Though it has only a tangential connection to Audiology, I was inspired to write this piece during the recent Chanukah holiday. Chanukah’s essence is the ideal of bringing light to illuminate the darkness, and we certainly need the light more than ever! Individually, we have to play our part. When we do, that can inspire others, creating a community of light. And that community of light can inspire other communities, creating a nation of light.
Although we were raised in different parts of the country, my wife and I share an amazing amount of ‘coincidences’ from our lives before we met, even vacationing as kids at the same beach in Ocean City, MD! While these ‘coincidences’ certainly added a romantic aspect to our courtship, they were undoubtedly a product of our Jewish upbringing. Judaism emphasizes many important things, but one particular point of emphasis is the role of the community. According to the late sage, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks,
“The greatest challenge as Judaism has seen it is not to ascend from earth to heaven through the journey of the soul, but to bring the Divine presence from heaven to earth and share it with others. That is an essentially collective task, which is why the covenant at Mount Sinai was made, not with individuals but with an entire people. In biblical times it was the task of a nation. In the Diaspora it became the function of communities” and “Despite its insistence on the dignity of the individual and the infinite value of a single human life, Judaism sees the person within the network of relationships, as part of a family, a community and a society.”
So when I moved to Berkeley from ‘The City’ after meeting my (soon-to-be) wife, one of the first things we talked about was creating community. I specifically use the term “creating community”, because it implies conscious purpose and effort. Simply living in the same geographic area doesn’t create community. In both our personal and professional lives, we’re always working on creating community.
As many current patients know, my brother was recently diagnosed with cancer and had to have surgery, for which I went down to help him during his recovery. For several months, we didn’t have a firm date for the surgery, which necessitated us having to reschedule patients a few times. They were incredible in their flexibility, warmth and wishes for his recovery, and I was able to light the candles with him the first 4 days of Chanukah.
The last inspiration involves a patient with a challenging case. She has hearing loss in both ears, but one ear is considerably more damaged than the other. I recommended that she consider getting a cochlear implant (CI) for that ear. Getting a CI is a significant undertaking, so I wasn’t surprised that she was hesitant. She asked if I have any other patients who I’ve recommended this to and been ‘implanted’, and I assured her I did. She asked if she might speak with one, and without hesitation, I replied that I’m sure they would be happy to.
And, unsurprisingly, the folks I asked were more than happy to share their experience with her!
I believe this happens because of the community we have created together with our patients, highlighting how through community, we can bring much needed light to this too-dark world.
Please continue to love your community by thinking of those around you, and please always support our local community businesses!
