Wellspring Issue #53 by The Wellspring

Does PCOS Necessitate a Tailored Diet? Laura Shammah’s response

From the Lungs to the Kidneys The COVID-19 Kidney Connection

Experts in the medical field, askanim at Renewal, and Mr. Chesky Kauftheil weigh in

I Ate Those Cookies

How embracing our humanness facilitates healthier eating Tamar Feldman on

Is Intermittent Fasting for You?

JUNE 2020 // SIVAN 5780 // ISSUE 53

10 Questions

Heart to Heart ||

For the heroes behind Miles for Life, the sky is not the limit

Why is this crisis not moving me?

Take A Deep Breath

Get Moving! Stuck inside? 8 out-of-the-box fitness ideas to energize you and your kids

Can a simple technique significantly impact wellbeing?

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Exclusive contribution by breathwork facilitator Fally Klein

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COPY & RESEARCH Deputy Editor Esther Retek Nutritional Advisory Board Dr. Rachael Schindler Laura Shammah, MS, RDN Beth Warren, MS, RDN, CDN Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE Nutrition Contributors Tanya Rosen, MS CAI CPT Shani Taub, CDC Health Advisory Board Dr. Chayala Englard • Chaya Tilla Brachfeld, RN • Miriam Schweid

FOOD CONTENT Food Editor Esther Frenkel Recipes, Food Styling & Photography Yossi & Malky Levine Charnie Kohn ART & PRODUCTION Creative Director Baruch Samuel Designer Rivky Schwartz

Fitness Advisory Board Syma Kranz, PFC

Photography Sruly Rosenberg • Ruchy Baum Yanky Schwartz

Child Development Advisory Board Friedy Singer, OTR/L Roizy Guttman, OTR/L

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The Wellspring Magazine is published monthly by Wellspring Magazine Inc. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. The Wellspring Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content or kashrus of advertisements in the publication, nor for the content of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. The contents of The Wellspring Magazine, such as text, graphics and other material (content) are intended for educational purposes only. The content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding your medical condition.

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From the Editor shiffy@wellspringmagazine.com

In, Out A lovely plant is growing outside my daughters’ bedroom window.

Just a week ago, the seeds were mere cholent beans in the pantry. And today, shoots are sprouting, tall and green and beautiful. Each morning, the girls open the shades and check out their little project. Hovering over it like helicopter moms, they muse over its growth — is it getting too much sunlight? Too little? How much water does it need today? I love watching their nurturing side come to the fore as they dote over the flourishing, tender green leaves.

It’s been a nice project for these quarantined days, one that enabled them to observe the miracles Hashem has masked in nature. (No, we don’t only do nice projects around here!) Every day, when we stand at the window and watch the water seep into the soil, we marvel how all we did was place a few beans in a pot of soil, shower it with water, and expose it to sunlight, and something so lovely came to be. As is explored in this issue’s Torah Wellspring (a highly recommended column that approaches Torah from a heartwarming, enlightening perspective), there is no dearth of wonderment in the workings of “everyday” occurrences. What’s not astounding about a white bean turning into a green shoot? How exactly does the combination of soil and water result in the generation of more life? Every “routine” happening is a miracle. Even before looking beneath the surface, we find reason to be wowed. There’s nothing “normal” about a simple breath providing fuel for the multi-system operation that takes place in our body. But when we explore other benefits that can be derived from something as unpretentious as breath, our awe is exponentially magnified. When reading this issue’s Wellbeing feature, you’ll discover how simple breathing techniques can profoundly impact wellbeing. As breathwork instructor Fally Klein points out, 70 percent of the body’s toxins are released through breath. The

more we learn to breathe properly, the more we enable our body to free itself from substances that are detrimental not only to our physical health but also our mental and emotional state.

Although these breathing techniques are considered simple, someone who is first starting out may find them to be anything but. As Fally confides in the article, she too was intensely resistant to the idea of having someone instruct her how to breathe. After all, we’ve been doing this for years — our way. In my first experience with breathing exercises, I felt the same way. It was actually at a Lamaze class, in preparation for the birth of my first child. There I was, sitting in a circle with some twenty or so expectant women, an Olbas oil-soaked pillow on the floor in front of me. What should have been a pleasant aroma felt overwhelming (probably nauseating too) to my heightened olfactory senses. I don’t remember much from the class, except for finding the exercises to be increasingly difficult. The in-and-out, in-and-out, as per the instructor’s directions, simply wasn’t working for me. And, during labor a few weeks later, the instructions were all but a distant memory as I just did my own thing. Thinking back, I realize that I was probably subconsciously resistant to being instructed as to how to perform an involuntary process. But, shedding my resistance to the instruction would probably be exponentially less difficult than the labor pains they would help alleviate.

When we overcome resistance, we open ourselves up to opportunities that have been beyond our reach — opportunities for growth and for richer living. This is true not only for breathing techniques, but for all areas of life — especially during this COVID-19 era. The more we give up on having life run our way, the more we discover the beauty in what is available to us in the here and now.

Wishing you lots of hatzlacha in dealing with whatever Hashem sends your way,

Well-Put!

Shiffy Friedman

“There is no rhyme and reason to this coronavirus. Only Hashem knows what His Plan is.” Dr. Zal Suldan, Feature

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 9

Contents

JUNE 2020 SIVAN 5780 ISSUE 53 The next issue of Wellspring will appear iy”H on July 1st.

WELL INFORMED

TORAH WELLSPRING By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

22 SPIRITUAL EATING By Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMS 24 DENTAL HEALTH By Dr. Jacques Doueck, DDS 27 HEALTH UPDATES IN THE NEWS By Esther Retek 30 DEDICATED TO HEALTH 10 Questions for Meir Mendlowitz By Esther Retek 34 INSIDER The Liver By Roizy Baum

ISSUE 53

JUNE ‘20 SIVAN 5780

Enhance Your Shalosh Seudos Menu 2 fabulous recipes New Column! Day by Day with Charnie Kohn

Always A Good Time for Boost This time, for heart and brain

LIVING WELL 36 IN GOOD SHAPE Fun Family Moves By Esther Fried, PFC 38 ASK PCOS Question By Laura Shammah MS, RDN

40 FEATURE From Ventilators to Dialysis Equipment By Goldy Swimer 48 AT THE DIETITIAN Intermittent Fasting By Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE 50 CUP OF TEA With Mrs. Gitty Wieder By Roizy Baum

WELLBEING 60 COVER FEATURE Take a Deep Breath By Shiffy Friedman

55 DIY Fungus Treatment By Miriam Schweid

66 EMOTIONAL EATING By Shira Savit

56 SERIAL DIARY By Rina Levy

68 HEART TO HEART By Shiffy Friedman

Springboard

Letters

On Probiotic Supplements, Celiac Disease, Isolation, and More

Kudos to Rina

in the March issue.

Serial Diary

I’ve been following Rina Levy’s serial diary about her daughter’s peculiar symptoms and I’m finding it fascinating. Who would think that a simple strep infection could unleash such disastrous effects? invites readers to submit letters and comments via regular mail or email to info@ wellspringmagazine. com. We reserve the right to edit all submissions and will withhold your name upon request. We will honor requests for anonymity, but we cannot consider letters that arrive without contact information.

Kudos to Rina for dealing with this so well. Refuah sheleimah to her daughter Yaffi. I hope to read in upcoming installments that this chapter is behind them.

A lot of people told me it was the first thing that really helped them get better. And it’s delicious too!

I have one question for Miriam Schweid. Why did she add cloves to the blend recipe in the April issue?

A Wellspring fan, Faigel Grossman

Perfect Timing Issue #50, 51: DIY

Thank you so much for a beautiful, informative magazine. I could not miss the Hashgachah pratis that you printed a recipe for a ginger blend

12 Wellspring | June 2020

I hung it inside a cabinet door for use in case of emergency. Then, when the virus hit us all, I made sure to call and send it to many of our family and friends. It was a lifesaver.

Thanks again!

Tizku l’mitzvos, M. E.

Miriam Schweid responds:

I’m happy to hear that my recipe played a role in helping people feel better. I added the cloves as per the advice of a mekubal in Eretz Yisrael, who found a source for its medicinal properties while learning the segments pertaining to mageifos.

Quick Question

My 8-month-old son has a terrible case of eczema on his face. It oozes and he wakes up with blood on his sheets. How can I know which food is the culprit or if it’s the formula bottle that he drinks several times a day?

Although it’s difficult to know what may be causing eczema without actually seeing and testing the child, here’s what I can tell you based on my most recent cases. Lately I’ve been seeing that many kids with eczema have a hard time with digesting gluten. Dairy and citrus are also common triggers. First, check if your child’s formula is gluten-free. If it’s not, try changing it. If you’re also nursing the baby, you may want to try a gluten-free diet for the time being. If this helps, you have your answer. If this doesn’t help, try eliminating dairy and then citrus. Always remember that sleep and water is important to keeping your child’s immune system strong.

Take care, Chaya Tilla (Tina) Brachfeld, RN, health kinesiologist

Issue #51: HealthEd

As a mother and advocate for a healthy wholefood lifestyle, I greatly appreciate every issue of Wellspring. The wealth of information you provide is helping so many people change their perspective of the Standard American Diet, which has unfortunately caused so many diseases.

I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. At first, I was very lost, not knowing what I can and or can’t eat. Luckily, I was in contact with a great organization, Chaim Medical Resource, which put me in touch with people who have celiac or can’t eat gluten. I had a lot to learn and needed emotional support as well (no more Bircas Hamazon!). As I started doing research and reading labels, I realized how true it is that we have no idea what processed foods actually contain. The additives added to commercial spices, for example, may contain traces of gluten. For all people

on strict GF diets, eating out, or eating at simchahs is not really an option.

Reading Laura Shammah’s Health Ed and Malka Sharman’s Gluten Figures in the Pesach issue was so refreshing. I hope you’ll continue to bring awareness and write about celiac and other gut-related diseases so many suffer from. And of course, continue encouraging a healthy lifestyle, namely through gut health (food and products), as this is one of the biggest means of hishtadlus we can do. Wellness starts in your gut. I really hope that people will learn to listen to their bodies and when something doesn’t feel right, have it checked out immediately. For me, it all started when I experienced digestive issues after eating oats for breakfast.

We are inundated with toxins in our air, water, and soil — all of which contribute to just how much of these toxins we constantly ingest and come in contact with (like foods and cleaning, laundry, and other household products). A

small change in your lifestyle can bring on a big change to your health. Thanks again for an amazing publication. Name Withheld

Supplementing Works Too Issue #52: Tidbits

Thank you for a comprehensive list on foods that contain mega-doses of probiotics, which are so good for us.

It’s important to note that probiotics aren’t only found in foods. They can also be consumed in capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid forms. Although supplements don't provide the nutrition that foods can offer, they're easy to use and often provide more of particular strains than is obtainable in a typical daily diet.

Any health information, advice, or suggestions published here are the opinions of the letter writers and are not independently investigated, endorsed, or validated by Wellspring. Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional or medical practitioner regarding any medical advice, condition, or treatment.

It Started with Oats

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 13

Springboard

Letters

If you think they might work for you, talk to your doctor first. If you're ill or have immune system problems, you may want to be cautious about taking probiotics. Meir L.

Thanks for the Validation Issue #52: Cover Feature

Yes, feelings are individual!

What a powerful piece. Thanks so much for sharing such important information regarding our emotional world with your readers. I, for one, am frustrated from being told, or hinted, that I can’t vent during this period because “I have so much going for me.” Yes I do, and I know it, and I feel blessed, but at the same time, I’m also human. I find it invalidating when people tell me, “But doesn’t having so much space/a huge backyard make it easier for you?” It sure does, but it’s still hard. And implying it in such a way does not make me feel more grateful. It only makes me feel worse.

Many thanks for a publication that has become my lifeline, Avigayil H.

Prevent Disappointment Issue #52: Cover Feature

Thank you for an enlightening read every single month. I am constantly awed at the content you produce, all so appropriate and applicable to our everyday lives. I found the article on disappointment to be spot on. As a mother of a large family, kein ayin hara, I have become the unofficial parenting advisor for friends and family. One thing I often tell them is to speak to their children 14 Wellspring | June 2020

the way they would like to be spoken to. This is especially true when children are experiencing negative emotions.

However, it’s important to point out that, as parents, we often have an opportunity to prevent disappointment from happening in the first place. Of course, this is not always the case but when it is, why should we put our children through these difficult emotions? They’ll have enough of them without us having to bring them on! We can do this by not promising things we can’t fulfill. Why raise their hopes up to have them dashed? I have found that remembering this has helped me a lot. Even when kids fantasize that things will be a certain way, such as how their summer vacation will look, as much as I’m tempted to nod my head along with their plans, I’ll take the courage to gently remind them that we can’t know until it happens. This has saved all of us a lot of unnecessary heartache.

Wishing you much continued hatzlacha, P. Rosenberg

Brooklyn, New York

you don’t know what to tell your child when they’re expressing pain or disappointment, do them and yourself a favor and stay quiet.

Signed,

A mother who learned this the hard way

They Need So Little Issue #52: Cover Feature

Just after I finished reading the excellent article on handling disappointment, my son came crying to me that the prize my husband had promised to buy him would have to wait another day.

Of course, he was devastated and my initial internal reaction was “big deal.” I was going to start with, “It’s just one more day,” and all that stuff, when I took a deep breath and put what I had just read into practice. What can I tell you? It’s amazing how little our children really need when we’re just there for them.

Better Left Unsaid

Name Withheld

Issue #52: Cover Feature

Thank you for sharing Rebbetzin Sima Spetner’s wisdom on parenting. In the sidebar to the article on disappointment, some knee-jerk responses to our children’s emotions were mentioned and wisely discouraged. The main example was not to rebuke them for not feeling grateful for what they do have. With my current experience, I now understand how damaging such kind of “mussar” can be when the child is not ready to hear it. For me, in particular, I kept telling a child who went through a lot that this must have been best for him if this is what Hashem sent him. When a child is not ready or willing to hear that, shoving emunah down a child’s throat (or anyone’s, for that matter) is hazardous. Please, parents, if

Just in Time

Issue #52: Cover Feature

As the mother of a son in shidduchim, disappointment is a big part of the process we are currently in. I’ve married off several children already, baruch Hashem, so I know to expect rejection every so often. Just as we say “no,” the others are entitled to say “no” too. Still, it hurts, especially so for my child. Reading this article was a great reminder that this emotion is normal and validating it helps more forward. I also find that when I get in touch with how I feel my tefillah to Hashem is much more real and leaves me feeling so much better.

Bluma F.

Public Service Announcement Not Just Almonds

More Words Issue #51: Dictionary

Thanks for the chuckles in your Pesach dictionary. I would love to see more of that stuff in your magazine.

Since my toddler appears to be sensitive to dairy, I bought what I thought was almond milk as an alternative to her milk bottles. I used it for a few days, until one evening, as I was preparing a bottle, my eyes fell on the label. Lo and behold, I read that most of what I was giving my child was water and sugar, with a small percentage of almonds thrown in for good measure. I was really disturbed by this. The next day, I paid a visit to the local health food store. I rarely shop there because I’m not into supplements and, for cooking and baking, I usually find what I need in the supermarket. Admittedly, I do use white sugar and flour in baked goods, but I can’t, in good conscience, bring myself to feed my child with sugar water in place of milk. So if you want to drink almond milk, check out the brand you’re buying. Thanks to Wellspring for being the platform for notices like mine.

I would like to add a word to the list. Angel: what a husband thinks of his wife after staying in for the first entire Shabbos in their married life.

Loving your magazine, Riki Danziger

Fun Times

Issue #51: Social Bonding

Wow! Thank you for a fabulous, content-packed Pesach issue. My teenage daughters and I read it from cover to cover. A special shout out for including the much-needed doses of humor and fun. Dictionary gave me some good laughs, and we really enjoyed playing the games you recommended. Your intro regarding transforming a health magazine into a Game Center at a time when private homes were being turned into makeshift wedding halls to help the klal, and the subtitle “social bonding” were genius :). Keep up your fabulous work, which is always on the mark.

Looking forward to more great content,

K. M.

Far Rockaway

The Other Side

Issue #51: Is Thin Still In?

I’m writing from the other side of the fence, as someone who has been dubbed, often enviously, as a naturally intuitive eater. I would like to share my perspective on the matter.

Yes, it’s true that I know exactly when to eat what. I know when I’m hungry, and I know when I’m full. I can go for days without a piece of cake, and then eat a few slices and move on as if nothing happened. I generally go for healthy fare and I’m slim. But, I have other issues. Just because I’m not struggling with this doesn’t mean my life is perfect. To me, that makes perfect sense. But when I speak to friends and family members who struggle with their weight, they see it this way: if you’re thin, you have it all. Contrary to what those who struggle with weight may believe, life isn’t only about being thin. I feel anxiety in a way my sister who struggles with weight doesn’t.

So yes, while I do appreciate that Hashem isn’t trying me in this area,

and I understand how so many feel it so important to be thin due our current culture, I just want to put this out there for those who still believe that thinness is the be all and end all.

L. J.

Word of Caution Issue #51: Is Thin Still In?

I would like to commend you for being the first frum publication to (the best of my knowledge) not only address intuitive eating, but to address it extensively. Contrary to what many think, it’s not about eating non-stop, giving in to all cravings, and other incorrect versions of the approach I’ve heard. I see that Gila recommended the book as the first step in getting acquainted with the approach. For those readers who would like to read it, I would like to put out a word of caution: Once you read this book, you will never have the same awe/fondness/ attraction/longing/appreciation for

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 15

Springboard

Letters

Public Service Announcement Chemicals in Hiding It’s been a number of months that I’ve started paying much better attention to food labels, and I’ve been shocked at the amount of additives and food coloring there is in foods such as dill pickles, hot peppers, yogurt, and herring. Now that we’ve been receiving meal packages from our kids’ schools (a service we much appreciate!), our fridge is stocked with foods I’ve never purchased before, such commercially-produced cucumber salad. Why an innocent food like cucumber salad contains Yellow #5 and Blue #1 is beyond me, but I just wanted to put it out there so those who haven’t noticed and do appreciate cucumbers without color will be aware. Maybe pita can be produced without mono- and diglycerides, silicon dioxide, or corn syrup solids. Perhaps, as a community, we can effectuate change in the kosher food industry that we would be happy to support.

anything that is remotely related to a diet, whether it’s called a food plan, a “new lifestyle” or any other diet in hiding. You may feel afraid to start trusting your body after years of ignoring it, but even if you end up going with another diet, you won’t feel the same excitement about it that you may have before. Sounds frightening, but it’s the most liberating experience in the world.

Finally at peace with food, Devorah L.

Why All This Gushing?

loss after having been violently sick, I couldn’t help but nod my head along.

You see, I keep getting complimented on my weight loss. I’ve even had people tell me, “Okay, you made it to your goal already. You can stop.” Compliments are nice and all, but if only those giving it would know what I would give up to gain a few pounds — even a lot of pounds — they wouldn’t gush that much. Yes, I understand that looking good is important and I believe that it is. But please stop making everything about the body. We’re way more valuable than that.

Edison, New Jersey

Issue #51: Is Thin Still In?

As someone who is on medication for a controlled mental illness, I’m writing to share how I feel about the importance too many are placing on appearance. When I read the incident a woman shared about how she was complimented for her weight

16 Wellspring | June 2020

I. R.

Not Smart Issue #51: Is Thin Still In?

I appreciate Shiffy Friedman’s positive intent to compliment and per-

haps favorably judge her fellow Jewish women, but frankly, the conclusion I’ve drawn from the body image survey is not that Jewish women are smart. Yes, we may be smart and certainly are, but that wisdom does not come through in the results.

