This too is Yonkers–By Eric W. Schoen
The Jewish holidays are before us. Yes, this year they are late, starting almost in October. Some years they are early, some years they are late, I don’t think that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are ever on time. Same thing goes for Passover and Chanukah.
At least with Chanukah and Passover often the holidays overlap with Christmas and Easter. This allows us to enjoy Chanukah with Christmas and Easter with Passover. My family has always taken great pride in celebrating all holidays with family and friends so that we can enjoy the beautiful traditions different religions bring to the table. As a child growing up, I helped decorate our friends the Costantini’s Christmas tree, and they always had (and have to this day) a menorah, candles, dreidels and gelt on their living room table.
Yes, at this time last year I was going through a complete right knee replacement and missed being at my synagogue for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I thought I would get there at least for Yom Kippur but rehabilitation took precedence. Interestingly enough, I had my left knee done during Chanukah which fell early last year. I thought to myself, ‘Maybe the success of my surgery was due to it occurring during the holidays?’ Then I came to realize that my success was due to the skilled doctors who attended me. And fabulous hospitals like St. John’s and their Dobbs Ferry campus and rehabilitation at United Hebrew in New Rochelle.
I even had rehabilitation at home provided by Archcare run through the New York Archdiocese. I owe Cardinal Dolan a big thank you for the wonderful physical therapists they provided to me and the pastoral care provided by a nun who is part of the Archdiocese family. Yes, I am like my mother. When she was hospitalized or at the nursing home she welcomed visits from the Rabbi as well as the Priests and Nuns who would come into her room. Mom always said cover all your bases!
The year of recovery, actually 2 years with the gastric sleeve in December 2017 was made that much easier with the calls and visits I received from my Rabbi, Rabbi Jeff Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker from Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El (SSTTE). They would always cheer me up. SSTTE invites the community to join in during the holiday services. Visit the synagogue website, sstte.org for a list of open services or call 914-725-5175 for further information. sstte.org will also provide you with a link for live-streaming of services from the synagogue for those who can’t make it in person.
Our synagogue philosophy is simple. Everyone should have a home for the holidays. The fee for membership has changed to a dynamic model, and the staff will be more than happy to share that with you. But please remember, we have to keep the building open year round with professional and administrative staff. Let me put it bluntly. It ain’t cheap! Donations of any amount are always welcome.
On the Westchester Rising Radio show that I host biweekly, I forgot to announce when WVOX will be broadcasting their High Holiday services from Temple Israel in New Rochelle, a long tradition. WVOX 1460 AM, WVOX.COM and click listen live or via the excellent WVOX app for free which you can obtain from the APP store. Services on Rosh Hashanah are broadcast Sunday from 8 p.m.-9 pm and Monday from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. On Yom Kippur services will be broadcast Tuesday from 8 p.m.-9 p.m. and Wednesday from 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. No matter where you go, go somewhere to enjoy the holidays with friends, family and new friends that you will meet.
As for my health, I am doing well. 95 pounds down. 2 new knees. Fortunately my back is better and as the good Doctors had predicted no back surgery. Which leads me to my advice to you. If you have insurance take advantage of it. With back surgery (and this is unofficial) 80% of the time it doesn’t work and of those 80%, 70% go back for more and more surgery. As my doctors, Dr. David and Daniel Shein said to me, the body is like building a house. You have to have a good foundation before you start building the house. They did my knees first with the hope we would avoid back surgery. It has worked so far, my back is better and with your prayers it will continue to get stronger everyday.
Before Drs. Shein would do my surgery they wanted me to lose 50 pounds. I ultimately lost 95, and had the gastric sleeve procedure. Now you must know that the gastric sleeve is no panacea. You still have to watch your diet and eat protein with minimal carbohydrates. Many people have had gastric surgery and the have put back on the weight they lost. I asked my doctor, Dr. Jonathan Arad why this was the case. He told me many doctors who perform the surgery are general surgeons who want to add this surgery to the list of what they do. Also as I have learned you have to psychologically be ready for the surgery and a change in your lifestyle. If you are ready and and have a good doctor and frame of mind you will have success.
I’m no Julia Child. If I can microwave It I can eat it. You can do well on the diet and still eat fast food . Portions and what is in the food (high protein which give you plenty of energy, low sodium and carbohydrates) are what you have to watch for. Have a nice steak with a very small piece of birthday cake when out for family occasions. Lots of vegetables and salad but no starches are what you must consume. Find yourself a high protein bar and cold shake that taste good.
So many bars and shakes taste disgusting. I don’t care how healthy something is for me if it doesn’t taste good I am not eating it. I use Atkins Shakes (Milk Chocolate Delight) and THINK Fudge and Brownie Crunch PROTEIN bars as snacks between meals.
Always, always get second opinions when it comes to surgical procedures if your plan allows you to do it. Ask the doctor what he would do if he or a member of his family has the condition you have. Check with insurance to make sure the facility you are going to and the doctors who will be treating are participating providers in your plan. If you are in a facility that is covered with a doctor operating in your plan treating you and you get bills from physicians who are not in the plan, these could be considered Surprise Bills and should be treated according to New York State Law.
With all the rules and regulations I have been thinking of opening shop to help people understand their health bills and be an advocate in this complex system. It’s only going to get harder for the patient with some of the healthcare proposals on the table before Congress. Don’t pay every bill you get!
Yes, it’s been a very good year health wise for me. I’m starting to feel like my old self again. Only younger and better. To you dear friends, Jewish and Christian alike, I hope the New Year is filled with good health and happiness for you and your families in a world of Shalom, Peace! L’shanah tovah! Happy New Year!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge
