Eitan Ashman was an exceptionally fit forty two year old. He was a father of four teenagers, a loving husband, he was the owner of a growing property management company, a CrossFit instructor, a paramedic and driver for Magen David Adom, a Daf Yomi participant who had completed multiple cycles and who delivered shiurim in his community in Efrat. All that came crashing down early one morning, when he had a massive left side ischemic stroke- one which robbed him of the use of much of the right side of his body, of most of his memories of his life from before the stroke, and of his power of speech. This is a condition known as Aphasia, and in this specific case, a manifestation known as Broca’s aphasia, in which a person can conceptualize words in his or her mind but experiences difficulty articulating them. According to the National Aphasia Association, at least two million Americans suffer from Aphasia, making it more prevalent than many better known neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Cerebral Palsy.
You cannot imagine how difficult it is for someone to be unable to speak when they have so much to say, and how difficult it is to see someone who was so young and full of life reduced to such a compromised state, dependent on others. According to the National Aphasia Association, 85% of relationships are made worse by aphasia, and those who suffer aphasia remain close with only 20% of the people they were close with beforehand. In order to raise awareness of Aphasia in the Jewish community, Eitan’s wife Leora formed an organization called Koach Eitan.
One of the first initiatives the organization has put forth is the Worldwide Aphasia Awareness Shabbat, taking place this weekend, Parshat Shelach (Korach in Israel). Shaare Tefilla is proud to be among the synagogues worldwide that are participating. Please visit the following resources for more information:
1. Leora Ashman’s article about her and her family’s experience with Aphasia. 2. A message from Leora and Eitan about Koach Eitan and the Aphasia Awareness Shabbat 3. Leora’s article in Mishpacha Magazine about what her family has been going through.
I have much Hakarat HaTov to our member Gary Schwartz, who is a cousin of Eitan’s and who, together with Batsheva, made the initial connection between me and these remarkable people.
Last Week’s MSOTW
Last week’s MSOTW question was:
Considered the epicenter of Jerusalem’s religious singles scene, this shul is located near several other landmark buildings and was designed by a legendary Israeli architect. Name the shul, the neighborhood, the architect and some of the landmarks near it.
This is Maalot-Ohel Nechama, on Rechov Chopin in Katamon in Jerusalem. Designed by the legendary architect David Cassuto, it is near the President’s Residence, the Museum of Islamic Lands and the Israel Bar Association. Kudos to Meyer Denn and Perrin White for correctly identifying the location.
This Week’s MSOTW
This synagogue is the headquarters of a Chassidic community that is outside the major Chassidic centers of the world, though it now has many branches in major chassidic communities as well. Thousands of students have passed through its doors and connected to its spiritual leaders, and many of them became observant as a result. Still others have connected with this community through the world class medical care available in the city where this synagogue is located, which runs a major Bikur Cholim and health guidance organization. Name the shul/Chassidic community, and provide a picture of the shul.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