I find it disheartening that majority of the female population, at least where I live, is so focused on weight. Even the rebbetzins are on diets. What has become of us? That women would make such a comment to someone who wasn’t well and was thus “lucky” to lose weight made me sick to my stomach. Kudos to Gila Glassberg and Rena Reiser for helping women tap into what’s really important in this life, and to Elisheva Shapiro for seeing the true beauty in every woman. Thanks to Wellspring for bringing their message to our attention.

May we merit appreciating our inherent value, regardless of our size, P. M.

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Torah Wellspring: Spiritual Health By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

A Gift, Not A Given How Hakaras Hatov Is Our Ticket to Experience Pleasure in This World

In the times of the Beis Hamikdash, the current period — after Shavuos — was known as the yemei habikkurim, the days when the Yidden brought their first fruits of the Shivas Haminim to Yerushalayim. When a Yid planted such a tree and then watched it flourish, he plucked the first fruit that blossomed and reserved it as an offering to Hashem. This was his way of conveying his recognition that all of his crops were directly from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, of expressing his gratitude for the bounty of fruit or grain that Hashem showered him with. The Torah enumerates various instructions, such as tying a reed to the first bud, placing the produce in a basket, and so on. Then, finally, when the yemei habikkurim arrived, the mitzvah was performed with ceremonious pomp, as the Gemara describes, with singing and dancing all the way to Yerushalayim. These weeks, this time of year, is when the grand mitzvah took place. Understood simply, the concept of bikkurim is intended to kindle our feelings of hakaras hatov, recognition in the good, for that which Hashem endowed us with. It encourages us to take a moment to realize the

18 Wellspring | June 2020

If we look around at our world mindfully, we can’t possibly not notice the many ways in which Hashem’s desire to bestow us with pleasure is conveyed.

miracles, masked in nature, He orchestrated in order for this process to happen. The Yid took simple seeds, which have no value of their own, buried them in the soil, which also has no value of its own, and together, with the help of Hashem’s sun and rain, a beautiful crop emerged. By offering the first fruit as bikkurim, the Yid conveys his belief that everything, not only this batch, is directly arranged from up High. Prerequisite for Serving Hashem

The concept of hakaras hatov, the sefarim tell us, is a most important foundation for a Yid to work on all his life. Without being grateful for everything we have, the purpose of our existence is not fulfilled. How so? As we know, Hashem created us in order to shower us with good and enable us to feel great pleasure. Without a perspective of gratitude, it is impossible for us to appreciate all that. Contrary to what we may have believed until now—that hakaras hatov is for the benefit of the one we show gratitude to— it is indeed one of the middos that are most ben-

Emanating from this need not to feel indebted—small, weak, powerless, etc.—we will subconsciously downplay all the gifts and favors that come our way.

eficial to us, the ones who feel it. As the Sefer Hachinuch explains in his discussion on the mitzvah of Bircas Hamazon, which outwardly appears to be a mitzvah in which we’re giving something to Hashem—that we’re bentsching for him—it’s impossible for us to make Hashem more complete than He already is, so to speak. Rather, by fulfilling this mitzvah, we’re doing ourselves a favor. By taking the time to express our gratitude, we start to recognize what we’re receiving, which fills us with great joy. If we look around at our world mindfully, we can’t possibly not notice the many ways in which Hashem’s desire to bestow us with pleasure is conveyed. We see a beautiful sky, blossoming trees, fruits and vegetables in an astonishing array of colors, a vast variety of fascinating species, the cherubic faces of children, the wondrous ways in which our bodies operate. In order for us to enjoy all of these blessings, we must first reach a state of hakaras hatov. When we notice that there’s a Giver behind all of this, and thus derive pleasure in knowing that we are being gifted like that, the purpose of these gifts is fulfilled. Thus, hakaras hatov is of paramount importance not because Hashem needs us to express

our appreciation, rather because this is what enables us to feel maximum pleasure. Without hakaras hatov, we can’t experience pleasure. Why is that so? To understand this, let’s delve into what makes feeling gratitude—whether towards another person or Hashem—so difficult. Hashem created us in a way that we find it unpleasant to feel indebted. When we feel that we owe someone something we may feel small, weak, powerless, and, most significantly, vulnerable. We don’t like feeling dependent on others. As a matter of fact, this is the purpose, the sefarim explain, for our journey in this world. It is because Hakadosh Baruch Hu, in His wisdom and kindness, wanted to enable us to feel “deserving” of our great reward—through observing the mitzvos. He understood that we wouldn’t feel good receiving “handouts,” otherwise known as nahama dichesufa, “bread of shame.” Not wanting to feel indebted is inherent to our humanness. Emanating from this need not to feel indebted—small, weak, powerless, etc.— we will subconsciously downplay all the gifts and favors that come our way. For example, we may rationalize that per-

forming the deed was not that difficult for the benefactor, that he wanted to do it anyway, that I deserve this, or that he is also benefiting from his giving. We’ll do anything we can so our heart won’t have to feel hakaras hatov.

This is all natural, but the detriment of this is that by minimizing the good that someone does for us, we lose out on the capability to feel pleasure. How so? Pleasure only emanates from experiencing something that is more than my expectations. We don’t derive pleasure from something that is expected, routine, or “normal.” The Chovos Halevavos explains that this is the reason why we may not enjoy the regular things in life, that are actually very major, such as our eyesight, hearing, speech, the ability to walk, and so on. It’s because we were born this way and are thus used to living with them.

At the same time that it’s difficult to be vulnerable and to feel small and powerless, which is a prerequisite for hakaras hatov, if an individual is ready to feel these emotions and surrender to them, the benefit is profound. Only then do we start to appreciate and enjoy our life. That’s when we start experiencing joy. So, yes, there’s a price to

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 19

Well Informed

Torah Wellspring: Spiritual Health

So much of the sadness and feelings of aloneness and invalidation we experience can be minimized when we exercise our hakaras hatov “muscle.”

pay to feel this way, but by accepting that everything in life is a gift and that we’re not deserving of anything we can start to realize just how blessed we are and in what Gan Eden we’re living.

The truth is, in a moment of clarity, we realize that this is in fact the reality: No one owes me anything, not Hashem nor any person, and that I am dependent on Hashem and His messengers at every moment.

Thus, as hard as hakaras hatov may be, it is the best and only way to feel pleasure. Although it appears that feeling this recognition is of benefit to the benefactor, we now understand that it is indeed for our own good. This is the reason why we’re commanded to convey hakaras hatov even to inanimate objects, such as our clothes (by not throwing them on the ground) and Moshe Rabeinu at the Nile (when he was commanded not to strike it). These objects obviously have no emotion, so why would we go to such lengths to show appreciation to them? Based on what we’ve discussed thus far, we can understand this. Hakaras hatov is incumbent on the recipient of the favor for his own good because this is the only way he will derive pleasure from what he’s receiving. Whether the recipient will take note of our gratitude is irrelevant to the benefit that we derive from it. 20 Wellspring | June 2020

Although it may feel more comfortable not to have to feel indebted, the pleasure in a life led with this perspective is sorely lacking. Thus, Hakadosh Baruch Hu instructed us to develop this middah, the trait of recognizing in the good we receive. Because He wanted the Yidden to enjoy the bounty He sent their way, He instructed them to perform the mitzvah of bikkurim. If the trees merely grew because that’s the way of “nature,” where’s the joy in knowing that we were granted this gift by a loving Father, who orchestrated events exactly as He did so that each olive, each grain of wheat, each fig should grow for our benefit? Hence, the obligation of hakaras hatov serves as a reflection of Hashem’s goodness. In His wisdom, He understood that only when we live by the dictates of this perspective will we truly and fully enjoy His world. Developing a middah is not unlike physical exercise that could be supremely uncomfortable, but it’s understood that the outcome is good for us. If we want pleasure in this life, working on hakaras hatov is vital. By starting to notice and placing our focus on the good that is being done on our behalf—and that we live with every moment—and that none of this is “normal,” only that it is being constantly given by our loving Father, we can start experiencing pleasure.

Happiness Generator

So much of the sadness and feelings of aloneness and invalidation we experience can be minimized when we exercise our hakaras hatov “muscle.” This is not about cognitive tricks, about trying to convince ourselves that we feel a certain way when we don’t really feel that way. Rather, it’s about making a conscious choice to notice what is present: a Father who desires to bestow us with quantities and quantities of good. This is real. We are gifted every day, in so many aspects of our lives. When we start to contemplate how the “simple” things we have are pure chesed, we can’t help but feel loved. While we may invest so much effort, time, and money to experience pleasure, we can experience it right here, right now, when we simply take the time to focus on everything we have, seeing it all as a gift, not a given. Letting our heart fill up with hakaras hatov, through enduring the emotions surrounding dependence that come up, is key to living a joyous life and feeling loved. Rav Avigdor Miller, ztz”l, used to say that the yetzer hara works tirelessly to obscure the pleasure that is available to us at every given moment. He doesn’t want us to notice the sky, the clouds, the grass, the flowers, the sunrise and sunset, the breath, the beauty. He doesn’t want us to feel the love from Hashem, which naturally leads to a deeper connection and desire

to observe His mitzvos with joy. The Ba’al Shem Tov says that the world is not lacking in good. Rather, our focus is lacking. Just by looking for the good, we will see it because the world is full of it. It is full of light.

The yetzer hara knows exactly what will happen when we start to focus on the good: Our heart will become saturated with joy. We’ll become happy people. And, as the tzaddikim would say, the mitzvos one can attain with simchah are boundless. He knows this, and he knows it well. He knows he would have a very hard time snaring a joyous Yid into his net. When we agree to feel indebted, to feel that Hashem is granting us so much, to feel the bittul, we start living a life of pleasure not only emotionally, but also spiritually. We have something the wealthiest man can’t buy with his money: happiness. When a Yid is b’simchah due to his hakaras hatov, what does he lack? Now Is the Time

As we discussed above, when we’re accustomed to our gifts and we feel that this the way things should be, we simply don’t feel the pleasure in them. We don’t see it as a gift at all. Now, however, when we’re living with the repercussions of the coronavirus, we’ve been granted an opportunity to take an easier path toward deepening our hakaras hatov.

So many of the things we took for granted and were then taken from us are gradually being permitted again. This may be our chance to internalize the beauty in each of them. As the word of the wise goes, if you want to appreciate something, live without it for a while. This is actually happening to us, orchestrated by Hashem. We can now appreciate so many myriad elements of “normalcy.” We can appreciate the ability to visit family and friends, to daven in a shul, the school system, public transportation, air travel, and so much more. It’s so much easier now to notice how all of these elements, which had previously always been available to us, enrich and/or simplify our lives. Even before

Hashem gives them back to us all the way, we can thank Him for them, to express how grateful we are that He made them a part of our lives. By doing so, we gain a great deal of personal pleasure—to feel loved and gifted at every moment, which leads to feeling supreme happiness. Once life will, with the help of Hashem, return to normal, we may find that over time, we get accustomed to these conveniences. However, if we inculcate this perspective right now, especially by verbalizing it, when we still do notice their goodness, we will not only never take our gifts for granted again, but we will keep noticing Hashem’s love for us more and more, in areas in our life we haven’t paid attention to before. We’ll start to take note of our breathing, our vision, our digestive system, our spouse, our children, and every tiny detail. As a result, our lives will be so much more meaningful and joyous. Everything the rest of the world is hustling to obtain — pleasure — will be ours. Too Good To Be True

Could it be that simple, that a change in mindset is all it takes to live the life we’ve always dreamed of ? The answer is yes. It’s too good to be true because if we believe that Hashem’s only purpose in creating this world is k’derech hatov sherotzeh l’heitiv, as Chazal tell us, to do good for us and that we should experience great pleasure, then we simply realize that this is the reality. The quantity and magnitude of good we’ve been blessed with is not something we can ever come to comprehend. All we need to do is realize that, and we can start this by noticing and thanking for the “simple” things in life. Through a shift in focus, everything can change. One of the most moving stories I’ve ever heard drives this point home. A young man once approached his rabbi and confessed that he felt he’d “had enough” of Yiddishkeit. He desired to leave it all behind and embrace a secular lifestyle. The wise rav did not attempt to convince someone who had already made up his mind. Instead, he said to the man, “I understand that you

don’t want to be a Yid, but a mensch you want to be, right?” The man nodded his head. “As you know, before one leaves a place behind, it is customary that he first bids farewell to his host. How would you like to bid farewell to Hashem?” The man did not oppose the idea. And so, the rav suggested that he take a trip to the place where the Shechinah resides, the Kosel, to do so. “I can help you book your ticket,” he said. “You’ll bid farewell to Hashem, and then move on.” And so, the young man took a flight to Eretz Yisrael and made his way to the Kosel. There he was, standing at the Wall, formulating a farewell message in his mind. He started talking to Hashem, saying, “I would like to part now.” Then, as he was talking, words of gratitude escaped his lips. While he was thanking, first for his life, then for his health, he started realizing, “Wow, and this too He did for me. And this too.” The list kept going on and on, from the food he ate to the clothes he wore, to his career, to his talents. Just wow! As the shift in focus gradually occurred, the young man was overcome by emotion. He started realizing what a world he was living in, the bounty of gifts in his life, and how much love he was being showered with. He laid his head on the cold stone and burst into tears. “Wow,” he expressed, “what a loving Father you are and I never even felt it. So much kindness You have sent my way, so much that I haven’t deserved. I want to deepen my connection to You.” Standing there sobbing uncontrollably, the young man felt a hand on his shoulder. “How can I help you, my dear brother?” A man in a white beard asked kindly. “I came to part from G-d,” he answered simply, “But by realizing the love He has for me that I’ve never noticed before, I want to draw near.” A switch in focus has the capacity to unleash so much good, so much simchah in our lives. When we consciously choose to see the gifts we currently have, at this very moment, we are zocheh to experience the pleasure our loving Father desires for us.

Rabbi Ezra Friedman welcomes questions and comments on this column. Please write to rabbiefriedman@wellspringmagazine.com. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 21

Well Informed

Spiritual Eating By Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMS

A Name and a Number

We all have the same requirements, but with a unique set of tools to fulfill them

“Take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel according to their families, according to their fathers’ household, by number of the names, every male according to their head count” (Bamidbar 1:2).

Sefer Bamidbar begins with the commandment to count the Yidden, specifically to assess the number of males above the age of 20 to determine, among other things, the legion of eligible soldiers for the army. But the verse dictates the process in a seemingly peculiar manner, “by the number of the names.” Couldn’t it have more simply stated, “the number of participants” or “the number of people?” What does a person’s name have to do with their position in an overall count? A Yid is both a number and a name. We are all part of a greater whole: Klal Yisrael. We are inexorably and eternally linked together. We are not isolated entities existing on our own islands. We have no individual agenda. We are all part of the goy kadosh, a sanctified nation charged with fulfilling Hashem’s mitzvos in order to bring light to an otherwise dark world. We pray in the plural and ask for collective forgiveness. We’re all part of the chain that is Jewish history — and are also subject to the first rule of a chain’s stability: it’s only as strong as its weakest link. This is the rule of a number — it only has significance in relation to a group. But we are classified by our names,

which by definition, is individual. We are all unique, possessing combinations of strengths, weaknesses, characteristics and tendencies — physical, intellectual, and emotional — that Hashem crafted exclusively for each and every one of us. We have to look no further than our fingerprints to attest to our individuality — a series of otherwise inconsequential curves that set us apart from every other being on the face of the planet. We all have varied and disparate roles to play in the context of the greater whole that is Klal Yisrael. We’re obligated to maximize our singular potential and play our particular part in order to tender our contribution to the Jewish people’s purpose in joining with our Creator in perfecting His creation. So, what does this have to do with eating, you might ask? This paradigm plays an integral role in a person’s healthy relationship with food. Many of us suffer from “terminal uniqueness.” We think, “I’m different than everyone else.” “My metabolism is slower so I can’t lose weight like other people.” “They’re not as busy as I am, so that’s why they can

find the time to exercise and I can’t.” “If they had my problems, they would also not be able to concentrate on sticking to a plan.” “No one has as strong cravings as I do.” “My schedule is too hectic; I can’t make the time to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals like she does.” Too often, many of us make excuses to rationalize our unwillingness to make the changes necessary to have a healthy relationship with food. The secret is that we all have the capability. Hashem made all of our bodies equal in the context that we all need six essential nutrients every day in order to survive and thrive. Forgoing this truth will affect us all — some in the short term, others in the long term, and most of us in both. No one is exempt from the necessity to eat healthy. It’s an immutable law that governs the nature Hashem saw fit to create. At the same time, we do have exceptional qualities that we must respect and adjust for accordingly. Whether it’s our metabolism or thyroid, some of us burn calories faster than others. So we must account for our uniqueness and not get frustrated if we see others eating larger quantities of food. Some of us are compact, others broadboned. Some petite, others tall and lanky. Our body shapes and sizes are the perfect ones for us because the Perfect One determined it should be that way. Accordingly, we need to fuel our bodies with the quantity of food — not restrict ourselves in order to match some unrealistic expectation, nor stuff ourselves just because others can consume a little more without adverse effects. If we truly respect the wonderful and irreplaceable body that Hashem has given us, we would be willing to meet its uniform requirements at the same time as satisfying our unique needs, providing us the best opportunity to live in a healthy body.

Rabbi Eli Glaser is the founder and Director of Soveya. He is certified as a Nutrition/Wellness Consultant and Weight Management Specialist, with 25 years of coaching and counseling experience, and is maintaining a 130-pound weight loss for more than 16 years. Soveya has offices in Lakewood and Brooklyn, and works with clients via phone and Skype around the world. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Soveya at 732-578-8800, info@soveya.com, or www.soveya.com.

22 Wellspring | June 2020

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Well Informed

Dental Health By Dr. Jacques Doueck, DDS

THERE GO THOSE JOINTS AGAIN TMJ/TMD Treatment People who have suffered from TMD (tempromandibular jaw disorder) may show up at the dentist with one or more of the following complaints: ▷ Clicking, cracking, or popping when opening or closing the mouth. ▷ A feeling as if the jaw is locking and unstable or stiffness and tightness in the jaw muscles.

▷ A change in the way the teeth fit together when the mouth is closed. ▷ Inability to open the mouth fully.

The most frustrating complaint is a chronic headache and pain in the jaw when talking, yawning, or chewing.

The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are the hinges that connect the upper jaw to the lower jaw. When these joints function normally, one is able to open and close them without pain. Thus, normal function of the TMJs enables you to chew, talk, and yawn comfortably. Problems with these joints are very often caused by tired, tight, injured, or sore muscles; inflamed tendons; or damaged ligaments, bone, and cartilage.

Since the TMJ is a joint, it’s treated like other joints of the body — the same way an orthopedist treats the knees, elbows, and shoulders. Preventing the cycle of pain and discomfort starts by preventing further injury. Just the way an orthopedist will tell you to “go easy” on the shoulder, elbow, or knee in question, you should do the same by avoiding certain foods (tough, hard, chewy breads like bagels, chewing gum, tough meats, etc.), and avoiding damaging habits such as nail and cuticle biting, biting on pen caps, straws and plastic items, biting on your lips or cheeks, chewing ice, holding your glasses between your teeth, and leaning your chin into your hands while at work or while reading.

Poor posture is a major trigger of TMD. You might not realize it, but your head weighs as much as a bowling ball, and so when you sit in front of your Gemara or, lehavdil, in front of your computer with your head hanging forward, you’re putting a tremendous strain on the neck and shoulder muscles, which could trigger the TMD syndrome. It is thus crucial to keep your head over your shoulders and avoid hunching over. If you work in the kitchen or by your computer and cradle the phone so that your hands are free, you are also straining those neck and shoulder muscles. In some people, wide or frequent yawning can also strain the ligaments.

