It is quite in character
for Satmar to help fellow Jews in need. They are well known for their Chesed towards
their fellow Jew. One may recall that their Bikur Cholim Society is internationally
recognized for just that. Chesed. They visit sick Jews in hospitals and provide
for more than their needs regardless of how religious they are. It doesn’t
matter if a patient is a Satmar Chasid or not. If you are in the hospital and a
Jew they are there to help you. In spades!
So this story is not
all that remarkable. They are simply living up to their reputations as Baalei
Chesed.
But it occurred to
me that what they are doing is already being done in spades. Not by Satmar Chasidim
but by the good people of New York City - Jew and non Jew alike – to all people
in need, not just their co-religionists.
This too is in
character. Of the American people who comprise this Medinah Shel Chesed. There
has been story after story of people helping people in need during this crisis.
Two examples come to
mind.
One is about how many
of runners who were scheduled to run in the NYC marathon last Sunday used that time
to distribute supplies originally reserved for the runners.
Then there was the
story of a gas station owner who stayed open despite the fact that electric power
was cut off and his gas pumps weren’t working. He somehow found a hand pump and
started pumping gas manually to anyone who came to his gas station. And he did
not charge them an extra dime for the gas. There have been hundreds of stories
of people helping people without expecting anything in return but out of the goodness
of their own heart. All of it non discriminatory. None of it selective - based
on what religion you are.
So when I hear about
how caring the Satmar community is for their fellow Jews and how much they are
doing, I feel it is imperative to note that they are not alone. Nor is it
uniquely Jewish. Non Jews are doing it too. Only they are doing it more
inclusively than Satmar.
This is not to take
away from the great work Satmar is doing. It is only to praise the even greater
work is being done by the good people of this great country. To that end I
would also note that MASBIA a soup kitchen in Boro Park founded by Chasidim is
extending their hand to all in need – Jews and non Jews alike. That is what I
like to see. A real Kiddush HaShem.
