriatric rehabilitation) to create and enable the “benefit” of “Tevet” by eliminating or softening the decree, the uniqueness of spiritual care in this ward is in the game playing and artistic work with the patients … through the conversation, games and art, we are modestly trying to build a path of hope and joy back to life …
For example, here is a snippet from a conversation I had with Hannah (not her real name), who was hospitalized in the ward:
The conversation takes place in the dining room that serves as our games club twice a week. Hannah , a month after a stroke is sitting in a wheelchair close to the table. An elderly woman wrapped in a robe. A kerchief wound tightly around her head, closed up within herself …
Me: (I go to her and sit down next to her) Hello , I’m Avigail , can I sit with you a bit?
Hannah: Does not look up , does not look any direction , does not see anyone …
Me: My name is Avigail , what ‘s your name?
Hanna (one eye peeking up) mutters Hannah … Hannah …
Me: Hello Hannah … there are a lot of games, you see, also drawing pages, colors … what would you like to do?
Hannah: I do not know how to play games … I’ve never played …
Me: Look, there is a puzzle here … maybe we can put ittogether
Hannah: I do not know … what it is … what to do …
Me: Look, do you see the picture on the box?
Hanna (picks up a little more head), looking with one eye … It’s beautiful … beautiful colors … What do I do?
Me: You see, the lid of the box this whole picture … the pieces have parts of the image … (I scatter them on the table) …we need to reconstruct … want me to help?
Hanna: What is it, all broken parts, what a shame … what a shame …
Me: We can reassemble together all the pieces and it will leave a beautiful picture … what do you think?
Hannah: I do not know, I do not know … (reaches out with her left arm, her right is paralyzed, trying to collect the pieces) … what is this … what is this … it’s broken … broken … this is impossible … Not possible…
Me: It’s not that complicated … you need to look constantly at the whole picture and do accordingly. Look, there’s pink water lilies , fish swimming deep in the green -blue waters …
Hannah: ( trying to keep her eye open ) … this flower is beautiful … also the fish … (sighs) I used to make fish… Gefilte fish … you know what that is?
Me: Yes, my grandmother used to make it … I loved it … does your family like it?
Hannah: Yes … everything I make for Shabbat … everyone eats everything … children … grandchildren
Me: Do you have a large family?
Hannah: Ten children, fifteen grandchildren… all married, do not live at home anymore … during the week I do not see them …they are scattered … I tell them to come but they do not have time … but on the Sabbath I tell them to come over and eat … they like their mother’s food so they come … they all come on Shabbat they eat … they are happy … happy
Me: Where are you from Habbah
Hannah: Beit Israel … you know where it is?
Me: Yes, I love to go there on Fridays … to see the preparations for Shabbat … the smell of cooking.
Hannah: (starting to pick up puzzle pieces in one hand almost without looking, by chance. Trying to put them together) It will not connect … What is … there are rules to this game? I do not know the rules … I never ever played … I just … I raised children.
Me: Puzzles can be done without experience, without rules, it is also possible to connect what looks roght with colors and shapes.. it is best to start from the frame … together … let’s see, (I’m looking to find some parts of the frame and start to put it together) Does this seem right to you?
Hannah: yes, yes ..
Me: Let’s try the
Hannah: trying to force snap he pieces together… I can not … I do not know … never did … (looking for another parts … now opening a second eye) … grandchildren must know how to … I am not good at it. I can not connect any part, nothing connects me … gornisht … Now I can not move my right hand … my hand does not connect into my head … doing physiotherapy, does not help … I’m a crippled woman.
Me: You are able to connect all the children and grandchildren on the Sabbath … the mother manages to connect the family.
Hannah: Family is the most important thing in life (thinking a moment, smiles) … Shabbat they all come … They all come …
Me: It’s a big connection!!! Family is the most important in your life … you’re doing the puzzle of life!
Hannah: Smiles … yes … yes … even in the hospital they come to see me.
Me: Let’s keep trying, I’m sure that together we will succeed
Hannah: (tries and connects two parts): Ah! … (Surprised)
Me: Maybe later, God willing, with the help of physiotherapy your hand will connect again with your head, where there is hope- you can heal
Hannah: (smiles) I wish, I wish
Me: Can you pray for it … maybe you know such a prayer?
Hannah: I do not know … do not know
Me: So we should invent one?