Since TMD is connected with the neck and shoulders, gentle stretching and rotation of the head and neck, as well as hot showers, can help relieve the muscle inflammation. Massaging and putting pressure on the tender muscles of the temples, TMJ, and neck and shoulders are also effective in preventing and treating the TMD syndrome.

Another important measure is avoiding grinding and clenching the teeth. There is not much you can do about nighttime grinding and clenching except wearing a plastic night guard while you sleep, but daytime clenching and grinding can often be as bad, if not worse, and is easily preventable. The key advice is “lips together — teeth apart.” Your teeth are not meant to be in contact except for a few seconds while you swallow, but unfortunately, many people tend to clench and grind their teeth. If this has become a long- standing habit, you’ll need some real focused attention in the beginning to break it. One of our patients told me he uses small yellow sticky notes that say “Lips together... teeth apart” and puts them on his rearview mirror in the car and on his computer at work. Preventing TMJ pain may be more simple than you think. Avoid abusing those delicate TMJ muscles, and you’ll feel your jaw opening and shutting exactly the way it is meant to.

Dr. Jacques Doueck has been practicing family dentistry in Brooklyn, New York since 1977, and is a Diplomate of the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines. He speaks nationally and trains other dentists in oral appliance therapy and state-of-the-art dentistry. Dr. Doueck is a member of the American Dental Association and serves on the District Claims Committee for the state society.

24 Wellspring | June 2020

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Well Informed

Updates in the News By Esther Retek

NEVER TOO LATE TO GET MOVING A (yet another) newfound benefit of working out That exercise energizes every part of our bodies, including the brain, is no news. However a recent study has come to prove this more strongly than ever. Conducted by the Cumming School of Medicine and published in Neurology, this research trial found that it’s never too late to lace up some sneakers and work up a sweat for brain health. The best part? Even if you’ve been a couch potato all your life, your mind will perform better after just six months of aerobic exercise.

“Even if you start an exercise program later in life, the benefit to your brain may be immense,” says study author Marc J. Poulin, Ph.D. “Sure, aerobic exercise gets blood moving through your body and helps you stay physically fit, but as our study found, it also gets blood moving to your brain, particularly in areas responsible for verbal fluency and executive functions.” The study involved 206 adults who prior to starting the sixmonth exercise intervention worked out less than four days weekly at a moderate intensity for 30 minutes or less, or less than two days weekly a high intensity for 20 minutes or less per day. Participants were given thinking and memory tests at the start of

the study, as well as an ultrasound to measure blood flow in the brain. Thinking and physical testing repeated at the end of the six months. Participants were enrolled in a supervised aerobic exercise program held three days a week. As they progressed through the program, they increased their workout from an average of 20 minutes a day to an average of at least 40 minutes. In addition, people were asked to work out on their own once a week. Researchers found that after six months of exercise, participants improved by 5.7% on tests of executive function, which includes mental flexibility and self-correction. Verbal fluency, which tests how quickly you can retrieve information, increased by a whopping 2.4%. Before and after six months of aerobic activity, the participants' average peak blood flow to the brain was measured using ultrasound. To the study authors’ surprise, blood flow rose from an average of 51.3 centimeters per second (cm/sec) to an average of 52.7 cm/sec, a 2.8% increase.

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Well Informed

Updates in the News

SAFE TRAVELS

Now, and always

With life gradually returning to normal, you may find yourself doing the travel thing again sooner than you thought you would. Of course, it is best to avoid public places, especially where social distancing is practically impossible, but if air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats have less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)

Well Informed

Dedicated to Health By Esther Retek

What motivated you to launch Miles for Life? When a family member was going through a difficult medical situation, Mrs. Malky Kaufman, who runs the Monroe office, did her best to help them out in every way possible. Since the family needed to travel to receive the proper medical care, she realized what a big hassle, headache, and of course, expense this was for the patient and family. At the same time we realized that there are many individuals with thousands of credit card

30 Wellspring | June 2020

miles to spare, either because the points are bound to expire or because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need as much as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re earning with their business purchases. It was then that the inspiration hit, and we decided to act as the brokers between those in need and those who are ready to give. We started connecting one person at a time, and soon realized the great demand for a full-time organization.

Questions

for: Meir Mendlowitz Co-Director of Kanfei Chaim/Miles for Life Kanfei Chaim in a nutshell: Miles for Life serves as the broker between individuals willing to donate their airline mileage and patients in need of medical airfare assistance, thereby removing enormous travel costs from already overburdened families during a medical crisis.

What is your position at Miles for Life? Tell us what your daily schedule looks like. Currently, I run an office for the organization in Williamsburg and Mrs. Malky Kaufman runs one in Monroe. Our office team is comprised of several secretaries who take calls from both patients and donors, work with the airlines, and oversee the innumerable technicalities. There are also fundraisers, a team of paramedics who are ready to work with us when they’re needed onboard, and many other dedicated people.

Since we’re constantly working with medical emergencies, it’s impossible to outline a daily schedule. Although the office has hours, people are always reaching out to us privately, flights need to be followed continuously, and many minute details need to be taken care of on a second-to-second basis. It’s a 24-hour a day operation.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 31

Well Informed

What’s your greatest challenge in running the organization?

Miles. Miles. Miles. No matter how many miles we manage to acquire, we never have enough. Unfortunately, too many patients require medical care in faraway hospitals. Cleveland, Columbus, Los Angeles, and Rochester are just a few on the list. Furthermore, every patient needs multiple tickets, since parents need to travel back and forth in order to be with their family at home. Each ticket can easily cost a couple of hundred dollars, and considering that patients often need business class or at least extra legroom, these tickets easily amount to hefty costs and an enormous amount of mileage points. Despite our selective acceptance process, requirement of staying at least two days with the patient (so that the system is not abused), and limits per family, we are still always running short with mileage points. Recently, we learned that in Canada, citizens are legally allowed to have the cash value of the ticket purchased with their miles used as a tax deduction for their business. This is a major bonus, and has allowed us to reach out to Canadian donors more easily.

Even more challenging is that since cash can be obtained in exchange for points, less people are willing to donate them. Truthfully though, the money you can earn by cashing in your points is little compared to the mileage that can be obtained for tickets.

There are also many challenges in running the technicalities of our organization. Dealing with the bureaucracy of the airports and airlines can be a nightmare! Since last-minute changes are a given in medical situations, such as a change in discharging time, we can never be well-enough prepared. In those cases, we work tirelessly to get our points refunded despite the trouble it involves, so that no donated point goes to waste. At all times, we need to be ready to deal with airline difficulties, such as unexpected delays, cancellations, and stopover issues. I recall numerous occasions in which people were stuck in different cities because they missed their connecting flights. This happens even more frequently with domestic flights, when the stopover is usually short and the next flight can depart earlier than scheduled. Thankfully, Hashem always sends the right shaliach to assist the patient, such as a warm Chabad shaliach, or an organization that we have connections with in that city.

Can you share an inspiring story in regards to the work you do? In general since Miles for Life is recognized by the airlines and all activity is aligned with airline regulations, the donor will do the booking. In certain situations though, if they don’t have the time they will provide us with some information so that we can book the ticket. Once, when I was desperate, I mistakenly reached out to a donor who had given us mileage only two weeks earlier. The donor, a kind and considerate fellow, reminded me of his recent donation, but told us that if we can’t find anyone, we could call him back. Half an hour later, he called to check if we’d found someone. I told him that we hadn’t yet, but that there’s no need to worry since I'm sure we’d eventually find someone. He refused, however, and almost begged us to take his points. At that point, he asked me if the mileage is going to a certain patient. Of course, since we keep every bit of information extremely confidential, I was shocked to hear that he knew who we were trying to help. When I expressed my surprise, he told me that family in need is his own sister! Providentially, right after my earlier phone call with him, his sister called and discussed with him that she’s waiting for Miles for Life to call her back with an answer. Once he put two and two together, he was adamant that he’d pay, disbelieving that he almost denied his sister this favor. Besides the ironic twist of the story, I realized then that we can’t ever know who the beneficiary of our chesed is. It might be someone who davens next to us in shul, a neighbor down the block, or our own relative. We also had several instances where previous donors called for help. Even a person who is well off and lives comfortably can get strangled with the travel expenses involved with a medical crisis, and therefore turn to us for help.

Another inspiring aspect is the strong connection donors can often feel towards the people they assist. They sometimes ask if the patient is willing to share his name so they can daven for them. Once, when asking a patient for permission to disclose his name, I mentioned that the sponsor was donating as a zechus for his older sons to find their bashert. The patient was so moved by his gesture to have them in mind that he in turn asked for the donor to disclose his sons’ names so that they can be mispallel for them!

32 Wellspring | June 2020

What else do you provide patients with in addition to mileage? The list is infinite. While we do focus chiefly on providing mileage points, there are hundreds of other factors that crop up. Recently, for example, we realized the tremendous need to recruit a group of paramedics who are ready to make trips with patients as a chesed. In the past, many patients who flew in a precarious state needed a paramedic on board and therefore had to hire one for an exorbitant price. Now, we offer patients these incredibly generous paramedics, thus saving them thousands of dollars. At one point, we also bought two special oxygen tanks that can be taken on board. These oxygen tanks are much stronger than the regular ones, easily costing a few thousand dollars, and were a big help for patients in need. Recently, when so many people struck with coronavirus needed tanks, I was bombarded with people begging me for those machines, in an effort to avoid the hospital. Realizing the demand, one donor offered to pay for many more such machines if I would be able to obtain them. After calling every company we could think of, we finally found one in Florida that still had them in stock, and we had 50 machines overnighted to New York. Extra luggage, VIP assistance, hotels, taxis, and places to stay are some other things we help out with. When a patient reaches out to us, I feel that it’s our responsibility to make sure that the patient or family is getting to their destination as smoothly as possible. I will therefore ensure that they’re receiving everything we can possibly offer. If this means trekking out to the airport at night to give a ride to the patient, handing over credit card information when a family finds themselves with too much luggage, or sitting for hours trying to figure out how to make the most of the mileage points — we will do it.

Can you share an incident where you witnessed Hashgachah from up close?

With so many intricate puzzle pieces that need to come together for each individual’s trip, we witness yad Hashem every minute. Here’s just one story that is still in the making.

Recently, the Yeshiva World News posted an incredible story of a man who came to America to receive heart treatment. Being personally involved in the case, there were many details that we were privy to. We were also privileged to watch many beautiful acts of Hashgachah transpire. I was present when doctors told him that he’ll need a heart transplant and that they found a match for him — which was an amazing story in and of itself ! Realizing the gravity of the situation, he agreed that it would be beneficial for his wife to be present during the surgery, and we immediately sprang into action arranging a ticket and getting her onto the next available flight. By the time he awoke after surgery, she was at his bedside. But the siyatta diShmaya didn’t end there. A few days ago, the doctors agreed that it would be safe for him to fly back as he was recovering beautifully. Since there was only one United flight to Israel daily, I booked him on that and tried getting a GPU — an upgrade on United flights — something that was vital for a patient in his state, but can’t be gotten with points. I tried posting it on numerous groups, reaching out to many donors, but to no avail. At midnight, I still hadn’t acquired one. Unexpectedly, I received a call from the secretary of Eli Rowe of Hatzolah Air, who has assisted me a couple of times in the past. She explained to me that Hatzolah Air, a private plane, would be flying to Israel. She offered to take the patient along on the trip, free of charge. There are no words to describe the entire chain of events, it was pure siyatta diShmaya. As we’re speaking, I'm on the way back from the airport, after baruch Hashem seeing off the patient with Hatzolah Air.

How did COVID-19 affect the operation of your organization?

Needless to say, traveling has become way more complicated with so many cancelled flights. Many people had to first travel to Philadelphia, where more flights were available than in New York. There were other complications that came up, but what I realized most was that there was much more panic surrounding the situation, particularly in regards to flying, than the actual reality. A patient desperately needed to see a doctor in Germany now, and despite everyone dismissing this option due to travel restrictions, we were able to arrange a route for the patient, who was there just a week — all during the crisis. When there’s a will there’s a way.

What’s the best part of the work you do? The toughest?

Quite trite, yet nevertheless very true: there’s nothing like the satisfaction when giving to others. I'm so grateful that I can be in a position to help people financially with the mileage, as well as with relieving them of the travel stress.

Here and there, people who we assist are preparing to fly for the first time (yes, in 2020!). It always takes extra time and patience to answer the many confused questions these fliers have and help them work through the myriad details of the trip. But I definitely derive an extra sense of pleasure when dealing with these people.

One of the toughest parts of the work is the international trips. We primarily help out with domestic flights, but there will inevitably be some exceptional cases. In addition to the thousands of additional miles these patients need, there will always be more snags along the way.

How do you manage the stress that comes along with your work?

Undoubtedly, as most people running such operations will attest, there’s no magic stress reliever. The stress multiplies when you consider that we deal with countless details, and that with every case an endless amount of technicalities needs to fall into place. However, with time, our workload became so much more habitual and the process more efficient. We’ve learnt the ins and outs of airfare, medical transfers, TSA regulations, and such, which makes our work so much simpler and less time-consuming than it used to be.

Can you share feedback from those who have benefited from your services?

People are ever so grateful for our help in alleviating the travel costs, but as most patients appreciatively point out, even more than helping them financially, we allow them to focus on the medical situation at hand, without being overwhelmed with the many travel details.

The pain of not being near a loved one as they are battling illness is unfathomable. Now, during the COVID-19 crisis, the issue of having family at the bedside of a patient arose numerous times and people fought tooth and nail to obtain permission to be in the hospitals with their family members. This helped us realize even more so the value of our work that enables family members to be there for a patient.

In the past, without our assistance, hundreds of families, not able to afford the astronomical travel expenses, had to reluctantly leave their unwell relatives alone in a faraway place, sometimes not seeing them for weeks. Now that we step in to help those families, we’ve enabled patients to have their child/ parent/sibling at their bedside. There’s no time like now that we understand the importance and value of having family nearby. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 33

Insider By Roizy Baum

THE

Well Informed

LIVER

Liver for Life Nestled deeply inside the abdomen, the body’s largest internal organ, the liver, is in charge of a crucial list of functions. An organ only found in vertebrates, the liver detoxifies various metabolites, synthesizes proteins and produces biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. Often weighing as much as three pounds and about the size of a football, the liver is the largest glandular organ of the human body and the second largest organ besides our skin. Reddish-brownish in color, it’s located just beneath the rib cage on the right side of the body and has two parts — the right lobe and the left lobe, with the right being larger than the left.

Filter, Among Other Functions Located just on top of the gallbladder and next to parts of the pancreas and intestines, the liver works with them as a team to digest and absorb food. Its main job is to filter the blood that comes from the digestive tract before it’s directed toward the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. As it does so, it secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines. The liver also produces proteins essential for blood plasma and other functions. A complex organ that’s involved in nearly every bodily function, the liver is responsible for simultaneously performing hundreds of different vital functions of the body. Some of its jobs include manufacturing and storing energy, producing proteins vital for body function, processing drugs — prescriptions, OTCs, and “drugs of abuse,” supplying glucose to the brain, combating infections, and storing nutrients.

On Jaundice Infant jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby's skin and eyes. It occurs when the baby's blood contains an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment of red blood cells. One way jaundice is treated is with phototherapy. This involves placing the baby on a warmer beneath lights that are able to penetrate a baby's skin and affect the bilirubin. The bilirubin is changed into lumirubin through the light, which is easily handled by the baby's body. In adults, an inflamed liver or obstructed bile duct can lead to jaundice. Symptoms include a yellow tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes, dark urine, and itchiness. Bilirubin, a chemical produced by the body, is quite toxic. If it enters the kidneys unfiltered, it can damage them. The liver actually filters and makes bilirubin safe before sending it to the kidneys. The kidneys then filter out the bilirubin from the body along with urine.

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Greek to Me The Greeks used to practice what is currently known as hepatoscopy — they would sacrifice goats and oxen and examine their livers to determine whether they’d be victorious in a battle or war. Hepar, the Greek term for liver, is the root for today liver-related terms like hepatitis. Many liver conditions, from hepatitis to cirrhosis, may have no symptoms in the early stages. Surprisingly, serious liver injury is a possibility even when liver tests are normal.

To a Healthy Liver • Maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss can play an important part in helping reduce unnecessary liver fat.

Dual Identity Organs usually have a job specific to one region of the body, while glands are specialized types of organs that remove substances from the blood, alter or process them, and then release them to other parts of the body or entirely eliminate them. In that respect, the liver, which filters toxins (such as drugs and alcohol) and pushes them out of the body, is also a gland.

Can a Liver Be Transplanted?

Blood Manufacturing The liver creates the blood that circulates in our bodies, starting even before birth. At its fullest, the liver holds approximately 10 percent of the blood in the body and pumps nearly 1.5 liters of blood every single minute.

Fat Breakdown The liver works around the clock to secrete bile — that yellow, greenish fluid you may have seen when retching on empty — totaling about 700 to 1000 ml daily. The bile gathers in little ducts and then moves on to the main bile duct, where it’s carried to the duodenum of the small intestine, either directly or via the gallbladder. Bile is key to the body's ability to break down and absorb fats.

When Dr. Thomas E. Starzl performed the first human liver transplant at the University of Colorado Medical School back in 1963, his patient, and the others who underwent the procedure shortly thereafter, did not survive for longer than a couple of weeks. This was largely due to the wrong kinds of immunosuppressive drugs used. Only four years later, with the expansion of available immunosuppressive drugs, Dr. Starzl finally performed the first successful liver transplant. All organs have the power to regenerate. The liver, though, is the only one that has the ability to do so completely. Incredibly, it only needs as little as 25 percent of the original tissue to do so. The livers of donors return to their original size in nearly two weeks, with the remaining part regenerating the section that was removed.

• Eat a balanced diet. Avoid high calorie-meals, saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, and sugars. Stock up on the fiber, proteins, and healthy fats. Hydration is essential too, so keep the water bottle handy. • Pump it up. Consistent exercise helps burn triglycerides for fuel and reduces liver fat. • Yes for masks. Limit direct contact when tampering with toxins from cleaning or aerosol products, insecticides, and chemicals. If you must use such a product, ventilate the room and wear a mask. • Drink safely. Alcohol overconsumption can damage and destroy liver cells and scar the liver. • Sharing is not always caring. Refrain from sharing personal hygiene items. Toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers may be contaminated with microscopic levels of blood or other body fluids that. • Constant hand-washing. Before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, remember the basics of wet, lather, wet. • Read labels with care. The liver can be harmed by incorrect medication intake, ingesting too much or mixing medicines. Always consult with your doctor before taking over-the-counter medication, supplements, or natural remedies.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 35

Living Well

In Good Shape By Esther Fried, PFC

OUT-OFTHE-BOX 8 Resourceful Exercise Ideas to Energize You and Your Children Ideally, we should be doing exercise to the point of it raising our heart rate a few times a week, but the gyms are still closed (let’s pretend we always went), and even the walking we did as we ran our errands is also history for now. If you’re able to leave the house for a quick walk or you can follow an exercise DVD on your own, go for it. But if that’s not an option, and you want your kids — who are usually way more active at this time of year — to be part of the movement too, this one’s for you. I reached out to family and friends to hear their best tried-and-true ideas for family fun. Here’s a list of eight kid-friendly activities to get you and your family moving. (Bonus points if you get your spouse to join!)

1 Throw a wedding. Missed some simchahs? Wedding music is so strongly associated with dancing that you’ll find yourself dropping all your cookware to dance along when that hora song goes on. Dancing tones the muscles and strengthens the heart and lungs. Looking to do it all the way? Dress the part! Have your children decide who is being which wedding guest, dress them up with some random items from around the house, and have a good time.

