(Courtesy of Fleetwood Synagogue) Rabbi Yosef Cohen of Fleetwood Synagogue in Mount Vernon, New York spoke at the Einstein College of Medicine last week. In many ways this was a perfect gig for him. In addition to being the head rabbi of a growing Modern Orthodox community in southern Westchester County, he is also a pediatric resident at Montefiore. So he knows what he’s talking about at the intersection of Jewish life, medicine and ethics. His shiur on caring for babies on Shabbat was a topical and relevant subject to discuss with the group of medical students, mainly fourth years.
Rabbi Cohen spoke of the laws and relevant halachas, highlighting the bridging of modern and secular thought. Caring for children on Shabbat presents special cases, especially babies. Rabbi Cohen spoke on the different categories of sick people, those in imminent danger (yesh bo sacana) and those who are not. With children, they can be considered different patients. Halacha categorizes them similarly. How to categorize children also depends on age and maturity. Children can handle different maladies differently and must be determined as such by their guardians.
Rabbi Cohen then elaborated on the treatment of babies. For instance, a newborn who has a fever can be automatically considered yesh bo sacana because of the potential dangers to their health. Another issue specific to babies is pumping breast milk on Shabbat. The way to get around this is releasing the milk to prevent pain in the mother, but it may need to be ruined intentionally because it is not allowed as it is not for the benefit of the child. In the NICU, care is given to make sure babies there are provided breast milk; thus, breast milk can be expressed whenever. Electric pumps may be better because it is less malacha because it is one action rather than repeated ones with a manual pump.
Rabbi Cohen was forthright in how he balances his capacities as a spiritual leader as well as a medical professional. At Fleetwood, the shul hired an assistant rabbi to cover when Rabbi Cohen is on call. For these medical students, Fleetwood is an ideal location: within commuting distance of many local hospitals in addition to the kosher restaurants and shopping and Jewish day schools of Riverdale and New Rochelle, each 10-15 minutes away. Fleetwood has attracted a sizable number of medical professionals and students from Einstein and nearby New York Medical College.
