Saturday, December 20, 2008
Shabbos almost on the Palisades Parkway
Events reported by a Chaptzem reader
The weather was pretty rough throughout New York on Friday. With the snow and ice on the roads and people leaving work early, the traffic leaving the city was brutal, especially for an early Erev Shabbos. All these obstacles were keeping many people from getting to their destinations outside the city in time.
It was only a couple of minutes before Shabbos and the many people heading up to Monsey realized that they would not make it in time. People called Chaveirim for ideas what to do and were directed to a Holiday Inn in the area. Without any extra time or food, everyone rushed to the hotel not knowing how their Shabbos would turn out.
The many stranded families met each other while running in to the hotel to register for a room for Shabbos. None of them had known one another at all, yet they had a feeling that everything would turn out okay, knowing that they would spend the Shabbos together and they would be there for each other. The families pooled whatever food they had and had a communal Shabbos meal, complete with singing and story telling. A real feeling of achdus and simchas Shabbos swept over the people present at the table. The manager at the Holiday Inn was enthralled by what he had witnessed taking place. He mentioned with pure astonishment that he could not believe that these guests, who were now singing and celebrating together, had never met before and had been complete strangers up until then.
Throughout the night Chaveirim sent non-Jews to pick up the Yidden that were still stranded along the Palisades in their cars in the dangerous cold to take them to Monsey.
The weather was pretty rough throughout New York on Friday. With the snow and ice on the roads and people leaving work early, the traffic leaving the city was brutal, especially for an early Erev Shabbos. All these obstacles were keeping many people from getting to their destinations outside the city in time.
It was only a couple of minutes before Shabbos and the many people heading up to Monsey realized that they would not make it in time. People called Chaveirim for ideas what to do and were directed to a Holiday Inn in the area. Without any extra time or food, everyone rushed to the hotel not knowing how their Shabbos would turn out.
The many stranded families met each other while running in to the hotel to register for a room for Shabbos. None of them had known one another at all, yet they had a feeling that everything would turn out okay, knowing that they would spend the Shabbos together and they would be there for each other. The families pooled whatever food they had and had a communal Shabbos meal, complete with singing and story telling. A real feeling of achdus and simchas Shabbos swept over the people present at the table. The manager at the Holiday Inn was enthralled by what he had witnessed taking place. He mentioned with pure astonishment that he could not believe that these guests, who were now singing and celebrating together, had never met before and had been complete strangers up until then.
Throughout the night Chaveirim sent non-Jews to pick up the Yidden that were still stranded along the Palisades in their cars in the dangerous cold to take them to Monsey.
Comments:
No one who does not livein Monsey and needed to get home should have been on the Palisades this erev Shabbos. There were lots of warnings about the weather.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: December 21, 2008 1:23 AM
: December 21, 2008 1:23 AM
"Throughout the night Chaveirim sent non-Jews to pick up the Yidden that were still stranded along the Palisades in their cars in the dangerous cold to take them to Monsey."
Why were they stranded? Does anyone know the meaning of pikuach nefesh?
Why were they stranded? Does anyone know the meaning of pikuach nefesh?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 21, 2008 1:55 AM
: December 21, 2008 1:55 AM
unfortunately when it comes to pikuach nefesh on Shabbos there are a lot of "Chusid Shoites" . on the other hand people have to learn to leave early especialy in inclement weather
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 21, 2008 2:47 PM
: December 21, 2008 2:47 PM
All of the above comments are correct. And STILL! Mi K'amcha Yisroel,Goi Echad Be'uretz. If only this achdus would last.This is everyone's dream.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 21, 2008 7:47 PM
: December 21, 2008 7:47 PM
Hatzolah fields record 17 calls Erev Shabbos for people stuck in North Jersey snow traffic.
This past Friday afternoon, with a heavy snowstorm wreaking havoc on the roads, Hatzolah of North Jersey fielded a record number of 17 calls from people scared they might be stuck on the road until Shabbos. Hatzolah had to call in two extra dispatchers to deal with the volume of individuals needing directions and help.
It seems the entire North Jersey was one big traffic disaster, with individuals headed to and from Brooklyn , Manhattan , Monsey and Kiryas Joel running into traffic slowdowns and road closures due to numerous accidents and poor road conditions.
The first caller at 1:27 pm was stuck for over an hour at the George Washington Bridge, and was nervous he might be stuck in his car for Shabbos with his family and newborn child. B”H the bridge re-opened while he was getting alternate directions from a Hatzolah dispatcher, and he called later to thank the Hatzolah dispatchers for calming him down, and to let them know he arrived safely.
Hatzolah dispatchers calmed down some of the callers who were very nervous, and stayed on the phone with them, giving them step by step alternate directions.
As it got closer to Shabbos, more calls came poring in, and the Hatzolah dispatchers directed the callers to the nearest Jewish communities, where they would have to spend Shabbos.
The moral: if it’s snowing heavily outside and it’s Erev Shabbos, leave yourself lots of extra time to get to your destination.
This past Friday afternoon, with a heavy snowstorm wreaking havoc on the roads, Hatzolah of North Jersey fielded a record number of 17 calls from people scared they might be stuck on the road until Shabbos. Hatzolah had to call in two extra dispatchers to deal with the volume of individuals needing directions and help.
It seems the entire North Jersey was one big traffic disaster, with individuals headed to and from Brooklyn , Manhattan , Monsey and Kiryas Joel running into traffic slowdowns and road closures due to numerous accidents and poor road conditions.
The first caller at 1:27 pm was stuck for over an hour at the George Washington Bridge, and was nervous he might be stuck in his car for Shabbos with his family and newborn child. B”H the bridge re-opened while he was getting alternate directions from a Hatzolah dispatcher, and he called later to thank the Hatzolah dispatchers for calming him down, and to let them know he arrived safely.
Hatzolah dispatchers calmed down some of the callers who were very nervous, and stayed on the phone with them, giving them step by step alternate directions.
As it got closer to Shabbos, more calls came poring in, and the Hatzolah dispatchers directed the callers to the nearest Jewish communities, where they would have to spend Shabbos.
The moral: if it’s snowing heavily outside and it’s Erev Shabbos, leave yourself lots of extra time to get to your destination.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 22, 2008 3:21 PM
: December 22, 2008 3:21 PM
iat 4:13 i left i95 into new rochelle where i was very warmly welcomed, slept and had wonderful meals by members of the YI.
all my shabbosim should be so nice.
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all my shabbosim should be so nice.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 22, 2008 7:27 PM
: December 22, 2008 7:27 PM