36 Wellspring | June 2020

Play the cleaner.

Whether it’s changing linen, washing floors, or vacuuming carpets, maximize the time to work out your muscles. Common household chores can boost endorphins immensely (not only because you’re watching the house get into shape). Even a quick vacuum around the house can be added to your exercise time slot if done rigorously. Nobody says no to a cleaner house, right? If you’re from those lucky few whose cleaner hasn’t abandoned them, work alongside her for double the work at half the time.

Kids at play.

With your siblings’ cooperation, ask each of them to video their children as they instruct their “virtual cousins” on their favorite exercise moves. Combine all the small video clips into one movie, and the kids will have fun exercising to all the moves daily. That’s a great way for them to “see” their “long lost” family members.

Pump up the pace.

Burn more calories by doing any activity at a pace quick enough to get your heart pumping and make you breathe harder. Race yourself while doing the dishes, sweeping, folding laundry, or unpacking groceries. If your kids can handle clock races, use timers to encourage them to work faster as they help you unpack the order, clean up the toys, or even get dressed in the morning. Everything is more fun when you’re trying to beat the clock!

3 Staircase to the rescue. Whenever possible, why use the elevator when you can burn some calories with the stairs? Want to encourage your kids at it? Modeling is the answer. If they see you opting for the stairs, they will inevitably do so too. Rev up this activity by turning the staircase into personal “steppers” for each member of the family. Assign two steps per child, with you at the lead, and perform different step exercises as a family.

Catch it!

DIY Weights

Nothing like a good game of tag. Even running after your two-year-old can give you and your child a much needed workout. For added excitement, tie balloons around the foot that mom or the “it” kid must bust, or hats to be exchanged when tagged.

Besides being practical, exercising with common household items makes the entire activity more exciting. Starting small? Fifteenounce cans can serve as your one-pound weight, one-liter bottles weigh a bit more than two pounds, one gallon of water is about eight pounds — and if you’re really in the mood of a heavy workout, fill the gallon with sand for additional pounds. If you’re reaching for those items anyway, work out for a few minutes before using them. For kid-friendly weights, fill a sock with rice (one to two cups, depending on the age) and tie tightly. Have them wrap it around their ankles and practice some simple moves with the weights on their feet.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 37

Living Well

Ask By Laura Shammah, MS, RDN

Weightier than Weight

With PCOS, Is Maintaining a Healthy Weight Possible?

Question: First, thank you so much for bringing the important topic of PCOS to the fore by discussing it in Wellspring’s pages. As a woman who’s struggling with this issue, it was such a relief to see that the subject is no longer taboo and that there are ways to cope with the condition. Since one of my main difficulties with PCOS is weight, I was wondering if my body needs a tailored diet to help me shed pounds I need to lose.

Laura's response: As I’ve mentioned in the past, since I’ve broached the topic of PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, I’ve received countless of calls and a stream of new clients all wanting to hear more information about the sensitive condition. So thank you for bringing up the subject once more, thus giving me the opportunity to enlighten the readers with valuable information. Although there is a plethora of material available on the matter, women constantly vent their frustration that even after cutting out x amount of foods, as Dr. Google “prescribed,” nothing has changed. Between all my clients, the number one challenge is the slow manner in which they lose weight. It’s a debilitating process and there are no quick fixes. Dealing with this issue on a daily basis has given me some experience with the condition, but please realize that everything I write here is by no means a blanket statement. Just as every human being is unique, so is every single case of PCOS. No two cases are the same and therefore every woman needs individual attention when dealing with this condition. Therefore, more importantly than coming to your own conclusions after reading this article, I advise you to reach out to someone who can help you figure out your body and formulate a customized plan. I would also like to mention that A TIME is a wonderful resource for PCOS assistance. Their dedicated team

38 Wellspring | June 2020

guides every woman to the best experts in the field, and will ensure that she gets the help she needs. Having PCOS is not equivalent to being overweight. It is not a given. On the contrary, there are many women with PCOS who are extremely thin — too thin, which is also problematic. Women who are naturally thin in their younger years are oftentimes not so vigilant about their nutrition since they’re not seeing the negative effects of poor eating, but the weight usually does catch up with them later on. So, whether you do feel the weight effects of PCOS or you’re happily munching to your heart’s desire, bear in mind that maintaining a proper diet is vital not only for weight loss but also to ensure that you’re giving your body what it currently needs. In women with PCOS who are already maintaining a healthy diet, hormones are the “culprit” for difficulty surrounding weight loss. Levels of appetite-regulating hormones, such as ghrelin, cholecystokinin, and leptin, impair women with PCOS in their ability to keep their weight at healthy levels. PCOS symptoms can be credited to two underlying processes: hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenmia. Hyperinsulinemia, specifically, is associated with gaining weight because it results in insulin resistance which is an effect of hormonal imbalance. This cycle of insulin resistance promotes weight gain even if exercise and nutrition are under control. So which diet can you succeed at? There’s much talk around dairy-free and gluten-free diets. In the past, I haven’t seen much

success with either. I have, however, witnessed positive outcomes in those who followed a low-glycemic index (low-GI) diet. The low-GI diet involves swapping high-GI foods for lowGI alternatives. This diet usually incorporates lots of fiber, healthy fats, and less carbs. Healthy fats are especially important for people with PCOS, and I’ve seen significant changes when women incorporated high-fat foods into their diet, especially avocado. Of course, exercise, even one as basic as walking, is also

extremely instrumental. So, yes, I do believe that women with PCOS benefit from a tailored diet that’s not necessarily more restrictive but more focused on various food groups. Although you may currently think that the odds are against you, with the right formula of diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and possibly medication, weight loss is certainly possible.

Your PCOS FAQ’s Answered From what age is best for a woman with PCOS to start working with a dietician?

Early detection of PCOS and treatment is essential. Many think that it’s okay to ignore PCOS as long as it’s not interfering with fertility. The truth is that there are many aspects of PCOS that can disrupt regular living, and delaying the treatment is detrimental. Doctors can only diagnose PCOS three years after the onset of menstruation, but as soon as you receive a diagnosis of PCOS, it is highly recommended to get it under control. What differences can a woman with PCOS expect to experience during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, women with PCOS are at greater risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pre-term delivery, and are generally more prone to miscarriages. Eating healthy and pacing weight gain is essential. What are some common signs of PCOS?

Besides irregular cycles and obesity, common symptoms include facial hair, acne, and heavy bleeding

— all as a result of the hormonal imbalance. These symptoms, especially acne, can improve with the right medication. Is medication necessary for PCOS?

For some, under a doctor’s guidance, medication can be of aid. In my office, the most helpful medication I came across is metformin, which is a medication to help a patient overcome hyperinsulinemia. But even with medication, following a healthy diet and exercise plan is crucial. Can just a proper diet and good health minimize the effects of PCOS?

For many women, certainly. Recently, a client called and thanked me for helping her with her condition. Having followed my guidelines, she became pregnant, had a wonderful birth, and called me soon thereafter that she was experiencing a relatively normal cycle (shorter with ten days!) for the first time in her life. So yes, there’s a lot available to help those who are struggling with this condition.

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN, has been operating a private practice in New York and New Jersey for over 20 years. Her clientele runs the gamut from people with eating disorders to those dealing with hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and cancer. She also helps clients who run in marathons or are looking to lose or gain weight in a healthy way. Her nutritional guidance is published in MaryAnne Cohen’s book Lasagna for Lunch: Declaring Peace With Emotional Eating. Laura can be reached at 718-376-0062 or Laurashammah@aol.com.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 39

Living Well

Feature

From

VENTILATORS toDIALYSIS EQUIPMENT

Experts Explore the COVID-19-Kidney Connection BY GOLDY SWIMER 40 Wellspring | June 2020

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 41

Living Well

Feature

FIRST, IT WAS THE TISSUE PAPER. As shelves in Costco and local groceries emptied, the public began stocking up. It was quickly followed by baby diapers, water, and basic necessities. Friends circulated photos of completely stocked pantries mere weeks before Pesach. (“I don’t want to be stuck eating kasha,” one remarked.) Stocking up took a sobering turn: governors, mayors, and hospital officials turned to the media, pleading for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and... ventilators. With the frightening prospect of the United States becoming like Italy, where basic care was rationed to those deemed most likely to survive, governors warned that if lifesaving equipment would not be procured, lives would be lost. A national scramble ensued with private companies such as GM rushing to produce the coveted machinery. But there was an area which the medical establishment has not yet foreseen the urgent need: dialysis machines. A Need Unseen The kidneys are associated with many functions in the body. They include maintaining overall fluid balance, filtering toxins from the blood, and creating hormones that regulate blood pressure. When the kidneys fail, toxins that are otherwise eliminated from the body continue to circulate in the bloodstream. Left unchecked, renal failure can poison the body and lead to death.

the case. Though Dr. Suldan says the staff exhausts every option, such as diuretics, before proceeding to dialysis, many patients may abruptly need dialysis urgently. “We’re short on dialysis nurses since many have been laid up with the virus, and if we haven’t got the personnel, the equipment is virtually worthless. Otherwise, baruch Hashem, we’re holding our own.” He’s grateful. Other hospitals have not been so fortunate. “What’s so difficult about this is the lack of medical knowledge. Protocol changes so rapidly, and medical staff are struggling to keep up. At first, we thought only the elderly were at risk. And then I was seeing young patients, as young as 27, not pulling through. There’s no rhyme and reason to this,” he says heavily. “Only Hashem knows what His Plan is.” He credits Torah as his lifeline for staying afloat. “At some point, I made an appointment with my rav, just to talk. It was comforting to hear words of Torah. Many doctors are having a hard time powering through the day.” Precisely how COVID-19 affects the kidneys is unclear, though doctors have posited some theories. Dr. Suldan draws from his own experience seeing such patients. “Personally, I’ve seen more indirect damage stemming from the virus than the actual virus itself. Dehydration, muscle damage, and an overactive inflammatory response have all been implicated in the resultant AKI.”

“In most COVID-19 patients, respiratory distress is the most prominent feature,” clarifies Dr. Zal Suldan, a frum attending nephrologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. “However, many patients began presenting with acute kidney injury (AKI). We were in for a huge surprise.”

Complicating matters is the issue of fluid resuscitation. For some severely ill patients, pumping the body with fluids is the only way to keep their blood pressure at a sustainable level. Fluids may be indicated for those whose kidneys have shut down due to dehydration. However, this excess fluid can put a strain on an already faltering heart. And the lungs, too, cannot afford to be swamped as they battle to clear the fluid blood vessels have leaked. It’s a tight and delicate dance.

A recent Columbia University study revealed startling stats regarding coronavirus patients: 75% ICU patients sustained some form of kidney injury. A full 32% of all ICU patients had progressed to severe AKI, necessitating immediate dialysis. Dr. Suldan agrees that these numbers, which sounds like the stuff of nightmares, are true. “These numbers may seem steep, but unfortunately, we’ve been seeing roughly the same.”

Those struggling on a ventilator are likely to advance to complete renal failure, which necessitates dialysis. Typically, two tubes are inserted into a port located on the patient’s chest. The machine pulls blood from the body, filters it, and removes waste products. It then pumps the purified blood back through the second tube. While never an easy treatment, dialysis is infinitely more complex in fragile patients.

Though the media has been rife with accounts of shortages in dialysis equipment, at HUMC, that has thankfully not been

And although the majority of these patients will regain kidney function, some COVID-19 survivors’ kidneys will never bounce

42 Wellspring | June 2020

back. “Though there is no data, I have heard via the medical grapevine and am optimistic for those whose baseline kidney function is normal. However, those who had kidney issues prior to the virus may now be in for a long haul.” Dr. Suldan sighs. Some may progress from early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney disease and ultimately need a transplant. And most sobering, the mortality rate for those needing dialysis on top of the virus rises significantly. Helping the Healers Heal The need for dialysis often outlasts the need for a ventilator, Dr. Suldan explains. “First it was ventilators, ventilators, ventilators. No one, but no one, saw this coming and raised the alarm. No car companies began producing dialysis machines.”

Chesky Kauftheil, noted askan and CEO of Dialyze Direct, the largest provider of in-home dialysis. “We are uniquely positioned to address this crisis head on and have firmly established ourselves at the forefront of servicing home hemodialysis patients with a gentler standard of care.” Receiving more frequent dialysis through Dialyze Direct care protocols immeasurably raises the standard of living for AKI patients and dramatically reduces chances of infection. Dialysis, Mr. Kauftheil explains, is life support, but it is not conducive to quality of life. Standard dialysis means a recovery period of eight to nine hours in an otherwise healthy patient until the body readjust its equilibrium. For elderly or medically complex patients, that recovery period can be even longer. This is where Dialyze Direct has revolutionized the field with gentler home dialysis, which allows patients to do what works for them. Dialyze Direct’s patients experience recovery times of one to two hours.

Hospitals are scrambling to cover the shortage. Some hospitals have split dialysis machines. Yet others have had no choice but divide the dialysis time between two patients. Some critical patients cannot tolerate standard hemodialysis, which runs on average four hours, four times a week. Rather, they require 24hour, slower dialysis, which is essential for those with unstable blood pressure. With equipment running critically low, dialysis nurses just do 12-hour shifts per patient instead of running the machine 24 hours on one patient. Of course, this does not contribute to positive outcomes.

Never in his life, however, did Kauftheil dream his expertise would be called on in such an urgent fashion.

“Hospitals were flat out unprepared for this,” asserts Mr.

Ever the doer, Kauftheil sprang into action. “I first spoke to

“It was Seder night,” Mr. Kauftheil recalls. “We were conducting our ‘social distancing’ Seder, just my wife, my mother, and I. Then, someone banged our door down.” It was a hysterical man, barely coherent. His mother had been hospitalized with the virus and developed AKI as well. Dialysis machines were scant — she was one of sixty-seven patients vying for four machines.

Living Well

Feature

A RECENT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDY REVEALED STARTLING STATS REGARDING CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS: 75% ICU PATIENTS SUSTAINED SOME FORM OF KIDNEY INJURY. Hatzolah to confirm the need exists. Then we had to figure out how to open our logistics headquarters, located in Neptune, New Jersey. Our director of operations, who lives in Lakewood, wasn’t answering the phone. Why would he? It was Seder night.” He pauses. “Well, Lakewood Hatzolah came knocking. He drove down to Neptune with three Chaverim members. Ten machines were loaded onto ambulances headed to New York.” In this simple yet ingenious fashion, lives were saved. “Our machines are quite similar to those hospitals use, but dialysis nurses still needed training. That, too, we arranged with all due speed. One hospital went so far to create a training video which was then sent out to all hospitals using our machines. ” Even manufacturers’ supply had run dry. “I called our supplier, but he had run out of machines completely! I begged him to locate some, but he was only able to locate some out of state, which in his mind, settled the matter. I kept telling him, ‘Joe, this is my family,’” Kauftheil remembers. “He was astounded that we would be ready to pick them up, fly them out, or do whatever it takes.” Dialyze Direct distributed close to $200,000 worth of equipment, plus tens of filters and much dialysate solution, both which were in scant supply. Some hospitals initially refused to accept the machinery, saying their orders would come through — in about four weeks or so. But Kauftheil was having none of that. A four-week delay meant lives would be lost and that was unacceptable. After some wrangling, the hospital took up Kauftheil’s offer. In the era of such confusion, much blame is being bandied about. “I always say that there are those who don’t even know problems exist. Then there are those who just point out the issues and do nothing,” says the man of many titles. “And some even say ‘men zul epes tahn,’ something should be done. I say: ‘Just do.’” Anticipating the Surge At Renewal, the Columbia study did not engender panic.

44 Wellspring | June 2020

Rather, a measured, thought-out response was issued: a call to action. Renewal has long been the address for kidney donation in the broader Jewish community. Each year, Renewal facilitates hundreds of kidney transplants. They are one of the largest altruistic kidney donation organization in the United States. Those who have received the gift of life are at risk of COVID-19 complications since they are immunosuppressed for life. Rabbi Mendy Reiner, chairman and founder of Renewal, stresses that early action has saved lives: “As soon as the news out of Europe began looking bleak, we contacted all our kidney recipients. Many cancelled Purim plans and immediately began self-isolating. I believe our head start saved many families anguish.” Devorah, a kidney recipient of 10 years, is quick to credit the actions of Renewal. “I was quite naïve about the whole thing, hoping it would all settle down,” she admitted ruefully. “But when Renewal called, I knew they meant business. I hung up a sign that was sent in the mail — I felt marked for quarantine as smallpox patients were back in the day! However, I knew I had no choice.” For those homebound, Renewal offered guidance how to best isolate and get their needs met while social distancing. But when the alarming news began filtering out of hospitals, Renewal swiftly shifted course. Rabbi Menachem Friedman, program director for Renewal, explains that the fallout of the virus had already been felt. Renewal aims to facilitate preemptive transplants (before the patient needs dialysis) because those patients are generally healthier, resulting in superior outcomes once transplanted. “We’ve had patients who were waiting for imminent transplants but were not yet on dialysis. Because elective surgeries were cancelled, they were unfortunately pushed into dialysis,” he sighs. He tells the tale of a man with a complicated, nearly impossible case. At last, a match was found. The patient was flown in from England. “They were so thrilled,” he recalls. “And then this storm hit. His transplant was postponed to at the very least June 1. They flew back home, dejected.” This patient will have to wait longer than the virus to peter out. The donor is slated to marry off a son mid-June, which means the transplants will only take place late in the summer. Worst of all, for some facilities, the June 1 deadline is arbitrary. Yes, there have been some who have passed on while waiting, he admits painfully. Even if, say, the elective surgery ban is lifted, Rabbi Reiner explains, transplants are far from certain. “Other restrictions are still in place, such as having family members at the bedside. We anticipate our usual number of transplants taking a big hit.” However, Renewal is not prepared to rest on its laurels. “We anticipate a massive need for live organ donors,” Rabbi Reiner

states, “and we want to be ahead of the game.” Renewal has now launched a campaign which aims to educate potential kidney donors about the enormous need. “I don’t think we have a parallel anywhere else in the world where one community facilitates so many altruistic kidney donations,” marvels Rabbi Reiner. “Even in times of such uncertainties, so many Yidden are calling to donate.” Many see the current times as “convenient” since they are not clocking in every day at work. Rabbi Friedman points to a recent New York Times article which lauded the chassidic community’s plasma donations as yet another proof to the selflessness of the community. Potential donors are sent literature to read and to educate themselves regarding kidney transplants. “It’s no bowl of cherries,” warns Rabbi Friedman, “But the sippuk of saving a life is incomparable to all else.” The only test required of potential donors at this time is a simple swab test that can be done in the comfort on one’s home. “This swab test indicates compatibility and blood type. This one small test tells us a lot. Results are then stored in our database.” As an aside, all medical expenses associated to the transplant are covered by the donor’s insurance. What is left unsaid is the grim reality that this database will regrettably see many users in the next period of time. COVID-19 survivors who have just barely escaped with their lives may now have to contend with a new reality. Renewal is undeterred and will be doing whatever is within its powers to fill the need.

Light At the End of the Tunnel? “May G-d help us,” is Dr. Suldan’s final message. “I want people to know that I see so much humanity every day. We’ve got surgeons here who are out of work because elective surgeries were cancelled. They took a ‘demotion’ and are now doing the most difficult work possible — that of updating family members. Nurses are working back-to-back shifts with grace. Our construction unit has created 70 beds for virus patients in just six days. Lots of goodness has emerged.” Mr. Kauftheil echoes that statement as well. “Before you knock hospitals for failures which were inevitable, given that this happens once in about a hundred years, remember this: just by showing up every day and putting themselves in harm’s way, medical healthcare workers are showing compassion. They’ve seen many of their own succumb, and are still going strong.” ICU beds are within normal capacity, Dr. Suldan notes, much to everyone’s relief. Still, much work remains. At the Renewal offices, as they go forward with their education and swabbing initiative, what is their biggest hope? Rabbi Reiner brightens. “May all our hard work go to waste.” Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 45

Living Well

Feature

Q&A

with

DR. NICOLE ALI Transplant Nephrologist at NYU Langone Health

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU’VE BEEN SEEING REGARDING THE KIDNEYS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS?

