The Denver Jewish news., 1924-05-22
Seder in a Promised
Land

nOtn-IhlS original story was
written by an is year old girl who is AT
present IA patient in the National Jewish
Hospital for Consumptives at Denver, Colo.
1t tells, in simple words, direct from the
heart, how the National Jewish Hospital,
which Is one of the greatest philanthropic
achievements of the Jews of America Is
bringing to the unfortunate sufferers OF
tubexculosis both physical and spiritual
comfort and hopc)
my dear young lady you have
tuberculosis. l would advise you GO
ing West at once" Such was the doc
tors diagnosis. 1t was like Il thunder
bolt in clear blue sky. l had been
i'll but II few weeks, and like my other
Illnesses, l expected to be strong and
healthy in short time.
"Tuberculosis'-my heart quailed
within me. go West'-and leave be-
hind me al that l loved, all that l
held dear. l decided to see another
specialist. He told me the same thing
Tuberculosis. | reached my home in
"A dazc.. How could l break the dread
full news to my mother-that dear
mother who had stood by me so 10y
ally. who trusted me so implicitly, who
loved me so ardently. l knew it would
break her heart.
Mother opened the door for me-
had no time TO summon courage and
without n tremor, tell her the dread
full news. The tears rushed TO my
ewes as / threw my arms about her
and sobbed out the story. Her beau-
tiful face turned deathly white. But
ii can't be, it can't be-a slaughter
Of mine to have tuberculosis !" In
deed it seemed improbable. My parents
are strong and healthy, my brothers
and sisters are sturdy men and women,
and my ancestors, as far back as my
parents could trace. lived to ripe old
ages. ! had no alternative. 1t was 90
West, young lady, go West, for me.
As my father is member of the B'nai
Birth and knew of the National Jew
ish Hospital, he made application for
me, but / was forced TO wait two
months for admi.tance as the waiting
list was, and still is very long.
| think those Two months were the
most miserable IN my entire eighteen
years of life. To watch my mother go
about her work with a smile on her
lips, when her heart wlS breaking
within her. (for it was through my
mothers efforts alone that kept mp
my courage) and to see my father with
tagging step and bowed head. made me
feel as If dagger had been thrust in-
to my hear. All that / held so dear
would be left behind me until | re-
turned victor in this battle for health.
| lamented my fate: ! cried bitterly,
for to go far away to n city where /
knew no one and no one knew me was
indeed Il real trial. As ! look back
now / see that my lamentations and
my tears did me no good. For as
Shakespeare once wrote What late
imposes man must peeds abide; il
boots not to desist, both wind and
tide"
Then | made a firm resolution, The
West would he my promised land.
would come to conquer, and as | tear
fully bid my parents goodbye,
promised them that rs long rs breath
remained in my body l would fight
and, if it lay in my power | would
come back to them strong and healthy
woman.
/ have been here nine months and
thus far. my resolution was not made
in vain This promised land hus been
good TO me
The Superintendent told me, the day
arrived mt the Hospital, that the
battle could be won, but not with tears
For nine long months / fought like Il
tigress-and the results are gratifying
But when Passover drew near, | let
20 my heart strings, the pcnt-up tears
would not stop coming, once again
| Iamentcd my fate. ycarncd for home
i would not be present at my faith
er's Sedcr. and l felt certain that no
Sctler would be held at the Hospital
despite the rumors l had heard.
| When the Superintendent made the
rounds that day he found very tear
full young lady. / poured out my grief
to him. But Miss " we are
to have II Seder service, and strictly
kosher too" A strictly kosher Seder
The words were AS music to my ears
For to II Jewcss who has been brought
up to reverence and love Judaism
who as student of the Bible knows
and appreciates one of the most i'm
pressive incidents in Israel's career, the
words strictly kosher were to my
soul what water is to n thirsty wander
er in the desert. At my home Sedel
is held every year and carried out in
detail. But surely. thought l, in Il
Hospital of this size | cannot expect