Dear readers of YWN.
I am not a supervisor, coordinator, or in any other way a big “Macher”. but rather I am a simple EMT, a volunteer in Hatzalah.
I love volunteering in Hatzalah. I get to help people in their time of need. I love to do it, but it does come at a price. I often have to leave my home, put aside my work, to run out and help another yid in need. And I do it gladly, without hesitation and without complaint.
This Thursday I will be sitting down like everyone else to eat Seudas Purim with my family. I know from years past that the chance of me actually getting to enjoy the entire Seuda with my family is almost zero, and I know from past experience that the call I will be running out on my family for, is not some poor soul suffering some traumatic or medical emergency, but rather a self inflicted infliction.
We at Hatzalah will get call after call for people who are drunk.
I don’t have to explain what is wrong with excessive drinking, the immediate dangers of being incapacitated by intoxication, and the literally life wrecking problems of alcoholism. Rather this Purim before you drink yourself to oblivion or allow someone in your care to do so, I want you to also think about me. Ask yourself what right you have to pull me away from my family because you are too drunk to protect your own airway! Who gave you the right to do that?!
And what kind of chutzpa does it take, to take away resources from your entire community, tying up personnel and ambulances for your drunkenness when they may be needed for someone Chas Veshalom having a heart attack!
Chag Purim Sameach!
Say Lechaim within moderation, stay safe, and remember we are always there for you.
A Hatzolah Volunteer.
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11 Responses
FOR SOMEONE WHO SAYS AND I QUOTE
I do it gladly, without hesitation and without complaint.
YOU SURE HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND COMPLAIN ABOUT.
Very well said and same goes to people who are on medication and they are Machmir on Passover NOT to follow their doctor’s order that they MUST take their prescription. Same here WHY should any Hatzoloh member leave the family Suda on Pesach because of os someone’s negligence?
Also if you have High Blood Pressure od Diabetic please be careful NOT to eat foods you are NOT allowed too,
Certainly a very strong, relevant, and important message. The way I always feel is if one can’t appreciate, behave, and observe Purim appropriately, then he/she go to work/school after shacharis and remain working for the remainder of the day. I believe one gains 0 value on Purim if he/she can’t act responsibly (and turns into a Chillul Hashem).
> yosse
Your comment does not reflect well on yourself. “I do it gladly, without hesitation and without complaint” refers to helping those who are not at fault for their own predicament. It does not apply for those whose predicament is their own fault, in which case there is PLENTY to complain about.
@Yosse My sentiments – exactly
While agree with you on the excessive drinking. I really think your off base on this one. You almost sound like a doctor who doesn’t want to treat a patient because he smokes or he’s overweight. First of all there is an inyan to drink on Purim. Second many people who drink o Purim don’t drink the whole year and may not know their limit. Perhaps shut your radio, take a few drinks and have a frailichin Purim.
I agree 100% with this beloved Hatzalah member!
It makes the beautiful job that they do become sour when they met to go out and show up to such a call…
It’s a high level sacrifice on their family’s part, which they should not have to make!!! Not on PURIM!
Thank you for bringing this up from the point of view that most of us aren’t zoche to see things from.
Another idiot with the argument how it’s a mitzva to drink on Purim. I’m sure you’re just as makpid on all “mitzvas” and real mitzvas of the torah. Any by the way, I’m sure he will NOT take your advice to shut his radio just in case you’re his neighbor and your kid aspirated and is choking on his vomit. Not the kids fault for his fathers crooked shitas and being as misguided as you.
Allow your kids to drink on Purim and by kiddushim on Shabbos (by example or otherwise) and even if you’re lucky enough that you didn’t need Hatzolah today, you luck will likely run out when you need organizations like Amudim, and rehab, marriage counseling, when he or she gets older. This snowball effect is not a joke. You can take heart, or make a nasty comeback, I’m not here to debate you. A freilachen purim
This is not complaining, it’s teaching. Worst of all seeing their parents in hospital reciting Tehillim all night. At least “we members” can go and finish the Seuda maybe cold but thank you Microwave.
A Haatzolah member as well.
ah yid, the inyan of drinking on Purim does not dismiss the d’oreisa of not harming oneself. You sound a bissel drunk from your comment.