WHAT HAS THE PAST WEEKS OF BEDLAM MEANT FOR YOU ON THE FLOOR?

I definitely feel we were going on too little information. Literally nothing came out of China that would indicate the magnitude of this problem. I’ve seen some biopsies and autopsy data which seems to indicate the virus’s capability of infiltrating into the kidney. It may inflame the kidney, damage the filtration unit of the kidney, and then cause it to slow drastically or shut down. The kidney may contain certain receptors which the virus can attach itself to, essentially creating a backdoor for the virus to enter. I’ve seen kidney tissue with actual virus visible.

Actually, I’ve been surprised how organized everything’s been. Now, happily, we’ve moved past the peak and we’re seeing less patients. Even prior, we’d gotten lots of clarity regarding appropriate PPE. I’ve been amazed how social media has helped us. I’m no fan of it, but it has been tremendously helpful in our medical community. We’ve got forums where we can disseminate info faster and build on each other’s experience, even when they’re not on our own teams. This is the first disease among my generation of physicians that we are attempting to combat while learning on the fly. As I’ve mentioned, the lack of data has been hardest. We’re attempting that the suffering New Yorkers were put through should not be in vain and, at the very least, help prevent the same mistakes from happening.

THERE ARE SOME WHISPERINGS THAT VENTILATORS HAVE “BROUGHT ON” AKI, SO TO SPEAK. CAN YOU LAY THAT QUESTION TO REST? I am so glad you asked that question. It’s a big misconception somehow that ventilating a patient will result in AKI. That’s simply not true. Sadly, it’s the sickest patients that may go on to develop multi-organ failure. Their lungs are in awful shape, their hearts may develop trouble, they may be hemodynamically unstable, and of course, develop AKI. The kidneys are among the first to go. So it’s not the vent; it’s this wretched virus that caused this all.

46 Wellspring | June 2020

I’M ASKING EVERY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL I KNOW: HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND/OR STAFFING? As I told you earlier, PPE thankfully wasn’t an issue. Intensivists — medical personnel with specialty training in intensive care, are always in short supply. We were running low on dialysis machines, however. We needed

some nephrologists to think out of the box. We began using peritoneal dialysis, which is dialysis delivered straight through a catheter in the abdomen. It uses the lining of the stomach as a filter as opposed to a machine. Normally, we would have to wait weeks from when the catheter is inserted until it is operational. We’ve been blessed with our transplant team which made rounds inserting these catheters so they should be usable straightway. It gets complex because many ventilated patients are proned (placed on their stomachs) to improve their lung function and you have a catheter in the abdomen of an upside-down patient. But we’ve made do out of necessity. We’ve been fortunate to have peritoneal dialysis teams come from out of state to assist. In the face of adversity, we find ways to triumph. And in dark times as these, it’s about celebrating little victories every day.

DOES THE KIDNEY INJURY YOU SEE FROM COVID-19 BEAR ANY RESEMBLANCE TO INJURY FROM OTHER ACUTE ILLNESSES? The end result is mostly the same. But not always do we see actual virus encroaching on the kidney. As we learn more of the pathophysiology and etiology (Cause — Ed.) of it, and precisely why it’s happening, we’ll be able to treat it faster and stop it from progressing. Unfortunately, those whose kidneys have sustained severe inflammation and scarring may remain with lifelong kidney issues. Some may hurtle straight into CKD. On an optimistic note, we have had a number of patients come off dialysis as they recovered.

AS A TRANSPLANT NEPHROLOGIST, HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING YOUR KIDNEY RECIPIENTS GETTING SICK? For those that did not heed the call of isolation and social distancing, yes. In the earlier stages of the lockdown, many patients had not yet known the dangers posed toward

immunosuppressed patients. But as word got out, they all began isolating.

ARE KIDNEY DONORS AT ANY HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING COMPLICATIONS THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION? Again, a lack of data complicates these matters. But I would guess they shouldn’t be. Kidney donors are a pool of extraordinarily healthy individuals who have been screened for any health issues. Even hypertension, which is a huge COVID-19 comorbidity, would disqualify potential donors. Donors are coming from a very healthy baseline. So I hope I can put that fear to rest. As an aside, I’m glad to report we’ve resumed transplants. My team has actually performed two in the past three days! It’s no simple feat, given these times, but it can been done. Visitors are restricted, our ward is tightly regulated because our patients are immunosuppressed, but we are able to give ill patients their new kidneys.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE GOING FORWARD? I do think we may in it for the long haul. We must be judicious of the risks we take to protect our community, neighbors, and vulnerable populations. Avoid risks points as much as possible. Be wise and aware and take appropriate precautions. Remember that gloves can lend a false sense of security; security is staying home. Even dark times as these have some upside. I’ve noticed a young man enjoying himself on a skateboard — I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen that! I think this quarantine has made even those who would normally disdain the outdoors long for it. Kids and adults alike are getting sick of too much screen time. It’s re-centering people on what’s important in life. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 47

Living Well

At the Dietitian By Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE

Intermittent Fasting Is It for You? One of the trendiest weight loss terms of 2019 was intermittent fasting. In case the term slipped you by, it refers to a dietary practice that, for health or weight loss benefits, encourages intervals of fasting built into the daily or weekly cycle. As a nutrition professional, I view my role as a filter for the huge bombardment of nutrition information, and therefore took the time to research whether or not this practice was evidence-based.

48 Wellspring | June 2020

I was surprised to find that this nutrition fad was actually supported by solid research, with a notable review of the subject in none other than the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The authors of the review concluded: “Evidence is accumulating that eating in a 6-hour period and fasting for 18 hours can trigger a metabolic switch from glucose-based to ketone-based energy, with increased stress resistance, increased longevity, and a decreased incidence of diseases, including cancer and obesity.” I found this to be a pretty powerful plug for a dietary method that many who are uneducated on the subject assume is just another diet fad. In another study on intermittent fasting published in Cell Metabolism in 2018, researchers from the University of Alabama compared a form of intermittent fasting called “early time-restricted feeding,” where all meals were fit into an early 8-hour period of the day (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.), to meals spread out over 12 hours (between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Both groups maintained their weight (did not gain or lose) but after five weeks, the eight-hour group had dramatically lower insulin levels and significant-

ly improved insulin sensitivity, as well as significantly lower blood pressure. The best part? The eight-hour group also had significantly decreased appetites. Once I was convinced that the latest research observes that some intermittent fasting approaches are actually very reasonable, effective, and sustainable, especially when combined with a nutritious plant-based diet, I felt ready to encourage it in my practice. As many dietitians find, there are numerous individuals we work with who seem to defy the typical outcomes. Case in point: Elisheva, in her upper thirties with PCOS, was losing weight at a frustrating pace of half a pound per week, despite eating a whole foods reduced-calorie diet, exercising consistently, practicing stress reduction, and sleeping well. Elisheva was a perfect candidate to try intermittent fasting, and she chose a daily eating window of 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Remarkably, at the 6-week mark, her pace of weight loss had increased by 140 percent, and she was losing an average of 1.2 pounds per week. Intermittent fastingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact on weight loss is primarily

due to its insulin-lowering effects. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in response to a rise in blood sugar after meals. In a prolonged fasting state, where insulin is kept low, the body can move out of storage mode and into fat-burning mode. Therefore, this method is particularly beneficial for the PCOS and diabetes/pre-diabetes population, due to its insulin- and inflammation-lowering effects. Another intermittent fasting-based trick I sometimes advise for individuals experiencing weight loss resistance is called cycling. Clients deliberately consume calorie levels consumed during maintenance or slightly above that level for three days of the week, and on alternate days consume 800 calories below maintenance. The cycling between fed and fasting states is often a very effective tool in weight loss, also based on these principles of intermittent fasting. So while do I agree that calories in versus calories out, clean eating, and sticking with a reasonable and responsible long-term plan are all important factors in weight loss, I now believe that intermittent fasting in a responsible manner can play a helpful role in weight loss for individuals who are experiencing resistance to classic weight loss methods.

Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE, is a highly acclaimed and experienced registered dietitian/nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. She maintains a busy nutrition practice with offices in Lakewood and Edison, and via phone/Skype to numerous international clients. She specializes in balanced and sustainable weight loss and nutrition therapy for autoimmune, hormonal, and gastrointestinal issues. She can be reached at 732-364-0064 or through her website www.thegutdietitian.com.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 49

Living Well

Health Personality By Roizy Baum

About two decades ago, when Mrs. Gitty Wieder of Tosh, Canada, was only 33 years old, she thought her life was coming to an end. “I was going through a difficult pregnancy,” she recalls of that time, “and I was grappling with mysterious, undiagnosed issues which had the doctors totally baffled.” While the symptoms started early in the pregnancy, they did not subside even after she finally gave birth to a healthy child. “By the time my baby was almost four months old, I still hadn’t gotten a clear diagnosis, and I was feeling miserable. I was determined to find a solution. “It started in the middle of a pregnancy which lapsed over the pregnancy until my baby was around 3-4 months. I was running from doctor to doctor trying to get a diagnosis.” The doctors were flummoxed; none were able to help her. While Mrs. Wieder did know that she had a bleeding ulcer, that was the only definite diagnosis she’d received. “At one point, I literally could not take care of myself anymore,” she remembers. “I knew there must be a solution to my problems.”

Cup of Tea With:

Mrs. Gitty Wieder

Her salvation came in the form of a simple phone call. “It was very interesting. My friend called for a recipe while my baby provided shrieking background music. ‘I can’t even lift my baby,’ I moaned in agony. This friend had recently been helped by Dr. Christian Limoges, a renowned naturopath and iridologist, for natural gallstone removal. She shared with me how when she consulted with the Tosher Rebbe, who very much encouraged alternative health, he went above and beyond to find out the name of this doctor. ‘You are going to him tomorrow,’ she said, leaving no room for argument.”

Indeed, a few minutes later Mrs. Wieder had an appointment secured for the very next day. But there was one obstacle in the path to her cure: her husband’s skepticism. “I was already trying various other means of healing, and my husband felt I should keep to one modality at a time. But my friend was adamant. ‘I don’t care what you’re trying. You’re showing up tomorrow promptly at 2:00.’”

Mrs. Wieder walked into Dr. Limoges’ office looking like the old, battered woman she felt like. In a matter of minutes, the doctor introduced her to a wealth of information that was completely new to her. “I was so weak. He started talking about the acids and the way the body works. Until now, I was told to drink milk because it strengthens the coating of the stomach, and here Dr. Limoges was telling me not to drink milk because of its acidity. In his opinion, it was doing more harm than good, creating more acid rather than strengthening the lining. He also said to eat loads of raw vegetables, while I had been told until then to avoid them completely. Left with no better option, I resorted to try his diet.” Talk about rebirth. A mere seven days later — exactly one week — a transformation occurred. When a vigorous Mrs. Wieder sprinted into the doctor’s office for her next visit, an idea was already taking shape in her ever-active mind. “I looked the doctor squarely in the eye and said, ‘I’ll learn this and help my community!’” After a half a year of being in and out of the hospital, enduring bouts of severe weakness, fainting in doctors’ offices, being blamed as a first-class kvetch, getting referrals to a psychiatrist ‘because it’s all in the head,’ Mrs. Wieder was finally seeing the light. 50 Wellspring | June 2020

LOCATION: Tosh, Canada

OCCUPATION: Naturopath

PASSION: Teaching SHE WISHES PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT: Hashem is good, everything He does is for the good, and He has answers that exist that we aren't aware of.

Living Well

Health Personality

What was the secret to her rapid turnaround? “My diet consisted of vegetable juices with greens, raw vegetables and the vital salad (see recipe),” Mrs. Wieder relates. “I started the diet immediately and seriously adhered to it for years. I was allowed to have animal protein, but no milk and no starches. From time to time, I’d be strictly on lemon juice or watermelon juice. I also did very important breathing exercises. Weights, walking, and supplements to help the liver and stomach were also part of my schedule.”

How long did her husband’s initial reservations last? “We went to the appointment together and he was instantly mesmerized,” says Mrs. Wieder. “Interestingly enough, when the going got tough, he was the one to encourage me to stick to the diet. He refused to let me give up,” she relates. “Juicing was not fun. Organic vegetable shopping is also sometimes hard to come by. My husband was my backbone and support all the way. His reservations in the beginning were only because, ‘Why try new things?’” Windows to the Body

Determined by nature, Mrs. Wieder was intent on keeping her promise to help bring an end to the distress of others suffering like she had. Dr. Limoges, licensed to authorize naturopaths, already had a busy schedule, which included training students. At that point, he was only running a French school. But he agreed to give Mrs. Wieder private lessons in English.

“The training took about two years,” shares Mrs. Wieder. “I learned human biology and the many ways one can help the body in a natural way. I was trained to see the body’s work through holistic eyes: to look at the body as a whole and listen. In many diseases, the body is reacting in a certain way because of an underlying reason and getting to the bottom of it is essential. In a nutshell,” Mrs. Wieder explains, “diseases are detox symptoms. Holistically, we assess the body, locate the organ that needs help, and then help that organ to detoxify and regenerate.” Ripple Effect

Once Mrs. Wieder was trained in the approach that helped facilitate her own recovery, she was eager to get out there and play a role in the healing of others. “Before long,” she shares, “people were calling me from all over. Word spread fast and in no time I was helping others with natural herbs and supplements. Sometimes when I did not have access to Dr. Limoges’s herbs, I would send the same herbs but from other companies. For some reason, when I took herbs from other companies thinking, big deal, it’s the same herb, they weren’t as effective. I realized that the quality of the herb is instrumental in its effectiveness.”

Mrs. Wieder tried persuading Dr. Limoges to travel to the States to help those who had reached out from there, but he was too busy at the time. She wanted everyone to have access to not only the treatment, but also the original herbs.

Then, eight years ago, the herb seller whose products were most effective realized the large amounts of supplements Mrs. Wieder was sending to the States. “A consultant advised him to partner with me because we were very involved in the herb market and had already established connections in the New York market at that point. Until then, they’d been running a natural remedy business in Montreal only,” 52 Wellspring | June 2020

Mrs. Wieder explains.

At that point, the company, named Tahua (the traditional name for a “medicine man”), was producing a total of ten products. Today the kosher certified brand manufactures 60 herbal supplements. The Long Road

While herbs play a prominent role in the healing process she recommends, Mrs. Wieder credits her inherited chush to help others to Hashem’s miraculous ways and to the blessings she received from the Tosher Rebbe.

“When the Tosher Rebbe’s health was ailing, he would not say more than Amen. Ask any chassid what that Amen encompassed! Once, when I walked in to consult with him, one of the gabbaim mentioned that I’m the woman one who helps many through alternative medicine. The Rebbe sat up in his chair, motioned with his hands, and said, ‘grois hatzlachah.’ I attribute my hatzlachah to that brachah. The Rebbe’s goal was to help people and he saw me as a vessel. The miracles and healings I witness every day are definitely a gift. “Living things have the power to regenerate with the right hishtadlus. The way I see it, using herbs is part of it. Herbs correspond to the body. Hashem already showed Moshe which herbs correspond to which organ. That book was hidden but we’re aware that such a wisdom exists and we’re lucky enough to know some of them today.

“A while back a caller told me that she had Googled alternative options for fertility. The search yielded a woman’s contact information and she got in touch with her. She told her that a Mrs. Wieder from Canada helped her and her sister, one with fertility and one with PCOS. This was over a decade ago. I had no idea who referred me. This year, I discovered who gave that referral when by chance, someone mentioned to me that she once sent me someone! Someone was sending people to me when I did not even know. All I do is get the ball rolling. I don’t even know the ripples I create.” Road to Recovery

Committing to a lifelong diet as restrictive as the one Mrs. Wieder prescribes is daunting. Is it forever? “Once you regenerate your body, the organ is healed. The body needs to be really abused to before it reaches the point of reversing all the efforts. When one is sick, they need a super strict diet to heal the body. The Rambam said the main thing is to have a particular type of elimination — one step before diarrhea, to eliminate toxins. People think eliminating every other day is fine. Once you reach a point of healthy elimination, you’re not abusing your body. Then, there’s no need to be so strict about the diet anymore.” According to Mrs. Wieder, almost no health issue is too great to be resolved or cured. One of the issues she has seen great success in treatment is bedwetting, an uncomfortable, socially crippling issue prevalent in adults too. “Bedwetting occurs when the colon presses on the bladder. The bladder is too weak to withstand pressure of the colon. We target the cause, and when the cause is eliminated, the colon goes back into shape, and the problem is resolved. This is the way we treat numerous issues. “Diabetes, for example, is a liver problem. The liver can be regener-

Mrs. Wieder’s Vital Salad

The ingredients in this salad aid in the cleansing process, and are especially beneficial for the liver. 1 handful lettuce and/or any green leafy vegetables 1 carrot, grated 1 turnip, grated 1 beet, grated 1 cucumber, diced 1 cup red cabbage 1 cup green cabbage 3 tomatoes, diced 6 celery stalks, diced 1 bunch of parsley 6 endives (if available) 1 onion diced, diced 1 red pepper with seeds Any sprout like alfalfa/sunflower/buckwheat Dressing: 1 cup olive oil ½ cup apple cider vinegar or lemon 3 Tbsp raw honey or other natural sweetener of your choice 1 tsp sea salt or salt substitute like Bragg liquid soy Yields: 6-8 servings Eat this salad as often as possible. You can keep vegetables separately in the refrigerator and combine as needed.

ated with diet and vitamins. Herbs itself will help, but a good diet will maintain the change in a healthy manner.” According to Mrs. Wieder’s understanding, every person is born with an inherited weak organ. When unhealthy food is consumed, the toxins enter the weak organ. When the weak organ is too weak to expel toxins, one starts experiencing negative symptoms. Naturopaths are trained to notice which symptoms are connected to which organ.

“Arthritis is linked to a weak kidney,” she offers. “Naturopaths go straight to trying to repair the organ exhibiting symptoms. Often, we need to make room for the organ to regenerate. Take, for example, the skin. If you have psoriasis, it’s obvious that the body is choosing to eliminate through the skin. Why would the body choose to eliminate through the skin? It must be that the bowels are stuck. Not always do we go to the organ itself — the channels of elimination may be stuck. We open channels of elimination and then detoxify the organ. Hashem created the body to be able to eliminate toxins that are there.” According to Mrs. Wieder, when one takes medicine, the symptoms are stalled. In naturopathy, the practitioner looks at the whole body and seeks the best possible way to remove the toxins toward fostering a more effective organ. Namely, they look for an exit route for toxins.

With the success rate and demand for Mrs. Wieder’s services, I imagine her flying from one country to the next like a fairy healer. Mrs. Wieder is quick to quash that assumption. “No travel is necessary.

Appointments are done via telephone. I charge a one-time fee, and patients can then reach out to me as often as they like, during the daily hour that I accept phone calls. I back what I’m doing. I guide the individual until they get better and only charge if they get better. Guidance is for up to six months.”

When people hear about Mrs. Wieder, the immediate response is, “Wieder from the hotline?” Indeed, her famous hotline is a lifeline to numerous people on the quest for enriched living. From learning lung expansion exercises, to garnering better health tips, Mrs. Wieder’s hotline covers many facets of healthy living. By offering a plethora of health advice and lectures, the line attracts more and more callers each day. “The truth is,” shares Mrs. Wieder, “the hotline was put into effect so I would not have to repeat myself again and again and again. We offer advice, good ideas, and Dr. Limoges’s lectures. It gives people ideas for healing that they haven’t heard or thought of before.” Intent on generating a healing environment for all, Mrs. Wieder has also set up a naturopathy training center in New York, where eighty students have already been trained. Now, due to COVID-19, she’s working on resuming the studies in an online format. It’s Not Me

While the effects of her shlichus are evident in the thousands of Yidden Mrs. Wieder has been privileged to guide toward recovery, she takes no credit. “Everything, everything,” she stresses, “is from Hashem. I see this every day, with every patient. One client had ITP — which results in low platelet levels; her count during pregnancy was 11 instead 125–150. Doctors warned about a necessary procedure. When she was told to go off all meds in preparation, she took the opportunity to call me then. With Hashem’s help, we were the right messengers. She recovered fully and merited the birth of a healthy baby and full recovery. “Another client who took medication for fungus eventually developed a staph infection. He was a very young man, all of 23 years old. I asked him for some time to guide him and help him on the right track to health. Baruch Hashem, within a day or two he was fine. But young that he was, he irresponsibly played around with his health. The doctors wanted to operate. Luckily, he was spared. Before you cut organs, before you operate or transplant, why not try to see if it can all be avoided?

“A 25-year-old called me that her kidney numbers were terrible, that at the rate she was going, she would require a kidney transplant soon. After a few months on herbs, the doctor said her numbers were excellent. ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing!’ they exclaimed. Today she is perfectly fine, with no signs of kidney issues.” While each of these clients may be proof that Mrs. Wieder is doing something right, her greatest evidence is her own life. “After I was zocheh to come across this approach following the birth of my seventh baby, everything changed for me. Until then, my pregnancies were all horror and misery and fainting and vomiting. Afterwards, I had another three healthy pregnancies, sans vomiting and nausea, where I felt so energized throughout. What wouldn’t we do to avoid feeling ill?” The phone number of Mrs. Wieder’s hotline is 718-298-4568.

Wellspring does not endorse or promote the views expressed by interviewees in this column. Please consult with a medical practitioner before instituting changes to your diet or lifestyle. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 53

Fl av

milk ole wh

Great Source of protein

Promotes good ADL Cholesterol

. Now ma days de r wi o f t r o

Nutritious whole milk

F I N D O U R N E W W H O L E M I L K Y O G U R T I N 7 F L AV O R S AT Y O U R L O C A L S U P E R M A R K E T

Living Well

Home Lab By Miriam Schweid

DIY

recipes for natural living

Fungus Treatment Nail fungus is a common condition that begins with unsightly spots on the tip of the fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection travels deeper, the nail may thicken, causing it to discolor or crumble. Especially on the toes, the condition usually worsens since the environment is warm and moist from constantly wearing socks and shoes (especially Crocs). If you’ve been accustomed to having your fungus treated at a salon, this may be your time to witness the efficacy of natural at-home treatment. If you’ve been using anti-fungal medication, you may want to give this a try instead, due to the medication’s undesirable side effects. Here’s a natural recipe for a nail soak.

½ cup antiseptic mouthwash (I recommend the Listerine brand) ½ cup vinegar ½ cup hydrogen peroxide

Soak for 15 minutes. Dry nails well before putting on socks. I also recommend applying tea tree oil to the affected area with a Q-tip cotton swab (such as Q-tip) on a nightly basis.

Lifestyle Recommendations: Sugar and white flour may aggravate any fungal presence. Try eliminating them from your diet. If you’re wearing plastic gloves often nowadays, consider wearing cotton gloves instead. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 55

Living Well

Diary Serial By Rina Levy

s s e l e p a Sh e c n Da Recap: Dr. Tehila Benayoun tentatively confirms Yaffi’s diagnosis of Sydenham’s Chorea and prescribes medication in an effort to rid Yaffi of the chorea.

Chapter 7

Mastering the Balancing Act As Dr. Benayoun had described, medicine is indeed a field of trial and error mixed with a bit of science. To our great relief, starting just a week after the penicillin and Tegratol hit her system, we saw an incredible improvement in Yaffi’s behavior. It took about a month to settle on the right dosage of Tegratol that would eventually rid my daughter of the symptoms of Sydenham’s Chorea and return her back to the familiar Yaffi that had been missing for, in retrospect, what we think was about 18 months. The penicillin rid her of the infection raging inside of her, and the Tegratol eradicated her movement-related symptoms. Tegratol is a drug that is mainly used to treat epileptic seizures, and it has an added side effect — that it was calming her down in general. This sweet bonus also helped with her ADHD, which was 56 Wellspring | June 2020

another concern I’d had from the beginning — how she would perform in school without her standard dose of Ritalin. I was loathe to restart her on another powerful stimulant until I could isolate the side effects of the Tegratol and feel confident that it was working by itself. Of course, we had to follow the protocol and rule out the other diseases that present with similar symptoms before Sydenham’s could definitively be determined as the culprit. This included further blood tests to test for copper, as well as an eye exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Yaffi also bravely underwent an MRI in the hospital and an echocardiogram to determine if rheumatic fever was present. To our pleasure, however Dr. Benayoun’s dismay, all tests came back negative. We were so happy knowing the rest of her body was normal but this

wasn’t good news for Dr. Benayoun's statistical analysis. It meant that the chorea could have been symptomatic of something else we hadn’t yet identified because Sydenham’s usually leaves a trace on the body somewhere. She didn’t even have strep throat that winter. If Yaffi’s body is completely normal and we go with Sydenham’s for her diagnosis, it means that a strep went in, did its little dance and left without a trace. This didn’t reconcile with Dr. Benayoun’s data. We would only know later on if she further deteriorates or relapses of chorea, which unfortunately has a high likelihood.

On the brighter side, the Tegratol seemed to help Yaffi in school as a substitute for her regular Ritalin. I was wary to restart Ritalin because the doctors helping us are specialists in their own field and therefore don’t conduct testing for mixing these drugs. Other cases of Sydenham’s chorea that I’d researched didn’t spotlight kids with ADHD and there were no known studies showing how stimulants interacted with Tegratol. I went back to Dr. Mitchell, our family doctor, because I figured he’d already seen Sydenham’s in kids and likely some of them had ADHD. Interestingly, Dr. Mitchell noted that we could use Tegratol also to treat ADHD if it worked for us. I wasn’t sure it would be adequate for her challenging schoolwork, so I asked him what other kids have done in this situation. Incredibly, the good doctor ultimately confessed to having seen only five other patients in his entire medical career spanning 25 years who had chorea, four of whom were two sets of brothers.

Taking this into consideration, I waited almost a year until I restarted the Ritalin, but finally did so because her body must have gotten used to the Tegratol and I was starting to get calls from her teachers. Thankfully, there has been no remission or further deterioration, yet the worry niggles me when I see her hand and arm twisting in strange ways.

I feel more at peace when I reflect back to a memorable Friday night, when Yaffi announced, “I can do it, I can do it! Tatty, please let me bring the Kiddush cups back to the kitchen!” My husband and I shared a look of doubt. Still, he smiled broadly and handed Yaffi all eight Kiddush cups on the little silver tray. As she gracefully sauntered away in her long, flowing robe, I was struck by her increased confidence and remarkable physical maturity. In the six months since she’d started the medications, she’d grown about three inches, her facial appearance had become more mature, and she’s started looking like a proper budding teenager. She is strikingly different than she was before, hardly recognizable to my friends, and often confused for her older sister. Thank you Hashem for this miracle.

THE END Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 57

She’s had enough from dieting, and also from “this is not a diet” dieting. Now all she wants is to finally make peace with food.

Can she do it?

ri n g Se lsp el

al Comin ri

Ne xt Mon

EE DOM R F

BYE, DIET. HELLO, LIFE.

! th

• New W

Follow Adina’s journey, with registered dietitian and intuitive eating coach Gila Glassberg as her guide.

Take A Deep Breath Exploring breathing as a medium for enhanced wellbeing Exclusive contribution by Fally Klein

I Ate Those Cookies How embracing our humanness facilitates healthier eating

Wellbeing

Cover Feature

60 Wellspring | June 2020

Take a

Deep Breath Simple techniques that significantly impact wellbeing

By Shiffy Friedman

A two-part series â&#x20AC;˘ Part I

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 61

Wellbeing

Cover Feature

Over the recent months, we’ve become acutely aware of our breath. As much as we always knew that air is vital to life, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality seeped in even deeper. A person could’ve been completely healthy, with no underlying medical issues, but as soon as the virus ravaged his lungs, he would be gasping for air, struggling to fill his body with a substance so readily available, yet so inaccessible to him. We already know that the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is what helps keep us alive, but what we may not be aware of is that breath is life itself. The words neshamah and neshimah, breath, are comprised of the same letters. Breath is not simply one of those actions we must do in order to live, such as eating and drinking. Rather, we are our breath. Understanding this helps us realize that much of our functioning is dependent on our breath. If we breathe right, we live right. This is true on a physical level, as well as spiritually and emotionally.

Since our breathing significantly impacts our emotional wellbeing, there’s no better time than now, when various stressors have come upon us, to implement breathing techniques to improve our quality of life. Even when there is inside-out emotional work to be done beneath the surface, we can turn to breath as an outside-in intervention to foster calm and peacefulness. While breathing exercises for healing are gaining popularity nowadays, the concept is no news to us Torah Jews. As just one example, Shlomo Hamelech already disclosed the breath-wellness connection in Mishlei (18:14): Veruach ish yechalkeil machaleihu veruach necheyah mi yisa’ena? Commentators explain this to mean, “A man’s breath can sustain his illness, but with deficient breath, who will bear it?” Illness refers not only to physical, but emotional ailments as well. It is through breath, Shlomo Hamelech infers, that we can facilitate healing. How so? Our Breath — Our Life.

To breathwork facilitator Fally Klein, a Brooklyn-based mother of three, the connection is obvious — but she admits, “For me, breath came together very slowly. I very much resisted it until it clicked for me. It had to grow on me organically, as it does for everyone.” Even as a child, Fally recalls being intrigued by breath. But then, when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her mid-teens, her breathing awareness took on new meaning. “If you go through something like I did,” she says, 62 Wellspring | June 2020

“you have to get in touch with your body. From a purely physiological sense, you start noticing when you’re feeling good and when you’re not. Once you start noticing your body, you see the many means through which it speaks to you. Aches and pains are one way, and breath is another — a very powerful one at that.” We need food, water, and air to survive. Air, Fally noticed, was the one mainstay least discussed. “Everyone you know has some sort of relationship with food and water,” she explains. “We’re constantly checking if we drank enough, and all of us have gone on some type of diet or another. Air, however, is the one thing we rarely speak about. Ironically, it’s the one thing we really cannot live without. I can skip meals and I can live without drinking enough. But air is the most essential nutrient. So why are we not talking about it?” Of course we aren’t, because we do it involuntarily, right? In, out, in, out. But Fally points out that if we don’t learn how to regulate our breath properly, we may not be getting an adequate fill.

Today, breathing is not only something Fally helps women do right. It’s her passion. She sees it as one of the doorways into spiritual and intellectual wellbeing, and she really wants every woman to have access to this knowledge. “The hardest issue with the subject of breathing,” she confesses, “is to give over my passion and joy for it.” I feel it, I assure her. I feel it. Before I’m charmed by Fally as a person (which isn’t long in coming), I’m taken by her beautiful tichel, wrapped like a piece of intricate artwork around her small face. Although a deeply spiritual person who has helped many women facilitate their own healing, she’s the kind of woman you’d like to have as a friend — down-to-earth, with a sense of humor to boot. “I have a very normal life outside of work,” she says with a laugh. “There are women with whom I discuss their inner life, and then I have friends with whom I do push-ups in the gym.” The gym is actually one of the places where Fally reaps the fruits of her breathing labor. Despite her very petite frame and slim build, “You don’t want to compete with me in the gym,” she says with a laugh. Not For Me

How did she get here? “Breath was something I was excited about, but I didn’t want to study and take the magic out of it,” she admits. And so, Fally taught, wrote (including Miracle Ride, the book about her cancer saga, with the pseudonym Tzipi Caton), and lectured for a couple of years. In between, she started pursuing a degree in forensic psychology, but she realized that she desired a more holistic approach to healing. “No one wakes up wanting to be the ‘bad guy,’” she says, “I switched my focus to explore how wounding ultimately leads people to behave the way they do.”

At the age of 24, Fally started practicing hypnosis. “One of the quickest ways to get into a hypnotic state is through breathing,” she explains. “That’s when I realized what power our breath holds. It’s a gateway into the body.” However, it still took time before she saw it as a modality of healing. “I’m the kind of person who needs to be one hundred percent inspired about something before I invest effort in it,” she shares. “As a hypnotist, I soon realized that I wanted to be a hypnotherapist, a modality that uses hypnosis to heal childhood trauma.” From there, Fally went to school for relationship counseling, with no intention of ever focusing on breathing. But Hashem had another plan. “Once I was already in the program, I realized that breathing was a major part of the instruction. For six months straight, I had breathing homework every single night. But even if it had a profound effect on me, I wasn’t interested in focusing on it more than I had to.” And then, after six months, it happened. “I was at a retreat in Mexico when it all came together for me,” she shares. After having completed a very moving breathing exercise, which left Fally feeling acutely aware of her presence in a way she hadn’t ever felt before, she made her way up the mountain to the only place where cell phone service was available. “I called my husband right then and said, ‘I am going to study breath for rest of my life.’ Of course, his response was, ‘But I thought you hated this work!’ And that was right. I’d resisted it for a long time, until I saw what it could do for me. It’s annoying when someone tells you to breathe like this, breathe like that, but once you really feel the benefits, there’s no turning back.” It’s the same resistance, Fally points out, that many of us have to going to the gym. You think, don’t tell me how to work my body. I want to do what’s comfortable for me. Especially with breathing, where we’re so used to doing what we’ve been doing for years, we don’t want to take it upon ourselves a discipline. “It is a discipline,” she notes. “But if we want to have the benefits of proper breathing, we have to apply ourselves to it.” Why Invest in Breath?

So what are those benefits? “On a purely physical level, it has given me more energy. I have energy for days. When I run retreats, I work four hard days on almost no sleep and with no downtime. At the gym, I was able to increase my stamina by double. I went from doing 25 to 50 pushups within one week of perfecting my breath practice. “When you focus on your breath, you don’t only become healthier, the body will do what it intuitively feels is its maximum. For example, even if I have energy, I know I need to stop at 100 pushups. Breath can also help boost the metabolism, flush out toxins, and promote immune response.”

Bringing Hashem into Me While she is known today for facilitating breathwork groups and healing workshops, Fally originally started out as a high school teacher.

The subject she was told to teach was Tefillah. In Fally-style, she proposed to the principal, “Let’s change the subject to Avodah Shebalev. Let me teach the girls things nobody teaches them. To know the meaning of the words, they can open a transliterated siddur, but what I can teach them is the essence of connecting to Hashem.”

Fally explains what she means. “I always ask my students, ‘Where is Hashem?’ The real answer is that Hashem is everywhere. But how can I connect to Him? We’ve learned that a connection can be achieved through learning Torah and doing mitzvos, and that’s correct. But there’s a different angle you can look at here. Hashem is everywhere. When we say in our tefillah, ‘Hashem sefasay tiftach,’ we can think it’s a request, but commentators note that it’s actually a statement. Hashem is here when I open my lips. He is everywhere, and air is everywhere as well. When we inhale, which occurs while speaking, we bring Him inside of us. That neshamah and neshimah are comprised of the same letters tells me that breath is a key element in connecting to our higher selves and to our aliveness within our bodies.” In this vein, Fally explains why davening is so powerful. “Every word you speak requires breath. And so, with every word we utter, we’re putting power into our breath. If our words are negative, the air is damaging. When we speak positive words, such as words of tefillah, we create a positive flow. Breath becomes the powerhouse of nature.”

Fally has also witnessed how her breathing exercises, with the help of Hashem, have played a role in a more serious form of healing. In January of 2018, she discovered a breast lump. “Baruch Hashem, the lump was benign,” says Fally. “But especially because I’m a cancer survivor, the doctors were monitoring it closely. Chemo saved my life in the past, and I believe that if that’s what the doctors are suggesting, one should go for it. But I wasn’t in imminent danger at that point, and the doctors didn’t want to treat the lump in either case. They gave me the go-ahead to do what I could do naturally. And so I went ahead and did my own research. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 63

Wellbeing

Cover Feature

Fally’s Quick Tip Here’s a quick breathing exercise

for you to implement right now. Put two fingers on your pulse at your neck.

Now breathe in. You’ll notice your pulse going up.

Now breathe out slowly. Your pulse just slowed itself down, didn’t it?

The quickest way to calm down during a stressful time is to exhale slowly. It slows your heart rate and activates your parasympathetic nervous system. “Cancer cells are anaerobic, which means that they thrive without oxygen. So I thought, if I could introduce oxygen into those cells, the cancer wouldn’t be able to survive. In Europe, there is actually a recognized form of treatment known as oxygen therapy, where individuals with cancerous growths are placed into hyperbaric chambers to facilitate their healing.

“I decided to test this myself. Within six months, there was no tumor. It was incredible to watch it happen.”

What kind of breathing has helped Fally facilitate such profound healing? “If you ever watch a baby breathe,” she explains, “You’ll notice that his whole body expands like a balloon. You’ll never watch an adult breathe that way. We need a certain amount of muscles to work properly in order to breathe. Often, when we think we’re taking a deep breath, what’s really happening is that we’re taking as deep a breath that we can, but it’s not actually a deep breath — the kind that enables oxygen to reach all of our cells.” When Guidance is Needed

So all it takes is learning some exercises? “There certainly are exercises that can be done independently,” Fally clarifies. “But there are also techniques that shouldn’t be done without guidance. Think of it as nutritional guidance. No one has to tell you to eat more fruits and vegetables, but if you want something more tailored, you may need specific guidance.”

Having studied four different modalities of breath work, Fally believes that, “There is no one way to do it right. I don’t believe there’s an ultimate program, but without having the background I do in hashkafah and chassidus, I don’t think I would’ve accessed the techniques so deeply. For me, breathing is a mindset. Going back to the diet example, if someone is eating healthy because she wants to lose weight, what happens when she gets to her goal? It has to be a commitment, a way of life. We can see breath as just a modality, or adopt it as a way of life.” In addition to their physical benefits, breath exercises can promote relaxation and enhanced wellbeing. “Seventy percent of toxins are released 64 Wellspring | June 2020

If you’ve ever had a panic attack, you may have experienced shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate. That comes from trying to breathe in without taking the time to also breathe out. Breathing in raises your heart rate, and if you don’t also take the time to slowly breathe out, you increase the feelings of panic. Next time you find yourself triggered or panicking, the best thing to do is monitor your exhales. Three slow exhales is usually enough to start feeling calm again.

through breath,” says Fally. “Releasing physical and emotional toxins allows for more joy. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov speaks about the sigh. He writes that if we breathe properly, we allow our emotions to regulate properly. On a mental level, clearing out toxins from the brain allows for more clarity and precision.” Every cell in our body is dependent on oxygen for its survival and functioning. Thus, it is self-understood that when we breathe properly, we impact all areas of functioning. Proper breathing can even promote the regeneration of cells. According to the American Lung Association, most of us engage in shallow breathing. When our breath is deepened, we can provide our body with more oxygen for more wide-reaching benefits.

“You need no tools to learn to wield your breath with intention and create powerful lasting impact in the body,” Fally asserts. “No special foods, vitamins, or equipment are necessary. People often view healing modalities as ‘projects’ or ‘goals’ that they subscribe to and then apply themselves to. Breath isn’t a modality; it’s a constant companion in life. You are never not breathing. Consciously connecting to your breath, what it's trying to tell you, and developing a relationship to it so that you can self-regulate and heal, has effects that are real, profound, and noticeable within moments. I’m never not aware of my breath these days. Not only has it impacted my emotional wellbeing, but my physical, mental, and spiritual growth as well.”

Get To Work Working on regulating breath is a lifelong endeavor; it doesn’t happen from one minute to the next. But the good news is that investing even a few minutes a day for a period as little as ten days can profoundly impact our functioning. Here are three technique categories, which have been practiced for centuries in various cultures around the world and are unanimously recommended by all breathwork facilitators.

1. Breath awareness As simple as it sounds, when we pay attention to our breath, we start to see a difference in our self-awareness. Directions:

Take five minutes every day to sit down and simply observe your breathing. Don’t try to change it — to breathe deeper or longer, more inhaling or more exhaling. To facilitate focus, do this in a quiet place free of distractions. Just as you would listen in on a good story, simply watch yourself inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Potential challenge:

As soon as you concentrate just on your breath, you may start realizing how difficult it is for you to focus on something as simple as this. You may find your mind constantly roaming away from the matter at hand, with you having to keep bringing it back. This is normal. Simply keep bringing your focus back to your breath as many times as needed without being resistant to your inability to stay focused. Eventually, this will get easier. If you keep at it, you may experience heightened sensations of emotions or certain anxieties. All of that is expected. Just keep focusing on your breath and notice what happens to you.

2. Conscious breathing Regulating breath according to a rhythm helps promote relaxation. Directions:

Take 5 minutes every day to breathe with a rhythm. One example would be to do 4–6 breaths a minute. How does this work? To do 6 breaths a minute, breathe in to the count of 5 (seconds) and out to the count of 5 (seconds). Repeat 10 times and that’s 1 minute. The exact amount of seconds is not as important as sticking to the same number throughout. (You can even inhale for 4, for example, and exhale for 8, but stick to the numbers you set for yourself.) That’s because the heart works in tandem with the lungs. When we regulate our breath, we regulate our heart rate, which is physically and emotional-

ly beneficial to the body. When we are calm, we instinctively breathe with rhythm. By starting with the rhythm, we can foster tranquility. If you do this for just 5 minutes a day, you may notice a decrease in stress and anxiety levels, that you’re experiencing heightened focus. Preferably, this should be done 3 times a day for 5 minutes. Breath is fascinating. While it is an involuntary process, it can also be regulated. Hashem fashioned it in this way for us to benefit from these possibilities.

3. Controlled breathing This is one of the more powerful techniques that can be practiced on a daily basis, but is especially recommended when heightened concentration is needed. This technique is mentioned in various seforim including the Minchas Yehudah. Directions:

Breathe 20–30 deep breaths on a rhythm, then hold in the last breath (maintaining the inhale) for as long as you can. When you feel that you can’t keep in the breath anymore, exhale for as long as you can. The science behind this is that the body produces adrenaline when it perceives danger, such as lack of oxygen. Studies reveal that 300% more blood reaches the brain until as long as half an hour after this simple exercise than when breathing is not regulated. To take this a step further (this takes practice of about one week), inhale for 4 seconds. Hold the breath for 7 seconds, and then exhale for 8. Do this 4 times, working your way up to 8 consecutive repetitions. On the last breath, take a deep inhale and hold in the breath for as long as you can. Exhale when needed, and return to normal breathing. This exercise should not be repeated more than 8 times a day. It’s a powerful tool for increasing calm that can be done anywhere: when sitting in a car in traffic, at work, and even on stage before addressing crowd. Doing this before falling asleep may help facilitate a more restful sleep. All of these exercises get easier with practice and time.

Part II of this series will cover how particular breathing interventions facilitate healing from trauma.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 65

Wellbeing

Emotional Eating By Shira Savit

Where Are Those Cookies?

Be Kind to Yourself Now, and Always During yet another very stressful day at home with all of your kids, you realize that it’s 3 p.m. and you haven’t eaten lunch. You’re starving. You remind yourself that you must eat something healthy. You see a few pieces of leftover grilled chicken in the fridge, which wouldn’t quite hit the spot. You open the freezer to search for frozen spinach — figuring you’ll make yourself an egg white spinach omelet — when you notice the ziplock bag of chocolate chip cookies that your teenager baked the other day. They look soooo appealing. They don’t have to be heated up, or cooked, or chopped, or baked, or any of those annoying things you have to do to “eat healthy.” And most importantly, they taste good. You quickly grab one cookie, then 66 Wellspring | June 2020

another, and another, until — you finish them all. You feel horribly full, disgusted, and angry at yourself. Why did I have to do that?! I’m so upset that I have no self-control!

Sounds familiar? This type of scenario is all too common, especially among women who first begin working with me.

At a recent intake session, Chana said to me, “There is something I need you to know about me before we end this first appointment. I want you to help me lose weight, but I didn’t tell you something about my eating.” She hesitated, and confessed, “Well, during this whole quarantine time, it’s been very hard for me that my hus-

band is home all day. By the time evening comes around, I feel I just need space! So most nights, once the kids are in bed, I grab something sugary like jelly beans or Mike and Ikes, and go outside to just sit in my parked car. I feel really dumb because I know that the junk is keeping my weight up.” I responded, “That’s great!” Chana was astounded. “Huh? Great?! It’s for sure not a way to lose weight.” “Chana,” I said to her, “life is extra tough right now. You’re using a coping mechanism, finding a way to help yourself during a very difficult time.” Chana was silent for a moment and then responded, “Wow. A coping mechanism? But isn’t it bad? I’ll never lose weight if I keep doing this every night. It doesn’t sound like a productive way of coping to me.”

If your friend calls and tells you she got into an argument with a family member and was so angry that she binged on a whole box of cereal, how would you respond?

I reassured Chana that my work is multi-faceted and I believed I could help her reach her weight loss goals. Part of our work would entail dietary changes (focusing on her food choices); part of our work would be geared towards helping her find other ways to “veg,” and how to respond to her feelings when she was not physically hungry; and a crucial component to our work would be implementing the voice of self-compassion. What is self-compassion? Is it a “free ticket” to eat whatever you want, whenever you want? Absolutely not. Is it ignoring your feelings? Not at all. Does self-compassion mean you should indulge yourself and your own personal desires all the time? Of course not. Self-compassion is embracing our feelings and our current situation, no matter how uncomfortable or painful they might be. It’s the voice of acceptance, which is soothing and nurturing. It’s reacting to our feelings the same way we would empathize with a friend and say, “This is tough! You’re having such a hard time. I feel for you. Let me know how I can help you.”

For example, if your friend calls and tells you she got into an argument with a family member and was so angry that she binged on a whole box of cereal, how would you respond? Would you tell her she is a willpower weakling and should be ashamed of herself? No. Would you tell her she has no right to feel angry? Of course not. You would likely validate her feelings, tell her, “I’m here for you,” or, “Don’t worry, tomorrow is a new day. I hope you feel better.”

We can learn to do the same for ourselves. When we are forgiving, understanding, and compassionate towards ourselves, we are better equipped to take care of our emotional needs. Negative self-talk reinforces the negative feelings that lead to us to emotionally eat. With self-compassion, we break the cycle. Mantras like “It’s okay, I’m doing the best I can” are very helpful. Similarly, self-talk such as “I’m not bad because I binged or ‘cheated’” helps soothe one’s spirit. These steps help calm the nervous system. We can then make active choices about how we want to handle a feeling, rather than resorting to habit and impulse. It’s 3 p.m. and you’re starving. You look into the freezer and the cookies look so appealing. Soon enough, you finish the whole bag. Your stomach is definitely full, but instead of beating yourself up, you exercise self-compassion. You’ve become your own best friend: “Hello me. I’m having such a hard day. Healthy food is so bland and boring. Of course I chose the cookies! This doesn’t define me as a failure, and doesn’t mean I can’t make different food choices the rest of the day.” Your daughter comes into the kitchen searching for those cookies. She realizes you ate them. You look at each other and start laughing, because after all, when you’re your own best friend, life is so much more enjoyable. Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Shira Savit, MA, CHC, MHC, is a mental health counselor with multiple certifications in nutrition and health. She specializes in helping her clients with weight loss, emotional eating, and binge eating. Her unique approach incorporates both nutritional and emotional factors to help her clients reach their goals. Shira has a private practice in Yerushalayim and also works with women in any location via phone or Skype. She can be reached at 516-978-7800 or Shirasavit@gmail.com.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 67

Wellbeing

In Session with Shiffy Friedman

Heart to Heart

Why Is This Crisis Not Moving Me?

The summarized interactions in this column are either based on reader-submitted questions or are a composite of several sessions that helped guide the individual toward the first step of his or her emotional health journey. Since emotional work is always a process, the goal of this column is to provide direction toward the first step, as well as important points of exploration that could b’ezras Hashem lead to the menuchas hanefesh the questioner, and every Yid, seeks. The Editors

I don’t feel anything about this whole crisis. How does that affect you?

It makes me feel horrible, like I’m mean and uncaring. People are dying, losing their parnassah, suffering and struggling, and I just don’t feel for them. Isn’t that horrible? I feel so cold, so heartless. If people are suffering and feeling pain and hurt, how can it be that I don’t feel it?

So you feel cold and uncaring.

I don’t think I’m cold, but I feel so cold. I see it happening. I see that it doesn’t move me. I can just go about my day as if nothing is happening. Yes, I say the right words when I hear of a tragedy, but inside I feel nothing. How did you deal with your own unpleasant emotions that you’ve experienced over the past few months?

68 Wellspring | June 2020

I think I didn’t have it so hard. Not everything was so comfortable for me, but in certain ways I’ve even benefited, and I don’t feel comfortable being happy with that when there are people who are really suffering.

You didn’t have it so hard or it’s hard for you to experience the unpleasant emotions you did have?

In general, I find myself not feeling pain too deeply. I just move on in life. Even losing my father several years ago didn’t move me internally too much. It was a big loss for me and I did feel a bit weird about it then, even cold, like how could it be that I don’t feel it as deeply as the tragedy really is.

Could it be that it’s hard for you to feel pain? That really you do feel it, but it’s too difficult to experience it?

Yes, that could be. Now that I think about it, I don’t let myself get too happy either. I don’t “lose myself ” to my feelings.

Can this concept — that you can’t experience positive emotions and you try to be in control over them — be connected to your difficulty to feel negative emotions or pain?

Yes, it could be. It could be that I’m so on guard with my happy feelings because I’m afraid of feeling other stuff. I might have this strong need to be in control of my emotions because I’m afraid to feel them.

As we often discuss in this space, Hashem created us with a marvelous mechanism for dealing with pain. In truth, there is no painful experience that we can’t cope with. If Hashem sent it to us, He also provided us with the ability to live through it. However, in certain situations, when the pain seems unbearable in the present — such as after a parent loses a child, a young child loses a parent, Rachmana litzlan, or an individual endures something that is overwhelmingly traumatic or tragic, whether emotional or physical — the mechanism gets activated during the immediate aftermath, since experiencing the depth of the pain at the time, in its full scope, is beyond the individual’s ability. This is for our good, so that we can survive the present hardship. This mechanism may present itself through various responses, such as numbness or denial — because I simply can’t face what just happened, it didn’t happen. At the time of the trauma, this is a great gift from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. After some time, gradually, as the reality seeps in, the individual is hopefully more and more ready to accept the new circumstances. Along with the acceptance, the pain dissolves, for the most part, and life returns to a relative semblance of normalcy. In His wisdom and understanding of human nature, Hashem instituted the concept of shivah following the passing of an immediate family member. It is during these seven days that the individual starts to awaken from his trance, during which he gradually moves from a state of numbness and disbelief to facing the new reality. This mechanism, which may present as denial or numbness, has its time and place, as long as it is utilized for its purpose — to help us survive an excruciating moment.

It’s meant to be used until the individual gradually comes to feel the full scope of his pain, which is the only way difficult emotions eventually dissolve. However, at some point, the emotion will have to be experienced. If we use these mechanisms to keep our pain away indefinitely, though, we end up becoming disconnected from our emotional world, which is essentially disconnected from ourselves, because we are what we feel. How each of us reacts to the circumstances in our life that hurt is dependent on many factors — physical, emotional, and our past and present environment. Childhood experiences also play a profound role in our adult response: an individual who hasn’t been taught how to cope with pain; the behaviors that were modeled were those of resistance to the pain as opposed to experiencing it; he was taught to deny it; and/or he didn’t feel comfortable sharing his emotions early on. Such people may immediately resort to such behaviors when they encounter pain later in life because experiencing the hurt is much too frightening for them. This does not only mean profound pain, but also the slightest bit. Such an individual has been programmed to resist pain. They’re “allergic” to it. Regardless of how we, as adults, arrive to a place where we’re simply afraid to feel pain, what usually happens is that, as a result, we numb ourselves to it. Our emotions are simply shut off. We can hear the most horrific, frightening, traumatic news, but still feel unmoved, as if nothing was stirred. This is not because we are vicious or cold. On the contrary, this may be because since pain hurts us so much, we have such a sensitive heart — and at the same time we’re so afraid to experience the pain, that we’ve accustomed ourselves to become numb when we feel even the slightest

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Wellbeing

In Session

fear, so we instinctively enter a state of numbness. We get shut down. The price to pay for extinguished pain is that we don’t feel the depth of any emotion: no sadness but no joy, no disappointment but no excitement. We can’t feel our own pain, and also not the pain of others. And here’s another issue with the resistance approach: We also resist that we’re resistant to the pain. Our mind keeps telling us, “Why are you feeling this way? Look at that, everyone looks like they’re so taken. There are tears, there are cries, and you? You’re sitting there with a heart of stone. What’s going on with you?” So we become our own enemy too. We don’t only see that we’re not moved by the situation, but we also see ourselves as cold and vicious. That’s not who we want to be, so we have a hard time with this feeling, but, in truth, this is not the reality. In fact,

it may be the opposite — that we’re doing this precisely because we are so caring. We may appear to be unmoved, but was is really happening inside is that we’re afraid to feel because we feel so deeply. The only real way to deal with numbness of the heart is to see not a vicious, cold person, but to see the truth. Every human being is born with emotions. We Yidden, especially, are rachmanim b’nei rachmanim. It’s the circumstances in our life that may lead us to resort to emotional dissonance, but instead of berating ourselves for it, we can see ourselves with compassionate eyes. Here I am, a caring, feeling adult, with a sensitive heart, fearing to experience pain, and as a result, feeling so numb. It is only with such a perspective that things can start changing at all. Only by doing so, can our heart start thawing and experience emotion fully — both the pain, and, of course, the pleasure.

Vantage View “I’ve heard this so many times. Just feel your pain and you’ll get rid of it. This doesn’t work for me. I’m in pain all the time. Only big achievements bring me fleeting pleasure, but I don’t feel good on a regular basis. Why am I still not feeling happy?” Many of us have a misconception in regards to “feeling pain.” Usually, when an individual says that they’re in pain all the time, that is not the reality. Pain that we’re open to experiencing, such as through crying or unburdening, simply dissolves. If it does not, it’s not the pain we’re experiencing, only the feeling of resisting pain, which is a kind of numbness and disconnection from life. This, in itself, is a difficult emotion. Ironically, not feeling pain only adds more discomfort. Not being able to feel leads to a sense of feeling bored, not alive. When we feel this way, we’re in an inner prison all the time. Again, this usually does not result from a conscious choice. It’s a subconscious reaction to pain as a result of the fear we’ve developed toward experiencing it. Very often, this is at the crux of depression: a consistent resistance toward pain that eventually leads to a state of constant numbness. Let’s look at a simple example to understand this better. Say I go to the supermarket to do my shopping and I pass an acquaintance, who doesn’t greet me. That doesn’t feel good, right? The word painful may sound like an exaggeration, and it may not be as painful as, say, losing a thousand dollars, but it is painful for whatever it’s worth. Now what could happen immediately, as we’re feeling this pain? We may tell ourselves, “What? Am I a little child? This is not supposed to hurt me.” Or, we may posit that this person is not “worth” my emotions. Who is she that I should deign to get insulted by her?

What’s happening here is that we’re moving from our heart to our mind. We’re making logical calculations of whether this is or isn’t supposed to hurt, as if that’s what emotions depend on, instead of looking at the reality — how we do feel — which is the only thing that matters. All of this is our mind’s way of taking us away from the pain, so we won’t have to feel that instant prick. But just by surrendering to how we really feel right then — beyond all our cheshbonos — which is the reality, can we truly connect to what is happening. We will be in pain for that instant, but we will find it so much easier to move on. If we don’t do so, we may harbor animosity toward this individual for a long time. We may be numb all day, without even knowing why. This numbness manifests as boredom. Life becomes an emotionless enterprise, with no life in it. Every human being wants to feel alive. But we can’t feel alive if we’re distanced from our heart. If we take a look at a healthy child or a toddler, we notice that they don’t need a lot of change in their lives, not of scenery, menu, extraordinary events, or big roles. Can this be because they’re so open to their emotions — they cry when something is hard for them, laugh when feeling good — and thus they feel fully alive? When we feel fully alive within, we don’t have this great need for external circumstances to kindle our emotions. This is a journey that takes time and effort. We can’t change the way we’ve been dealing with uncomfortable emotions in an instant. But with true ratzon, and realizing the benefits of feeling fully alive, we can work to eliminate the obstacles along the way.

In her practice as an LMSW, Shiffy Friedman realized that her knowledge in psychology was not helpful in healing the infinitely profound nefesh. An intensive search led her to discover the Torah’s direction toward a more connected life. To sign up to receive Shiffy’s weekly message on this subject, write to emotionalwellnessthroughTorah@gmail.com

70 Wellspring | June 2020

the place where one escapes of

indicates that his

shoresh

rav tzadok hakohein of lublin, zt"l

@BARTENURABLUE

ISSUE 53

JUNE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;20 SIVAN 5780

Enhance Your Shalosh Seudos Menu 2 fabulous recipes New Column! Day by Day with Charnie Kohn

Always A Good Time for Boost This time, for heart and brain

Index Page

Savoring Shabbos

SHALOSH SEUDOS RECIPES

Page

My Table

FIRST COURSE

Page

Boost

MAGNESIUM

DAY BY DAY SUNDAY'S MENU

NEW COLUMN

P. 82

TIDBITS BEYOND FISH AND CHICKEN

P. 93

Dear Cooks, Has there ever been a better time to launch a column titled “Day by Day?” If that’s not the motto for life these days, I don’t know what is. You’ve surely gotten your fair share of comic relief from jokes surrounding the Sunday-Monday-Tuesday run-on, which invariably leads to the breakfast snack lunch snack dinner snack snack snack cycle, only to repeat itself a few hours later. As much as we may lose track of our days during the week (Charnie will help you with that in her creative column), we Yidden are blessed with the gift that returns on every seventh day: Shabbos. While nowadays, Monday may be identical to Tuesday and Tuesday may be no different than Wednesday, when Shabbos comes around, everything changes. (Ever since this quarantine has started, some of my kids are taken by total surprise when the white tablecloth appears every Thursday evening. “It’s Shabbos again?”) While there are various aspects of our current weekdays that may resemble Shabbos, such as the slower pace and the family time, the beauty and essence of this gift is still reserved for the day itself. One way to make it more special is by the foods we serve our family and ourselves. In this issue of Seasoned, we’re excited to bring you two delicious recipes to upgrade your Shalosh Seudos menu. In our popular column My Table, your favorite dietitians and nutritionists welcome you to their own Shabbos tables, to give you an idea of what they enjoy as their first course at the seudah — with some fabulous recipes for you to try too. Thinking of you,

Est her Pinch of Health Whenever possible, scrub vegetables rather than peel them as many nutrients are found close to the skin.

Have a healthy cooking tip to share with your Wellspring community? Please send it our way at info@wellspringmagazine.com. Thanks in advance! Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 75

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heart.works

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STEADFAST IN our BELIEFS \

We go all out for our greens. Cultivating quality in an Eretz Yisroel greenhouse, raising produce that grows freely, flourishing and untainted and absolutely pest-free. We live by our values, adhering to the highest halachic standards for utmost purity and kashrus. Out here on the farm, we stand firm in our beliefs, so you can rest easy.

Now available in the freezer section.

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Savoring Shabbos As summer comes upon us, we get to enjoy long, pleasant Shabbos afternoons. Instead of the wintertime quick wash-and-bentsh, summer Shabbos afternoons allow for beautiful family time at a proper third meal around the table. Since Shalosh Seudos is approximately suppertime, we like to serve foods that are not only delicious, but nutritious and satiating as well. Here are two recipes you can add to your Shalosh Seudos menu â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one that you can prepare in advance, while the other can be assembled right before serving.

Recipes, styling, and photography by Yossi & Malky Levine

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 77

Blueberry Crisp Tart I love that this tart recipe is super versatile. You can swap out the blueberries for your favorite summer fruit — think plums, nectarine, strawberry/rhubarb. Either way, it’ll be absolutely delicious! Bonus: This tart will taste just as good (or even better) on day three as it does on day one, so you can easily make this ahead of time.

Filling 3 cups blueberries (preferably fresh) 1 Tbsp honey 2 tsp tapioca starch (or flour) Crust 1⅓ cup almond flour 1⅓ cup old-fashioned oats 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 5 Tbsp coconut oil ¹⁄₃ cup honey ¼ cup pecans, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a round or rectangular tart pan (if you don’t have one handy, use an 8×8-inch pan, and then cut the tart into bars). In a medium bowl, place blueberries, honey, and tapioca starch and toss until fully coated. Set aside. In a large bowl, place almond flour, oats, baking powder, and salt and whisk to combine. Add coconut oil and honey and use your fingers to work them in until coarse crumbs form and mixture holds together when pressed. Reserve ¾ cup of the crumbs for topping and pour remaining crumbs into prepared tart pan. Press dough evenly into pan and pour blueberries over crust. Add chopped pecans to remaining crumble and sprinkle evenly over top of berries. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is lightly brown, then loosely cover tart with foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before slicing. Refrigerate for later use.

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Splash of Spring Salad

Anyone can make a basic lettuce salad. But let’s be real: they get boring after a while, not to mention that they aren’t very filling. So let’s spice up our salad game by adding some amazing nutrition and color. Adding quinoa to this salad is a great way to make it more filling and boost its nutrient content — protein, fiber, and carbs. The vibrant colors of the citrus fruits, gooseberries, and pomegranate will satisfy the eye as much they will the taste buds.

1½ cups cooked quinoa

Vinaigrette

4 oz spring mix lettuce

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 red apple, cubed

2 Tbsp honey

1 orange, segmented

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 grapefruit, segmented

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

¹⁄₃ cup pomegranate seeds

½ tsp garlic powder

½ cup gooseberries

½ tsp salt

¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted 2 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Whisk together ingredients for vinaigrette and set aside. In a large serving bowl, combine all of salad ingredients and toss gently. Add in vinaigrette and toss together, or alternatively, serve on the side.

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New Column!

How long is a week? If it’s counting down the time to an awaited occasion, each day can seem like forever. A week off from work passes by in a blur. A week in quarantine, well, that’s a different story. Although a week is all of seven 24-hour cycles, a lot happens every single day. There are chores to do, tasks to accomplish, and goals to achieve. And that’s besides just living life! No matter what kind of week we’re having, one non-negotiable element in each is food. With Shabbos at the center of our week, many of us follow some unwritten menu rules. On Sunday, we attempt to finish our Shabbos leftovers; and after a long weekend of meat meals, we tend to opt for meatless Mondays. Tuesday and Wednesday may have us looking for grab ‘n go breakfasts and nourishing dinners, and Thursday finds us in Shabbos prep mode again. In this column, we’ll set up our daily planner together, creating dishes for each day of the week. Here, we’ll plan meal ideas that will enhance your week and make cooking more convenient, healthier, and of course, way tastier than ever before!

To a great week,

Charnie

by day y a d With Charnie Kohn

What’s on the menu for…

sunday?

What’s your outlook toward Sunday? Do you see it is a pleasant day off to spend with family and friends, or do you experience the Sunday blues and opt for alone time? Is it the day to get tasks crossed off your to-do list, or do you prefer to spend the day in chill mode? No matter your take, good food will always put you in a better mood. Whether you’d prefer a late breakfast in bed, to host a Sunday brunch, or throw together some Shabbos leftovers for a delicious dish, here are two nutritious recipes I’ve created that will definitely brighten your Sunday — without breaking the calorie bank too early in the week. One will elevate your Sunday lunch, and the other will help you maximize your Shabbos leftovers. Happy Sunday!

savory cheesy pancakes Pancakes and Sunday mornings are nearly synonymous. For many of us, this conjures up an image of sweet maple syrup dripping over sugarfilled pancakes eaten in leisure. But, who said that pancakes always have to be sweet? These savory and cheesy pancakes, which can be made gluten-free, are the perfect nutrition-packed Sunday breakfast or lunch that will give you the boost to start off your week right. Stack ‘em high, and if you miss the drizzle action, go for garlic mayo.

 Total Cooking Time: 40 minutes  Yields: 12–15 pancakes

2 colored peppers, finely diced 1 Tbsp olive oil ¾ cup oat or almond flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 Tbsp chopped parsley 2 eggs 1 cup milk ½ cup low-fat shredded cheese 2 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder ¹⁄₈ tsp black pepper

Sauté peppers in olive oil. Allow to cool. In a large bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add remaining ingredients, including peppers, and whisk until everything is incorporated. Refrigerate batter for twenty minutes. Grease and heat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add less than ¼- cup of the pancake batter to the heated pan. Once bottom is golden, flip and continue to fry until bottom side is golden. Note: Make your own oat flour by processing old-fashioned oats in the food processor until texture is superfine. One cup old-fashioned oats will get you ¾ cup oat flour.

84 Wellspring | June 2020

shredded chicken marsala lettuce cups The sight of Shabbos leftovers is often met with sighs and complaints. With this recipe, you can now say goodbye to fussy Sundays — plus put those leftover chicken bottoms to good use. Transform them to the point where your family will not even know that it’s the same food they ate on Shabbos! The flavors in this recipe are incredible. If you are a 'shroom lover like I am, this is the dish for you.

 Total Cooking Time: 40 minutes  Yields: 6 lettuce cups

4 cooked chicken bottoms 2 Tbsp oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 10 oz mushrooms, sliced 1 cup chicken soup ¼ cup Marsala wine butter lettuce

Shred cooked chicken and set aside. Over medium-high heat, sauté onion with oil until golden. Add mushrooms and sauté until soft. Pour in the chicken soup and Marsala wine and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-high and cook until most of liquid is evaporated. Add shredded chicken and cook for five minutes. To serve, place chicken mixture into butter lettuce cups. Note: If you do not have cooked chicken, broil raw bottoms for twenty minutes on each side.

86 Wellspring | June 2020

4 Tips for Leftover Repurposing By Liba Solomon I get you. You don’t want to trash good food, but you have no customers for it. What now? Here are 4 tips for repurposing Shabbos leftovers.

All you need is leftover chicken soup—veggies, chicken, and all—to create perfect cream of chicken soup. And it’s this simple: Remove bones and chicken from the pot, use an immersion blender to blend the vegetables, discard the bones and shred the chicken. Return shredded chicken to pot and cook for a few minutes before serving.

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Cube leftover salmon slices and use in a lettuce-based salad. For enhanced flavor, reseason them as you wish.

How about using those leftover vegetables in the soup for Baby? If he or she is already eating solids, here’s the recipe for wholesome, preservative-free baby food that will last you through the week. (I intentionally add more veggies to the soup when cooking for this purpose.) Simply blend the vegetables using an immersion blender, package in small airtight containers or cups, and freeze. Defrost one “jar” every day for a wholesome dinner for your little one. You can even blend along some chicken for a protein bonus.

This one’s not that healthy, but a good idea anyway. I have a friend who fries her leftover gefilte fish slices and calls them “gefilte patties.” Another one fries leftover potato kugel slices and claims they taste better than latkes. Go for it!

some have well guarded trade secrets we just call them family traditions

HERZOG LINEAGE nine generations of patient winemaking

In the pages of Wellspring, we share expert advice from some of the community’s most popular and competent dietitians and nutritionists. In this column, you get to see how they practice what they preach in their own kitchens. Pull up a chair at “My Table” and join the chat.

First Course This Month:

Now that Shabbos comes in late in the evening, when we sit down to the Friday night seudah, we’re ready for a good meal. And if we’ve had a full pre-Shabbos late lunch earlier in the day, this is the time when we want something tasty to enhance our small meal. How do you make the first course special for yourself? What do you usually prepare as an accompaniment to your hamotzi?

Compiled by Shiffy Friedman

Tanya Rosen, Nutritionist: I know this isn’t “traditional” Shabbos food but I literally have a vegetable party starting from Friday late afternoon all the way until the soup course. My husband makes a huge array of grilled and steamed (and sometimes fried!) veggies and I enjoy them a lot. For fish, I love either Moroccan salmon or sweet and sour salmon.

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN: As a Sephardi, our style of a Friday night meal is different than what Ashkenazim are used to. We have just one course as a buffet dinner, with many dishes to choose from. This always includes hot cooked vegetables, such as cauliflower rice, zucchini, okra, artichokes, and string beans, as well as all of my family’s favorites. The only dip we have, and it’s our favorite, is techinah. I sometimes prepare salmon or flounder for myself, but it’s not a staple. I get such pleasure knowing that my husband and kids look forward to and love my Friday night dinner each week.

90 Wellspring | June 2020

Tamar Feldman, RDN, CDE: This eggplant dip is my all-time favorite, as well as of my family and clients. I love it on matzah or whole wheat rolls on Friday night. 1 eggplant, sliced vertically (not rounds) into ½-inch thick slices

Shira Savit, MA, MHC, CHC:

Back in the day, I used to make an array of fancy homemade dips. But that hasn't happened in about eight years. Nowadays, we have homemade techinah (whole sesame paste mixed with water and lemon juice), roasted fennel, roasted garlic (both with olive oil and Himalayan salt, roasted on a high temperature in the oven) and plain boiled gefilte fish (because that's how my kids like it!).

1 red pepper, cut into large chunks 1 small onion, quartered ½ Tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, crushed salt, to taste 1 Tbsp vinegar 1 8-oz can tomato sauce about 1 cup water drop of cumin (optional) Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Arrange eggplant slices, onion quarters, and pepper chunks on the sheet. Spray with cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, until soft. Cut vegetables into small pieces. Heat frying pan with oil; add roasted vegetables and remaining ingredients. Cook on a low-medium flame for 3-5 minutes, stirring. Add additional water as needed, until desired dip-like consistency is reached. Serve cold or at room temperature. ¼ recipe = ½ fat (50 calories)

Shani Taub, CDC: Salads are my favorite. I make cabbage salad with one bag of purple cabbage, one diced red pepper, and some lite Caesar dressing. Israeli salad is another staple. We also have cucumbers and beet salad made with stevia, as well as beets and onions dressed with lemon juice and stevia. Tomato dip, chummus and techinah are a part of our first course, as well.

Bashy Halberstam, INHC: Since I try to keep my sugar intake low, I like to bake my salmon with simple herbs and spices, and to keep it warm. Eating the fish with a dip helps to decrease my carb intake of challah. One dip I really enjoy, besides for horseradish, is pesto. It’s a combination of herbs and healthy oils and nuts. Fats and protein helps to slow the sugar spike that results from eating challah. Pesto Dip ¹⁄₃ cup pine nuts (or cashews) 6 cubes frozen parsley 6 cubes frozen cilantro 4 cubes frozen basil ¹⁄₃ cup olive oil ¾ tsp salt ¼ tsp black pepper 1 clove garlic, crushed or 1 frozen cube Chop pine nuts in a food processor. Mix all ingredients and add to processor, pulsing to combine. Sometimes, I prepare olives and garlic, which is also very easy. Drain one can of sliced olives; add olive oil, sliced garlic, salt, and pepper. Since I like variety, I keep changing my fish recipe. Here are my favorites: Mustard Salmon Place salmon fillet slices onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Mix mustard, organic sweet leaf stevia, and a drop of oil. Use a pastry brush to smear a thin layer onto the fish. Crush shelled pistachio nuts and sprinkle on top. Bake uncovered at 350° for 20–25 minutes, depending on size of salmon. Note: You can use mayo instead of the oil. (Since I use only healthy oils, I make homemade mayo with my 30-second hand blender recipe.) Simple Salmon Place salmon fillet slices onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Mix oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Use a pastry brush to smear onto the salmon. Bake uncovered at 350° for 20–25 minutes.

Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 91

Nutrition Tidbits in the News By Malka Sharman

Fish Chicken Beyond

and

Eat Well

9 Protein-Dense Foods Other than â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Usualâ&#x20AC;? Protein makes up the building blocks of organs, muscles, skin, and hormones. The body needs protein to maintain and repair tissues, and children desperately need it for growth. According to the National Institute of Health, protein can even lower blood pressure and help fight diabetes. We tend to associate protein with poultry, fish, eggs, or milk. But there are many foods that contain considerable amounts of protein and easily compete with the amount of protein found in the foods mentioned above. Here are nine foods that you may be surprised to learn are veritable protein troves.

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Eat Well

Nutrition Tidbits in the News

Chickpeas Chickpeas provide nearly eight grams of protein per half-cup — that’s more than you’ll find in an egg. Chickpeas are also best known these days as the base for hummus or falafel. (Israeli food lovers, this is for you!) Toss a handful into a salad, or cook into a hearty soup.

Cottage Cheese In an article titled “The Top 4 Protein Sources May Surprise You,” the Cleveland Clinic reveals that cottage cheese has a surprisingly high protein amount, with nearly 12 grams in a half-cup. Because it doesn't have a strong flavor on its own, make a healthy snack by pairing cottage cheese with almost any kind of fruit or vegetable. Another good idea is to use it as a protein-boosting secret ingredient in pancakes.

Lentils Almond Butter This creamy spread isn't just a healthier choice than its more popular cousin, peanut butter. With a whopping seven grams of protein in two tablespoons, it easily surpasses peanut butter. With plenty of hearthealthy fats, it's a great way to fuel up before the start of a new day. You can even make it at home — all you need are almonds and a blender. Spice it up with cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract for an extra burst of flavor.

Quinoa This whole grain (actually an edible seed) packs about seven-and-a-half grams of protein per cup. It’s a good source of fiber too. Naturally gluten-free, quinoa is as easy to prepare as rice. Because it tastes rather bland on its own, add to salads or grain bowls.

94 Wellspring | June 2020

A half-cup of these legumes gives you eight grams of protein, about as much as you’d get from one ounce of lean steak. They come in lots of colors — brown, green, black, yellow, red, and orange. They cook up faster than beans and you don’t even need to soak them first.

Pumpkin Seeds An ounce of shelled seeds has eight-and-a-half grams of protein. These seeds are also a good source of zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, and selenium. Eat a handful along with an apple to make for a filling snack. Or stir into oatmeal, granola, or a plate of cereal.

Cheddar Cheese This zingy cheese is loaded with protein — about seven grams per ounce — as well as other nutrients like calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and vitamins A and B12. But keep your portions small or choose a lower-fat version. The fats found in dairy foods aren’t the heart-healthy type. Cheese can be high in salt, too.

Oats

Greek Yogurt

Besides being among the healthiest grains available, oats are a great source of protein. One cup of oats contains 11 grams of protein. Oats also provide you with healthy fibers, magnesium, manganese, thiamine (vitamin B1), and several other vital nutrients.

Greek yogurt, also called strained yogurt, has a creamy texture and is high in many nutrients. 69% of its calories are protein, meaning, one low-fat 6-ounce (170-gram) container has 17 grams of protein and only 100 calories. Full-fat Greek yogurt is also high in protein but contains more calories.

Potato Power Can potatoes be part of the protein list? Although the foods listed above probably come as no surprise to health-conscious folks, a new study on the protein content in potatoes, of all foods, does.

Yes, you read right. Conducted by researchers from McMaster University and published in Nutrients, this study suggests that the potato can be a source of high-quality protein and can be especially helpful in maintaining muscle mass. “While the amount of protein found in a potato is small, we grow lots of potatoes and the protein can provide some measurable benefits,” says Sara Oikawa, the study’s lead author. The researchers recruited young women in their early twenties who consumed diets containing protein at the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). One group of participants consumed additional

potato protein isolate -- in the form of a pudding -- doubling their intake of the RDA. Another group received a placebo. Researchers found the women who consumed the additional potato protein increased the rate at which their muscles made new protein, while the placebo group did not. Perhaps more interesting, says Oikawa, was that a form of plantderived protein, which has generally been thought to be of lower quality than animal-derived protein, can generate such beneficial effects. Potatoes may not make it to the list of top protein foods, but carbfearing individuals can now console themselves in knowing that they’re consuming some protein too. Sivan 5780 | Wellspring 95

MAGNESIUM BOOST BY YOSSI & MALKY LEVINE

During this quarantine period, it’s especially important that you make time for a refreshing, delicious, nutrient-dense smoothie like this one. This makes for a great mid-afternoon snack that will both boost your health and your mood. Emerging research is finding that magnesium may help the immune system fight off the coronavirus. While magnesium is considered a minor nutrient, it plays a significant role in our overall health and is essential to every function and tissue in the body. Magnesium is vital for cardiovascular health. One of magnesium’s most important jobs is to regulate muscle function — the biggest muscle being the heart. Magnesium helps the heart maintain a healthy rhythm and also regulates blood pressure. It’s also one of the nutrients that have a positive impact on the brain, as well as our emotional and mental state. Now that’s a bonus right there! 96 Wellspring | June 2020

1 cup plain yogurt 2 bananas 6 Brazil nuts handful kale 6 squares dark chocolate, grated 2 Tbsp honey Cut or shred kale into small pieces, discarding stems. Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth.

Why these foods for magnesium?

Dark Chocolate Not only will this give your shake an incredibly velvety texture, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loaded with antioxidants and magnesium. One square of dark chocolate contains about 64 mg of magnesium. Make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using a good quality chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids.

Yogurt Nonfat or lowfat yogurt is a great source of magnesium and also makes you feel fuller, which may curb cravings for unhealthy snacks.

Bananas Bananas are known for their potassium content, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also high in magnesium. One banana contains 10% of the recommended daily intake.

Kale Raw kale is incredibly rich in magnesium, in addition to containing many beneficial plant compounds, which help protect cells from damage and may reduce cancer risk.

Brazil Nuts Energy-dense, highly nutritious and tasty, these nuts are packed with selenium and magnesium, both of which are great for cardiovascular health.

Honey Honey contains small amounts of magnesium and is therefore a great way to sweeten the shake, lending a luxurious texture and flavor to the blend.

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Dictionary

TMD Definition: noun

tempromandibular joint dysfunction an umbrella term covering pain and dysfunction of the muscles of mastication (the muscles that move the jaw) and the temporomandibular joints (the joints which connect the mandible to the skull).

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Since TMD is connected with the neck and shoulders, gentle stretching and rotation of the head and neck, as well as hot showers, can help relieve the muscle inflammation.

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Dr. Jacques Doueck

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